Historic Castalia Rosenwald School

In the early 1920s, formal education for black children came to Castalia, Nash County, North Carolina, in the form of a school on a narrow, winding rural road. The Castalia Rosenwald Colored Elementary School was built from funds procured by Julius Rosenwald and from labor of the small town's fathers and farmers so their children would have a safe place to learn and grow.

 

Castalia Rosenwald Colored Elementary School was closed in the mid-1960s, and over the years of idleness it would degrade as seen in the background photo by the early 1990s until teams of volunteers began working together (just as their ancestors did) to restore the Castalia Rosenwald School to a state Historic Site. From the time the school was closed until our volunteers would go to work, this facility was used for several functions and projects with none leading to the preservation of helping the school or community remain as an acceptable community icon.

Generations of education happened in this building where students gathered winter to spring to share hand-me-down books and second-hand desks. They spent many happy days in the little school house and built many fond memories.

 

In a Rocky Mount Telegram interview from August 27, 2010 Rosenwald graduate Mrs. Eunice Jones Williams said:  “The Castalia School, which was constructed in 1922 for $3,200, was one of the first built in Nash County.” The school underwent renovations in the 1940s called “Beyond Rosenwald,” and it was renovated again in the early and mid 1950s. When district schools were integrated in the mid-1960s, Castalia Rosenwald Colored Elementary School was closed.

 

The Castalia Community Group made a bid at a public auction of properties of the Board of Education of Nash County for the facility, and their bid was accepted. The deed was received for the school and property on November 3, 1968. The Group’s bid was for $1,325.

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Years of hard work have gone into restoring and now preserving this historic treasure. The community elders sought to maintain the legacy and preserve the memories so that future generations of students could see a glimpse of their history and build on those traditions.         

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As the community embraced the renovations of this little school deeper interests came from a lot of the former students and teachers that were not a part of the Community Teams. The group started as the Castalia Community Development Club. The added interests and concerns led to the establishment of the Castalia Community Development Corporation being established on November 15, 1990. Referred to as “The CCDC,” the IRS granted a Tax Identification Number (TIN) and 501c3 status to the Castalia Community Development Corporation on August 10, 1999; and the organization became a recognized non-profit charitable organization accepted by the federal government.

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Mrs. Eunice Jones Williams was the president of CCDC at its creation.  Her husband, Mr. John C Williams Jr., became president in 2010; and Mr. Cleveland Harris Jr. became president in 2014. He still serves in that capacity.

 

In the years since it was built, hundreds of students entered those doors and walked into a world of opportunities.

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Today,  the memories remain and the CCDC Board works hard to rally around #TheRealOldSchool and save their beloved treasure for their future generations. Their vision is our mission -- to preserve the legacy and protect the future of this 100-year-old landmark.