MOUNT ENTERPRISE, Texas — The groundbreaking phase one for the restoration of the Concord Rosenwald School, a former all-Black school in southeastern part of Rusk County kicked off Saturday. This is a school that proves resilience, determination and the unity of African Americans in the 1900s.
"It will bring the community together; it will draw back a lot of the community -- people that went to school here," said WIllie Adams, vice president of Concord Rosenwald School Alumni Association.
The school built in 1925 was shut down when students integrated with Henderson ISD. Adams graduated here in 1967 and said he is honored to see the legacy being rebuilt in honor of the unity of the students.
"Frank Alexander went out into other communities and encouraged other community members to come and go to school here because at that time it was only going to the 10th grade and was able to move up to the 10th grade. So a lot of students out of our area came here to get their high school education," Adams said.
Alumni in attendance say they're not only restoring a building but reclaiming their history and ensuring that legacy continues to inspire and educate generations to come.
"We have reunions every two years and by them knowing we renovated the school, they’ll have an opportunity to walk through the school where they got an education," Adams said.
The Northeast Texas Preservation Texas offered $75,000 for phase one of rehabilitation as part of the Rural African American Heritage Grants program. Program Officer Conor Herterich said Rosenwald's school holds significant importance in Black education, and since there are a few left in East Texas, the project was a go.
"It's on its original site, which is amazing. A lot were moved when schools were integrated in the 60s. The architectural integrity is fantastic, it hasn't been majorly altered or added onto so it’s just a worthwhile project for the goals that we are trying to pursue," Herterich said.
Phase one begins with stabilization of interior walls and completely redoing the roof structure. Many Alumni are anticipating the day they can show to the community what they achieved for generations to come.
"It's a good feeling, thankful that we can get it completed in the next three years like we’re set out to do and I’m behind it 100 percent," 1963 graduate Edem Moss said.