Richard Allen School recognized on National Register of Historic Places
GEORGETOWN, Del. – A piece of American history in Sussex County is now getting the recognition it deserves, after being placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
“We’ve had people who have left this school and gone on to do great things. That history needs to be known,” says Jane Hovington, the President of the Richard Allen Coalition (RAC).
After being nationally recognized, the historic Richard Allen School will never be forgotten. On Thursday, the Richard Allen Coalition held a ceremony celebrating the school officially being placed on the register of historic places.
“I’m like ‘Yes! We finally did it. Yes yes yes,'” says Hovington.
The school first opened in the 1920’s as an African American school. “They helped the students learn of course but they instilled a sense of pride and the value of learning in us,” says Ivan Neal, a former student of the school and RAC Board Member.
Officials tell 47 ABC that this recognition, which has been years in the making, was a labor of love.
“We got together and we worked. We washed and scrubbed walls because there was smile and mildew and everything. So we worked hard to get this school where it is now,” says Hovington.
But board members say they’re not done yet. They’re now working to restore and renovate the school into a community center. “We’d like it to be a place where assemblies can be held, gatherings, meals, you name it we would like it to be available for that kind of thing here,” says Neal.
While there will be a museum inside, officials say they want the community to look to the future.
“You know what museums do, they tell you about the past. But see we’re looking to the future. We want them to be aware of and know of their past but we want to encourage them to move into the future and do greater things than the things that were done in the past,” says Hovington.
School board officials tell 47 ABC that the National Register of Historic Places ensures that this school gets the recognition and preservation that it deserves.
Board members say they will be applying for grants to help them fund the renovations they want to make to the building. They also tell 47 ABC that one of their dreams is to build a community swimming pool on the field behind the school.
