The Historic Cape Charles Elementary School was built in 1929 as part of the innovative collaboration between Booker T. Washington and Julius Rosenwald that built close to 5,000 schools to educate African American children in the South.
Former students and faculty joined with community leaders in a crucial mission: safeguarding the building's legacy - once the heart of its community. The Cape Charles Rosenwald School Restoration Initiative, Inc., a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization was formed in 2012 and raised enough money to purchase the property in 2019. Our goal? Creating a modern-day community center that will inspire, educate, and connect all cultures in Cape Charles.
Rosenwald Schools have been designated by the National Trust for Historic Preservation as among the nation's most endangered historic sites. The Cape Charles school remains on Preservation Virginia's list of the state's Most Endangered Historical Places. That's why after buying the property, the CCRSRI took steps to have the school placed on the U.S. Department of Interior's National Register of Historic Places.
Then, alliance members agreed upon a guiding principal in the school's restoration: retrieving and recapturing the original school design for adaptive re-use.
Next, they devised a vision to create a vibrant and self-sustaining community center, one that will showcase the building's rich history and provide opportunities for engagement, connection, and education.
The restored landmark will again be home to educational programs and community gatherings. As a 21st century community center, it will support Cape Charles' revitalization and the Eastern Shore in vital ways: through workforce training in cooperation with Eastern Shore Community College, as a business incubator, technology hub, and performance venue with exhibition space, a community kitchen, walking trails, and other valuable ammenities.
We are building for our community!
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