Located off of Route 9 on Buttonwood Avenue in New Castle, the Buttonwood Colored School first opened in 1919 during the nation’s period of segregation to serve the needs of “colored” students growing up in the historically Black suburban neighborhood. The neighborhood got its name from the adjacent estate, Buttonwood Plantation, built by James Booth, Sr. in the early 1800s. Booth, a prominent statesman, and judge, played a critical role in the abolition of slavery. The first teacher at the school was James Coulborne. In 1926 a new one-room schoolhouse was built for students in grades 1-8 on land obtained from the Lukens Steel Company. Funding for construction was provided by P.S. DuPont and the Delaware School Auxiliary Association. Sylvester Woolford became the second instructor for all of the students in 1934. He was dearly loved by his students and made certain they got the best education possible under the circumstances. An additional classroom was added in 1938. When integration began in 1955, the school closed in 1957. It has since been refurbished and is now open as a public museum and community center. Learn more at https://www.buttonwoodschool.org/ #BlackHistoryMonth2021 #EquityCSD #powerofwecsd

 

WE Celebrate – Stephanie Ingram

WE Celebrate – Stephanie Ingram

Stephanie Ingram, a 1990 graduate of William Penn High School, is the first African American woman to serve as  President of the Delaware State Education Association (DSEA). The DSEA represents more than 13,000 teachers,  paraprofessionals, specialists, nurses,...

WE Celebrate – Mary Ann Shadd Cary

Abolitionist Mary Ann Shadd Cary became the first female African American newspaper editor in North America when she started the Black newspaper The Provincial Freemen. Later in life, she became the second African American woman in the United States to earn a law...

WE Celebrate – Bob Marley

Ya Man! Reggae Singer Bob Marley  once lived in Wilmington with his mother on  Tatnall Street who ran the “Roots” Jamaican music shop on Market Street. Today, a park at 24th and Tatnall is called “One Love Park” in his honor.  Outside of Jamaica, Wilmington is said to...