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 – Littleton Mitchell
Littleton Mitchell of Delaware City was a member of the famed Tuskegee Airmen during World War II. He was best known as the 30-year outspoken president of the state NAACP (1961-1991) and he established a reputation as a ferocious fighter for civil rights in Delaware,...
Delaware City’s African American Police Chiefs
Charles “Chuck” Griffin was Delaware’s first Black police Chief. In 1971 he was hired to lead the police force in Delaware City. At the time, the position was part-time, 8 p.m.-4 a.m. weekdays and 4 p.m. to midnight on weekends. News accounts show he put in 40-50...
We Celebrate – Tony Allen
Tony Allen, a graduate of William Penn High School, is presently the President of Delaware State University. Allen, a former speechwriter for President Joe Biden, also served as head of the Commander in Chief’s Inaugural Committee. In other positions of leadership,...