Historic Oak Hill Elementary School to receive dedication later this week

The Stephens County History Museum will be recognizing the historic Oak Hill Elementary School this week in Stephens County.

Stephens County History Museum Executive Director Brenda Carlin says a plaque remembering the elementary school will be dedicated on Thursday, at the historic train depot.

“Back in the ’50’s there were a lot of new schools built in the area,” she said. “At that time there were a lot of African-American schools in the County. So the County came together and decided to build Oak Hill in order to have a more central location (for black schools).”

Oak Hill Elementary was the first and last combined all African-American elementary school in Stephens County before integration.

The school was in existence from 1955 until 1967.

Carlin said the school was located off Whispering Pines Road in Avalon. She says for the past year, the Oak Hill Alumni Association has been working to the get the school’s history included in the Stephens County History Museum.

“The committee has been working together to compile information. Unfortunately, they were not able to find many photos of the school itself. However, they wanted an exhibit here in the museum, which we wanted and we have a place for it. So, we’re going to have a dedication here at the museum next Thursday, August 15 at 4:30p,” Carlin said.

So far, there isn’t much information about Oak Hill Elementary available; however, Carlin invites anyone who has any old photos of the school to submit them to the Historical Society to be added to the exhibit.

“So we would like to welcome the community to come out. And if anyone has any more photos of Oak Hill Elementary we’d love to have them. So we will have the dedication and hopefully gather some more information at that time,” she said.

Again, the dedication will be held on Thursday, August 15, at 4:30 p.m. in the historic train depot.

For additional information, contact Carlin at 706-282-5055.