Editor:
Rising out of the shadows of Slavery and in the mist of Jim Crow, up above my head I visualized two men, Booker T. Washington, President of Tuskegee Institute (University) and Julius Rosenwald President and CE0 of Sears Roebuck and Co., coming together to liberate Black Children out of small one room houses painted with White Wash. These two men were granted permission by the Liberty County Board of Education (according to board minutes), to build three Rosenwald Schools in Liberty County. These were Trinity, near Flemington, Crossroads in the East End of the county, and Hineshaw, in Cyprus Slash (Flemington-Ft. Stewart).
Because my mother and her brothers walked at least five miles to attend Hineshaw (according to my late Uncle Oscar Miller), three outstanding men in our community took action. These Heroic Men were J.H. Gause, Alonzo Simpson, and F.L. Duggan. These citizens became, “The Trustees of the Colored School,” of the State of Georgia, Liberty County. After petitioning the Liberty County Board of Education in 1931 to build a school in Hinesville for Black Children, they sold two acres of Hineshaw School’s current land site to the Board of Education for $100.
It was not until 1944 that the present school, using Architect Rosenwald Plans were completed. Before the first Hineshaw Rosenwald School was destroyed to build Camp Stewart (Ft. Stewart), the complete kitchen Building from the first was relocated to the present site of Hineshaw according to accounts in the book called “What Color is Water,” by Annie Tarver Green, daughter of the last principal of the original Hineshaw Rosenwald. That kitchen building served as their living quarters until they could find housing in Hinesville.
I pass this same school on Shipman Ave., daily, looking at this Beacon of Hope for so many of us and parents who in the beginning had to walk to school as they witnessed students being bussed to Bradwell Institute. All I see is a bleeding face, rot, gross neglect, twice lit on fire this year five months apart. I see defeating efforts to stop Historic Preservation and demolition, a possible home for homeless vagrants, missing doors, and massive holes in a roof where at least four Historic Rosenwald Chimneys and Rosenwald Windows once stood.
Yet this building with its dirty face is responsible for the first educational foundation for Doctors, Lawyers, Public Servants, Educators and Ordinary Citizens who nationally matches Rosenwald Funds with contributions of over $4.7 Million Dollars.
Private citizens, many of whom did not attend Hineshaw Rosenwald, have recognized the Historic Significant Contribution of the gift to the Black Community. The late William “ Bill” Cox would question me for years on when we would preserve this treasure. Mr. Joe Stewart would repeatedly question me and ask the same question, when will we all realize that Hineshaw is a Rosenwald School?
Presently there are citizens, business leaders, waiting to volunteer. A nonprofit organization, the Friends of Hineshaw Rosenwald School Inc., is eager to begin preservation efforts. The city of Hinesville has a Historic Preservation Charter with the State of Georgia, with a mandate to identify, preserve and protect Historic Properties. This makes this structure eligible for multiple grants. Yet there is DELAY, DELAY, DELAY.
Thankfully, I offer a Big Thank You to Attorney Ray Persons, King and Spalding Law Firm, the Law Firm of Osteen and Osteen, The McIntosh Arts Council under the leadership of Judy Russell Dodd who hosted Annie Tarver Greene for Black History Month in 2019 and my former students and Public Officials sharing my efforts at saving Hineshaw, and Uncle Oscar for my copy of “What Color Is Water” by Annie Tarver Green.
I hope and trust that our community in preserving this Historic Corridor will be able to thank those responsible for assisting in this historic effort, as we remember the part they played as each of them ask for our support as they campaign for office.
Carolyn Rebecca Smith Carter, Native of Rebecca Street, Hinesville, Ga.