Alumni and supporters met Saturday at the site of the former Ralph J. Bunche school in Weldon on West First Street celebrated a groundbreaking of a commemorative park honoring the history of the school, which served African-American students from 1905 until integration in 1972.
The initial phase of the park is made possible by a $40,000 grant from The Cannon Foundation.
The Cannon Foundation, established in 1943 by Charles A. Cannon, president and CEO of Cannon Mills Company, funds capital and equipment projects for organizations across the state.
The first phase will install sidewalks and landscaping, and tree plantings.
Local citizens will install pollinator gardens when the landscaping is complete.
On behalf of the town, Mayor Hugh Credle welcomed the audience, followed by Tiffany Hale, chairwoman of the Weldon School Board.
Hale spoke of the historical significance of the grounds and the promise of a park that all can enjoy.
J. W. Shearin, on behalf of Adrian King, architect and designer of the park, described the features of the park design, which were based on conversations, focus groups, and reviews by multiple stakeholders.
Co-sponsoring the event with Weldon In Action, the Weldon High School class of 1973 was represented by Brenda Boney Hamilton, who recounted the class’s early support of the project and dedication to its success.
Emily Threat, also of the class of 1973, was recognized as the founder of the project.
She told of her life-long dream of placing a memorial marker on the grounds of the school to
commemorate its role as a vital component of the educational and civic development of African-American students and its significance to the entire community.
Comments from Florine Bell, who was unable to attend, were read by Alice Irby and outlined the early history of the school when, in 1906, a two-classroom structure opened as the Weldon Colored School.
A year later, a permanent building opened as the Halifax County Training School.
The year 1923 was a transformative time when the school became a Rosenwald school with $1,500 support from the Julius Rosenwald Fund, $200 from African-American citizens, and $22,400 in public funds to construct a new brick school to accommodate six teachers.
The school continued with the name of Halifax Training School until 1957 when the Weldon School Board, upon the recommendation of Dr. Namon M. McMillan, renamed the school Ralph J. Bunche High School after the first African-American recipient of the 1950 Nobel Peace Prize.
The park is being developed by Weldon In Action, a grassroots community organization, which has a five-year lease from the Weldon School Board to develop the park.
