Save the Historic Harrington School
Tax deductible
I am a member of the St. Simons Island African American
Heritage Coalition (SSAAHC) an organization along with the Friends of the Harrington School that worked diligently to restore the historic Harrington Grade School.
The Harrington Grade School is a small two room school that provided education for the descendants of the enslaved (Gullah-Geehee) people from the 1920's until the 1950's. The school also sponsored social events and activities for the the community. The Harrington School was named for the area that the freedmen from the plantations on the Northern end of Saint Simons Island settled after the Civil War.
The SSAAHC along with The Friends of Harrington Grade School, individual donors, community partners and grants have succeeded in raising funds to complete the exterior of the school which was in disrepair for years. Funds are needed to retore the interiorand the remaining tasks are:
-HVAC
-Plumbing
-Electrical
-Interior finishes
Once restoration is complete, volunteers, sponsors and coalition members will begin the process of collecting stories and developing programs to share the history of the
Gullah-Geechee community from Reconstruction through the Civil Rights Era. There few families left in Harrington
who are direct descendants of the enslaved people who settled the area. Gentrification and other factors have left little evidence of what was once was a proud, hardworking, close knit community of people related by marriage or birth. The Harrington Grade School and the First African Baptist Church (founded by freedmen over 150 yrs ago) are the two remaining structures in the community that that served the religious, educational and social needs of not only the residents of Harrington but the other two former Gullah Geechee communities on Saint Simons Island as well.
Our goal is to raise the funds we need by the middle of January. If you are a history buff, interested party, or generous donor, we are asking you to assist us with this worth while endeavor.Thank you in advance for any donation you are able to give.
Heritage Coalition (SSAAHC) an organization along with the Friends of the Harrington School that worked diligently to restore the historic Harrington Grade School.
The Harrington Grade School is a small two room school that provided education for the descendants of the enslaved (Gullah-Geehee) people from the 1920's until the 1950's. The school also sponsored social events and activities for the the community. The Harrington School was named for the area that the freedmen from the plantations on the Northern end of Saint Simons Island settled after the Civil War.
The SSAAHC along with The Friends of Harrington Grade School, individual donors, community partners and grants have succeeded in raising funds to complete the exterior of the school which was in disrepair for years. Funds are needed to retore the interiorand the remaining tasks are:
-HVAC
-Plumbing
-Electrical
-Interior finishes
Once restoration is complete, volunteers, sponsors and coalition members will begin the process of collecting stories and developing programs to share the history of the
Gullah-Geechee community from Reconstruction through the Civil Rights Era. There few families left in Harrington
who are direct descendants of the enslaved people who settled the area. Gentrification and other factors have left little evidence of what was once was a proud, hardworking, close knit community of people related by marriage or birth. The Harrington Grade School and the First African Baptist Church (founded by freedmen over 150 yrs ago) are the two remaining structures in the community that that served the religious, educational and social needs of not only the residents of Harrington but the other two former Gullah Geechee communities on Saint Simons Island as well.
Our goal is to raise the funds we need by the middle of January. If you are a history buff, interested party, or generous donor, we are asking you to assist us with this worth while endeavor.Thank you in advance for any donation you are able to give.
Organizer
Dannie Davis
Organizer
St Simons African-American Heritage Coalition
Registered nonprofit
Donations are typically 100% tax deductible in the US.
