First Black Public School
Near here, in July 1872, the first local public school for black students was opened. The school was the result of an action by the City Council directing the Trustees of the Columbus Public Schools to set up classes for blacks. For the first of these, the trustees rented Temperance Hall, built in 1849. Until the 1871 opening of the Springer Opera House, this had been the city’s foremost theater. On its stage had appeared many of the opera, music, and theater greats of the era. Among them was John Wilkes booth. The school operated here until 1874 when it was moved to the former AME church on Sixth Avenue.
Marker is on 1st Avenue 0 miles north of 12th Street, on the right when traveling south.
Courtesy hmdb.org
