Story provided by City of Stillwater
The City of Stillwater and Washington School Alumni Association are asking the community to join them as they begin work at the historic Booker T. Washington School building.
The City and the alumni association are hosting a community clean-up day at the school site, located at 619 W. 12th Avenue, on Saturday, April 22. Sign-in will begin at 9 a.m. at the splash pad across the street in Southern Woods Park and work will begin at 10 a.m.
The City of Stillwater bought the former separate school, which served Stillwater’s Black community during segregation, in December with the goal of preserving and repurposing it for community use. Funding for the purchase was provided by an anonymous donor.
While the building itself is sound, time has taken a toll. Washington School has been unoccupied for many years and the building and grounds must be cleared of old furniture, papers, trash and various types of debris before any other work can be done. The City is providing equipment and supplies for the clean-up.
Volunteers are asked to wear work clothing, sturdy shoes like work boots and to bring work gloves. They are also encouraged to bring tools such as rakes, shovels and wheelbarrows, if available.
“We’re thankful for the Washington School Alumni Association, Mount Zion Church and everyone committed to helping with this project,” City Manager Norman McNickle said. “This important piece of Stillwater’s history has the potential to be a wonderful space that honors the past and serves the whole community, but it will take the whole community to make it happen.”
For additional information about the clean-up day, contact Michelle Charles, [email protected] or (405) 742-8219.
