Alumni rally to restore historic Black school in Madison County

MADISON COUNTY, Fla. (WCTV) – A former segregated school that once served as a beacon of education for African American students in Madison County now sits in despair.

However, a group of alumni and community leaders is working to restore the site and repurpose it for future generations.

The Madison County Training School, which educated Black students from Kindergarten through 12th grade during the 1950s and 1960s, and the neighboring Suwannee River Junior College have been abandoned for decades.

Many of the people leading the restoration effort once attended the school themselves.

Betty Johnson, a graduate and fundraising chair for the restoration committee, watched her step as she trekked through the rubble of her alma mater.

“From first grade to twelfth grade, they were our second parents,” Johnson said of the teachers who worked there.

View other photos of the property here:

Both the K-12 school and junior college provided educational opportunities at a time when segregation limited access for Black students. Ray Mobley, executive director of the restoration committee, said the campus was once a hub of activity for the community.

“Out of this community came people like, you know, doctors and lawyers and military folks,” Mobley said.

The schools closed as integration expanded and an integrated Madison Middle School later occupied the site before closing in 2001. Since then, the property has deteriorated, with broken windows and significant structural damage.

The Madison County Training School, which educated Black students from Kindergarten through... — The Madison County Training School, which educated Black students from Kindergarten through 12th grade during the 1950s and 1960s, and the neighboring Suwannee River Junior College have been abandoned for decades.(Jamiya Coleman)

“It’s heartbreaking to know that the facility has gone down in the shape that it is,” Jerome Wyche, former Madison city manager and restoration committee member, said.

Now, organizers hope to transform the property into a community resource, offering vocational programs, technology centers, childcare services and more.

The committee is currently seeking $100,000 to pay off part of the property by March 26 and move forward with the first phase of restoration. About $30,000 has been raised so far.

“If we can get $100,000 in five months, hey, we can move mountains together,” Johnson said.

While there is no timeline for when the project could be completed, organizers hope to once again make the site a place of opportunity just like their school was for them 60 years ago, particularly for residents with limited resources.

For those interested in donating to help restore the property, click here.

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