“For The Purpose of Building a Schoolhouse…”
Four Men, Two Rooms, One Vision
For the Purposes of Building a schoolhouse for the education of colored Children…
In 1868 this was an ambitious - even dangerous goal.
But the 14th amendment had just passed Congress and with it came the promise of freedom that potended equality. The amendment had not yet been ratified, but for four men, Alexander Fain, Jordan Netherland, Albert Jones, and Nathaniel Mitchell – there was no wisdom in waiting another moment. These men had a vision – a center of learning for Black children in their rural community. They pooled their money together and purchased a plot of land on which they’d build a school.
That school was Price Public.
Steeped in Purpose.
The brick structure at 203 Spring Street has always been a building that stood with a purpose.
It Started With A Plot
There’s a certain level of vision required to look at a few acres of land and see a future of Black children achieving. But that’s exactly what Alexander Fain, Jordan Netherland, Albert Jones, and Nathaniel Mitchell saw when they purchased a [size] plot of land for $XXX.00
Served Faithfully
In the XX years that Price Public School stood in service at 203 Spring Street, the building served over [XX number] children from grades [X-XX] and honored [XX number] graduates. There are [XX number] alums of Price Public still in Rogersville today.
Why ‘Price’ Public
After Fain, Netherland Jones and Mitchell purchased the land they still needed to build a school. The first structure to house that school was a two-room log cabin. The logs that were used to build it were donated by H. L. Price, and the school has borne his name ever since.
Restore the Building
In [XX year] the faithful brick schoolhouse underwent major renovations. The plans included [this feature], [this second feature] and a wing dedicated to honoring the legacy of Swift Memorial College. Over $80K worth of renovations were made and the building was recognized as being historically significant.
A New House of Bricks
The original two-room cabin served the school until [a year]. In 1923 the now historic brick building was built on 203 Spring Street and dedicated by Mayor Gayle P Kyle and the Rogersville Board of Aldermen. Doors opened on [Specific date here]
Renew the Purpose
In 2003 Price Public School took on a new life as Price Public Community Center. For nearly 20 years the historic brick building that was once purposed to serve the community by educating Black children has stood firm in a new purpose – to bring together the entire community of Rogersville.
