National Register Record for LINCOLN COLORED SCHOOL

Historic Name: LINCOLN COLORED SCHOOL
Current Name: SAME
Address: 171 NE WALNUT
City: FAIRFAX            County: OSAGE
Section: None           Township: None           Range: None          
Description of significance: THE LINCOLN COLORED SCHOOL IN THE SMALL TOWN OF FAIRFAX IS A SINGLE STORY WOODEN SCHOOLHOUSE BUILT IN 1929. IT IS AN EXCELLENT LOCAL EXAMPLE OF A SEPARATE SCHOOL, A SCHOOL OPEN ONLY TO AFRICAN AMERICAN CHILDREN DURING THE ERA OF SCHOOL SEGREGATION. BY 1929, THE AFRICAN AMERICAN POPULATION IN FAIRFAX HAD GROWN ENOUGH TO CONSTRUCT THIS SEPARATE SCHOOL BUILDING. UNTIL THE SCHOOL WAS COMPLETED, AFRICAN AMERICAN CHILDREN ATTENDED SCHOOL IN A PRIVATE HOME. THE FINISHED SCHOOL HAD ONLY ONE CLASSROOM WITH ONLY ONE TEACHER. IN 1955, THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IN FAIRFAX WAS INTEGRATED AND THE SEPARATE SCHOOL WAS NO LONGER NEEDED. LISTED IN NATIONAL REGISTER 12/5/2003.

Type: BUILDING
Historic Function: EDUCATION: SCHOOL
Current Function: VACANT/NOT IN USE
Area of Significance 1: ETHNIC HERITAGE: BLACK
Area of Significance 2: EDUCATION
Architectural Style: NO DISTINCTIVE STYLE
Architect: GRAY, WALTER L., BUILDER
Year Built: 1929            Original Site: YES
Condition: None
Restricted: N
Documentation Source: None
Date Prepared: 09/01/03