The Elmore County Black History Museum

Picture by Barry Chrietzberg

MINORITY AND WOMEN OWNED AND MANAGED BUSINESSES

SPOTLIGHT ARTICLE

            The Elmore County Black History Museum was established in 1986. It is one of the more familiar and popular tourist locations around the City of Wetumpka.  They have produced a brochure which the Wetumpka Area Chamber of Commerce distributes on a regular basis to visitors, those relocating to the Wetumpka area, school children, reunion attendees, genealogists, and any others who have special interest in the history of Wetumpka and Elmore County. 

            Their information informs us that this Museum is currently operated by the Elmore County Black History Committee, whose mission is to use the museum as a means to stimulate interest in African American family life and history in our area.  The end result should also promote a more thorough understanding of and appreciation for researching the family history of those whose heritage has often been under recognized.

            This stately structure was built as a result of the fact that in 1911, Julius Rosenwald, then president of Sears, Roebuck and Company, met Booker T. Washington, the nation’s foremost black educator and founder of Tuskegee Institute.  Rosenwald, a Chicago millionaire first became interested in Washington and his efforts in Tuskegee through reading the biography of William H. Baldwin, Jr., chairman of the Tuskegee trustees who died in 1905.  Later in the year of 1911 Rosewald visit Tuskegee in Macon County and was impressed with the contrast between the “decadent rural surroundings and the energy and achievement” he saw at the Institute. The next year Rosenwald and Washington soon launched one of the most ambitious school building projects ever witnessed.  He channeled large sums of money into what would become known as the Rosenwald School Building Fund Program.  This plan provided matching monies to build modern, up–to-date school buildings for rural Black children.  Between 1912 and 1932, 389 schools, teachers’ homes and training facilities were built in Alabama.  Thus The Elmore County Training School, built in 1924, was one of nine schools built in Elmore County through this program.  This building is the only surviving structure of its kind still standing in the County and the only brick structure of its kind built in Elmore County.  The Teacher’s home built concurrently still stands also.

            In 1986, former Mayor Jeanette Barrett proposed the idea of using the building as a museum to keep it from being demolished.  Mayor Barrett and Mrs. Hertisene Crenshaw located funds to renovate the facility.  These ladies forged ahead to explore the idea and implementation of a Black History Museum.  Roscoe A. Lee, former Elmore County extension agent was elected temporary chairman to oversee plans for the facility.  In order to meet the goal of an open house by the end of 1986, the State Department of Archives loaned display cases to house temporary exhibits.  These loans later became a permanent part of the Museum.  The Museum was established as a place where Elmore County’s Black heritage is displayed and educational exhibits and programs are held to educate people – locals and visitors.  And the Museum did indeed open in December of 1986 during Christmas on the Coosa celebrations.

            The intrepid group of volunteers has worked to acquire, display and create permanent collections which focus on the history of Elmore County Black families, churches, schools and organizations.  Paintings by Wetumpka native Steve Mitchell, which depict scenes from life in Wetumpka are on permanent display as well as paintings donated by artist Columbus Cook, also a native Wetumpkian.  Arbor Day ceremonies have honored two faithful Museum volunteers—Mrs. Martha B. Jones (1998) and Mrs. Eloyse Jones (2005), both Elmore County educators.  Mrs. Virginia Durr was honored in 1989, when she spoke on the work of she and her husband during the civil rights movement, in her book Inside the Magic Circle.  Several plaques honor the work and contributions of county residents, including the plaque listing Elmore County Black community leaders sponsored by the Wise Family in honor and memory of Mrs. Lucile Wise and the James Mack Community Involvement plaque.  In 2000, the Thread My Needle   quilting group began meeting at the Museum to practice their craft and as a means of having the building open at least once a week.  This group received the Idella Childs Distinguished Service Award for preserving a significant African American Folk art tradition.

            On May 19, 2009, the Museum unveiled the Historic Marker to bring honor to and remember the Elmore County Training School.  Among a host of local dignitaries and the Board and Association Members of the Elmore County Association of Black Heritage, the momentous occasion to celebrate the achievements of those who had attended this institution was  recognized.

            Although the Museum maintains no regular hours of operation, a special tour can be arranged by calling Ms. Elaine Pace at (334) 514-7883.  Frazine Taylor, former archivist at the Alabama Department of Archives was instrumental in getting the site named to the Alabama Historic Register in 2005.

Written by: Jan Wood, Director of The Wetumpka Area Chamber of Commerce