By Jheri Hardaway
Staff Writer
Shawtown - Shawtown, North Carolina, is a historically African American community near Lillington in Harnett County. Distinguished by a robust history of community-driven education, primarily centered around the Shawtown School, this institution was established through the Rosenwald Fund in the 1920s to serve the educational needs of Black children.
The Shawtown School's origins date back to the early 1900s, initiating on a small parcel of land approximately three-tenths of a mile south of its current site at 965 Shawtown Road, Lillington, North Carolina. Given the limited educational resources for Black citizens by the state of North Carolina at that time, community members purchased an acre of land and erected the initial wooden structure, which accommodated grades one through seven. Two teachers were employed, and Mr. Suggs served as the inaugural principal while also instructing classes. Teachers received minimal salaries, which were supplemented by the citizens of the Shawtown community.
Mr. C. W. McNeil subsequently assumed the principalship. During his tenure, additional classrooms were constructed around 1924, and as enrollment expanded, the curriculum was extended to include grade eight. Students who completed grade eight and attended a summer session were awarded certificates enabling them to teach. Individuals who finished the eighth grade and sought to pursue further education were required to attend boarding schools outside the town, such as Mary Potter School in Oxford, NC, and Harnett County Training School in Dunn, NC. Other individuals who served as principal of the original school include Mrs. Maggie Street, Mrs. Betty McKoy, Mr. T. J. Young, and Reverend Jameson.
The legacy of the Shawtown School is alive and well. The Shawtown Highschool Alumni Association has broken ground on a community center. The mission is to create a space that allows at-risk families to receive tutoring assistance, skill building training, career orientation, entrepreneurial access, on-site health and dental screening, peer group support, debate skills, anger redirection, healthy nutrition choices, law enforcement partnerships, mentorship, non-traditional career choices, and specific needs referrals assistance. By doing so we hope to foster a strong sense of solidarity among the Shawtown community and to create a better future for generations to come. Impressive sums of money has already been gathered and the progress is encouraging to say the least. A dedicated group with an appreciation for the opportunities created for them persisted and we at The Carolinian are thrilled to cheer on the progress and provide encouragement and upadtes.
Donate today by buying a brick at:
Shawtownhs.org.
