Douglas School facts for kids
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Douglas School
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Douglas School, April 2012
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 Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Location | 598 N. Kent St., Winchester, Virginia |
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| Area | 9.5 acres (3.8 ha) |
| Built | 1927 |
| Architect | Long, R.V.; Gardner & Newcome |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 00000558 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | May 26, 2000 |
The Douglas School, also known as the Douglas Community Learning Center, is a special historic building in Winchester, Virginia. It was once a school for African-American students.
The school was built in 1927. It got money from something called the John Handley Endowment, which is like a special fund. The building has a unique design with a main hall in the middle.
It is a one-story building made of dark red bricks. It has a grand entrance with four columns, designed in a style called Classical Revival. Over the years, more parts were added to the building in 1940, 1951, and 1962.
A School for African-American Students
For many years, the Douglas School was the only school for African-American students in Winchester. This was a time when schools were separated by race. This separation was sometimes called "separate but equal," even though facilities were often not truly equal.
The school served its community until 1966. That year, schools in Winchester became integrated. This meant that students of all races could attend the same schools. After integration, the Douglas School closed as a school.
From School to Community Center
When the school closed in 1966, it became a community center. This means it was used for different activities and programs for everyone in the community.
The school might have been named after Frederick Douglass. He was a famous writer and leader who fought for freedom and equal rights for African Americans. Even though the spelling is a little different, it's a strong possibility.
In 2000, the Douglas School was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is recognized as an important historical site in the United States.
Images for kids
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Douglas School, April 2012
