Goffe Street Special School for Colored Children facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Goffe Street Special School for Colored Children
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | 106 Goffe St., New Haven, Connecticut |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1864 |
| Architect | Henry Austin |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 79002643 |
| Added to NRHP | August 17, 1979 |
The Goffe Street Special School for Colored Children is a very important place in African-American history. It's located at 106 Goffe Street in New Haven, Connecticut. This building is also known as the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Masons. It was recognized as a special historic place in 1979.
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A Special School for African American Children
Before this school was built, there were not many good schools for African-American children. The first school for African Americans in New Haven opened in 1811. Later, in 1854, a black teacher named Sally Wilson started a small school in her own home.
Why the School Was Built
In 1864, people in New Haven decided they needed a better, more lasting school. They wanted to help African-American children get a good education. At that time, these children often had fewer chances to go to school than others. The goal was to improve their minds and lives.
Mary Lucas Hillhouse helped a lot. She bought the land for $5,000. She also hired a famous architect, Henry Austin, to design the building. Mr. Austin gave his design for free! People raised money, and the school was built in 1864.
The Building and Its Uses
The school building is made of brick. It has a pointed roof and two main floors, plus an attic. Inside, the main staircase has strong wooden railings. It's a good example of Italianate style architecture.
From 1866 to 1871, the school also offered evening classes. This was important because many African-American children had very few chances to learn. The school closed in 1874. This happened because African-American children were finally allowed to attend public schools with white children, starting in 1869.
After closing as a school, the building was used by different African-American community groups. It served as a church hall and a meeting place for the Prince Hall Masons. In 1995, the building was sold to the Widow's Son Lodge No. 1, a Masonic group.
A Famous Student
The Masons worked to fix up the building. They got help from Gateway Community College, local public schools, and Yale University. In 1997, a small museum called the Little Red Brick Schoolhouse Museum opened inside.
One very famous person who went to this school was Edward Bouchet. He was the first African American to earn a PhD (a very high college degree) from any American university.
