Lee County Training School facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Lee County Training School
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Lee County Training School, March 2007
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 Location in North Carolina
Location in the United States
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| Location | 806 S. Vance St., Sanford, North Carolina |
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| Area | 2 acres (0.81 ha) |
| Built | 1927 |
| Built by | Boykin, A. L. "Link" |
| MPS | Lee County MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 00001551 |
| Added to NRHP | December 28, 2000 |
The Lee County Training School, also known as the W. B. Wicker School, is a very old and important school building in Sanford, North Carolina. It was built in 1927 and has a long history of helping students get a great education. This school is special because it provided education for African American children during a time when schools were separated by race. Today, it continues to be a place of learning, focusing on science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM). It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2000, which means it's recognized as an important historical site.
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A School with a Special History
The Lee County Training School is one of the oldest schools in Lee County, North Carolina. It has almost a century of history. The building is made of brick and has large windows. It was built by A.L. “Link” Boykin, who was an important person in Sanford’s black community.
Building a Place for Learning
The school was built in 1927. More parts were added in 1934 and 1949. Some of the money to build the school came from the Rosenwald Fund. This fund was started by Booker T. Washington, a famous Black leader and educator. The Rosenwald schools were built across the southern United States in the early 1900s. They helped provide education for Black Americans when schools were separated by race.
Education During Segregation
For many years, the Lee County Training School was the main high school for African American students in Sanford and Lee County. During this time, schools were separated by race, which was called segregation. This meant Black and white students went to different schools. The school helped many students get an education during these challenging times.
Honoring a Dedicated Leader
The school was later renamed the W. B. Wicker School. This was to honor William Bartelle Wicker. He was a dedicated leader who worked very hard to give quality education to students in Lee County. His efforts helped many students succeed. The school stopped being a high school in 1969. Classes for younger students were held there until the late 1980s.
A New Chapter for the School
After many years, the school building needed some help. In 2001, different groups worked together to restore it. These groups included Brick Capital Community Development Corporation (CDC), Lee County, and the City of Sanford.
From Business Campus to STEAM School
By 2006, the restored school became the W. B. Wicker Business Campus. It housed a learning center and other businesses. Brick Capital CDC owned and managed it until 2018.
In 2018, Lee County bought the school. The goal was to turn it back into a school for children. It became an elementary STEAM school. STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math. The school revitalized three old parts: the main building, the auditorium, and the gym. A new building was also added. Now, the school can teach over 900 students.
