All about Central Academy (Old Central
Academy High School) (AACA-OCAHS)
Tallahassee is informed about Central
academy Being the 1st Black Accredited High School (1991)
While being
program Director for N.E.H.D. Steven Bell created an original community-based
program and plan for Central Academy. Which was to be a multi-purposed type of
Center, with programs ,after school classrooms for study, a library, meeting
and various project rooms, a daycare facility, and more.
This was
after learning about the school from his mother: the late Lorene Fells Bell,
and his aunt: the late Irene Green, (who had one of the first black beauty
salons in Palatka on the north-side, which was located on N. 1oth street. A survey was made of the Palatka community
talking to choice elderly citizens like Mrs. Verbena Bryant, Ms. Lane (the
great educator who started one of the first black schools in Palatka) he also
talked with the late Dorthea Smith.
Traveling
with Lawrence Hutcherson he went up to Tallahassee in 1991, for a 2 day trip to
do a presentation before the State of Florida Historic Preservation Board.
(This was after meeting several months with no success with the Putnam County
School Board, who owned the property and was using it as a bus depot.)
On the first day-It was here that he informed
the board about Central Academy (who at the time stated that they were not
aware that Putnam County had the first black school in the state, but rather
they thought that Hastings Florida did.
On the second day-they informed Steven Bell
that he was correct and to come back later for possible funding for the central
Academy project in the upcoming years.
National Register of Historic Places (In 1998)
The
work of placing Central Academy on the National Register of Historic Places was
primarily accomplished by Mr. Lawrence Hutcherson of Palatka Fl.32177. Mr. Lawrence Hutcherson and Steven Bell had been meeting and
discussing with the Putnam County school board for over 7 years. These included David Buckles, Jerry Melosh and other consecutive Superintendents. The School
Board did not what to release the building to a non-profit organization (even
though the Historic guidelines informed them that they could.)
I, Steven Bell assisted him to a small degree doing research. Lawrence
Hutcherson put in a lot of free time, many hours and research (months) In 1998 the
building was awarded designation as a nationally significant Historical Site
(Bldg # 9800138).
Central Academy (added 1998 - - #98001348)
1207 Washington St. , Palatka
|
Historic
Significance:
|
Event
|
Area
of Significance:
|
Black, Education
|
Period
of Significance:
|
1925-1949, 1900-1924
|
Owner:
|
Local
|
Historic
Function:
|
Education
|
Historic
Sub-function:
|
School
|
Current
Function:
|
Education
|
|
To learn more about the National Register of Historic Places click on the following link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Register_of_Historic_Places
Here is a murial about Central Academ
RESOLUTION No, 8 - 6
A RESOLUTION
OF THE CITY OF PALATKA, FLORIDA, OPPOSING THE DEMOLITION OF THE Historic
PALATKA CENTRAL ACADEMY BUILDING, AND SUPPORTING THE MISSION OF THE "SAVE
HISTORIC CENTRAL ACADEMY COMMITTEE" TO STUDY ALTERNATIVES TO ITS DEMOLITlON
AND TO SEEK FUNDS TO RENOVATE THE BUILDING FOR USE AS A COMMUNITY CENTER
WHEREAS,
Palatka's Central Academy Elementary! High School was built in 1937 at 1200
Washington Street after the original building was destroyed by fire; and
WHEREAS,
Palatka's Historic Central Academy Elementary! High School, which housed it's
last alumni class in 1971, was accredited by the State of Florida in the
mid-1920's, and holds the distinction of being the first accredited black high
school in the State of Florida
*****
HISTORIC CENTRAL ACADEMY PRESERVATION AND
COMMUNITY DEVELOP
Shelia McCoy (officer) 115 Pinyon Ln
Palatka , Fl. 32177
|
Employee
Identification Number: 510540982
|
Asset Amount: $0
|
Income Amount: $0
|
Form 990 Revenue
Amount: $0
|
Tax Year: , 2010
|
Revenue Under
$25,000: Yes
|
Terminated Required: No
|
Tax Period Begin
Date: January 1, 2010
|
Tax Period End Date: December 31, 2010
|
Officer Name: Shelia McCoy
|
Officer Address: 115 Pinyon Lane
|
Officer City, State
Zip : Palatka, FL 32177
******
Central Academy
Group to meet Monday
Historical Central Academy,
Preservation and Community
Development Inc. will meet at 7 p.m.
Monday at the Heart of Putnam
Christian Service Center, 820 Reid
St. Call G. Baker at 329-9404.
HISTORICAL CENTRAL ACADEMY,
Preservation and Community Development Inc. meeting, 7 p.m.,
third Mondays, The Heart of Putnam Christian
Service Center, 820 Reid St., Palatka.
Call G. Baker at 329-9404
Source: Palatka daily News
http://matchbin-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/public/sites/2839/assets/3TOC_7.19.14pdn.pdf
*********
|
HISTORIC
CENTRAL ACADEMY PRESERVATION AND COMMUNITY DEVELOP
|
Physical Address:
|
115 Pinyon Ln
Lawrence Hutcherson
Palatka, FL 32177
|
EIN:
|
51-0540982
|
NTEE Category:
|
A Arts, Culture, and Humanities
A80 (Historical Societies and Related Activities)
|
Ruling Year:
|
2007
|
******
There is also another website, with a PRIVATE SCHOOL listed under the
same name Central academy which list a
Palatka address, but is really from MS state!:
There are addresses listed from another state on it:
********
There is
also another website, with the same name and maybe associated with Shelia
McCoy’s organization.
Central Academy Preservation and Community Development Inc.
Our
mission is to obtain funds to "rescue",
"restore", and "preserve" the building and grounds
of the first accredited black high school in the state of Florida to honor
the legacy of its past, uphold the remaining dignity of
its present and secure its place in community, city, county, and state
history for future generations
- David M. Calhoun commented on it: He stated, “Others constantly remind us that this is our
history. As heirs and stewards of this legacy, it is our
responsibility to revive and secure it. Not just for our African
American culture and history, but for the city, county, and state as
well. Our future depends on it!"-David
M. Calhoun
- 4-29-2016 Insert> Well it appears Mr. Calhoun that IT STILL HAS NOT BEEN REVIVED NOR SECURED. IT IS ALSO CLEAR THAT NO ONE HAS CARED ENOUGH, OR HAS BEEN EFFECTIVE ENOUGH FOR THEIR EFFORTS TO BE FRUITFUL, JUST ALOT OF MEETINGS, TALKING AND MUCH VERBAL RAMBLINGS! THE HOUSING AUTHORITY IS SUPPOSE TO BE WORKING ON IT BUT WE WILL CONTINUE TO WAIT AND SEE....(WHILE PRAYING AND BELIEVING THAT THE RIGHT PEOPLE,PLACES, FUNDING MONEY & THINGS WILL COME TOGETHER)
****************************
Some Alumni from Central Academy Academy (Old
Central Academy High School) are:
Robert H. Jenkins
- A LOCAL WAR HERO, WHO GAVE HIS LIFE SERVING HIS COUNTRY: http://www.mcu.usmc.mil/historydivision/Pages/Who%27s%20Who/J-L/jenkins_rh.aspx
Robert H. Jenkins, Jr.,
who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism in Vietnam in March
1969, was born 1 June 1948, in Interlachen, Florida. He attended Oak Grove
Elementary School from 1955 until 1963, and Central Academy High School from 1963 until 1967 in Palatka,
Florida.
He enlisted in the
U.S. Marine Corps in Jacksonville, Florida, 2 February 1968, and received
recruit training with the 2d Recruit Training Battalion, Recruit Training
Regiment, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina. He was
promoted to private first class, 1 April 1968.
Transferred to the
Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, he underwent individual combat
training with the 2d Infantry Training Battalion, 1st Infantry Training
Regiment, and infantry special training with the 1st Infantry Training
Battalion, completing the latter in May 1968.
Private First Class
Jenkins was transferred to the Republic of Vietnam in July 1968, and assigned
to Headquarters and Service Company, 3d Reconnaissance Battalion, 3d Marine
Division. Later that month, he was reassigned as a scout and driver with
Company C, 3d Reconnaissance Battalion. While serving as a machine gunner with
Company C at Fire Support Base Argonne, south of the Demilitarized Zone on 5
March 1969, he was killed in action.
A complete list of
his medals and decorations includes: the Medal of Honor, the Purple Heart, the
National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with two bronze
stars, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.
**********
Central Academy mentioned in the Putnam County School Board
Minutes: (2013)
“Superintendent Criswell said the District will build
a new transportation facility. The current Palatka facility is out-of-date
and shares space with the abandoned building that formerly housed Florida's
first accredited African-American high school, Central Academy. Seven years
ago, the District deeded the building to the non-profit organization, Historic
Central Academy Preservation and Community Development Corp.” (what?, which would have been 2006? This is wrong to my knowledge)
See
(Putnam County School Board District) below:
*********
GOOGLE HAS WRONG LISTING AND PICTURE FOR CENTRAL
ACADEMY SCHOOL:
*********
FLORIDA
HOMETOWN LOCATOR- used (Central
Academy) FOR “FEATURE” MARKETING, ADVERTISEMENT, TO DRAW PEOPLE AND MAKE PUTNAM
MORE SIGNIFICANT? (SEE BELOW)
http://florida.hometownlocator.com/maps/feature-map,ftc,2,fid,280248,n,central%20academy%20school.cfm
Central Academy School is a cultural feature (school) in Putnam County.
Central Academy School is located within Palatka, Florida at latitude 29.6555
and longitude -81.6398. The primary coordinates for Central Academy School
places it within the
ZIP
Code 32177 delivery area.
In the Maps and Aerial Photos section below, you'll find links to: (1) Local
area photos around Central Academy School, (2) A listing of
the nearest
hotels to Central Academy School and (3) Driving Directions to Central
Academy School from almost anywhere. The location of Central Academy School is
marked on an interactive map. The map can be searched by either business name
or business category.
* When I followed the link I got a wrong picture
and area, every time? (You try it)
**********
Robert e. Taylor’s Architectural
Designs
Design Aspects
Preserve & Restore an 80 year old school building which
served as Florida’s First accredited African American School.
A school from the early 1902’s till 1970, the building
remained in service as a warehouse until the year 2000.
(In the mean time Mr. Lawrence Hutcherson was still working faithfully trying to help research, connect people together and talk to people about funding)
In 1998 the building was awarded designation as a nationally
significant Historical Site (Bldg # 9800138).
Building to be restored to be a Multi-Purpose Community
Building including Classrooms, Library, Museum, Meeting Rooms, Clinic and
Daycare Facility.
(These
architectural Plans were NEVER carried out!)
·
I
wonder what happened?
·
What
group/organization proposed the architectural Project?
·
Why
did the firm never get paid?
·
What
happened to the plans?
0726 Conceptual Plans for Historic Central Academy
0724 Restoration Historic Central Academy, Palatka, Florida 321773-F-9 Central
Academy High School - 1966 Proposed Gym
3-E-1 Central Academy - Maintenance & Bus Garage Washington Central Academy
*************
Pictures-Central Academy (Past) by Ebyabe
Sources:
Sources:
******
Pictures-Central Academy (Present, approx. 2011) by Steven Bell
This historic building which is
listed on the National Registry of Historic Places, has fallen into despair,
disrepair, and has been abandoned by the Putnam County School Board; and donating
this historic building to the Palatka Housing Authority for renovation and
repairs. As of yet the Housing Authority have not done anything, and the
building has become a community eyesore!
The building is currently in an
extreme state of rottenness, decay, and abandonment. Hopefully the Palatka
Housing Authority will be able to raise the necessary funds to restore the
building and property. Here is a link were they have went before the State Historic Preservation Board ( just as I did in 1991) : http://dos.myflorida.com/media/32738/fy2016_review_list.pdf
It is my goal to see this thru, and help as much as I can by continual researching, networking and even soliciting funds,to help
with this most noble cause.
Steven Bell
