Thursday, January 29, 2015

HOW IT ALL BEGAN...



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 CARE 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