Goffe Street Special School for Colored Children
Encyclopedia
Goffe Street Special School for Colored Children is an important landmark of African-American history in New Haven, Connecticut
. The building, also known as Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Masons, was added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 1979.
Mary Lucas Hillhouse, daughter of James Hillhouse
, purchased land for $5,000 and hired New Haven architect Henry Austin
to design the building. Austin donated his design. Money was raised and the building was built in 1864. The brick
, gable-roofed building is two stories with an attic and a wide dentillated cornice. The interior staircase includes heavy turned baluster
s and an oak handrail.
The school served as an evening school from 1866 to 1871. Very few educational opportunities for African-American children were available previously. The school then closed in 1874 as African-American children began attending previously all-white public schools, beginning 1869. The building was subsequently used by African-American community organizations, as a parish hall and as a lodge for Prince Hall
Masons. The building was sold to the Widow’s Son Lodge No. 1 in 1995.
The building was renovated by the Masons
with help from Gateway Community College
, city public schools and Yale University
. The one-room Little Red Brick Schoolhouse Museum opened in 1997.
New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven is the second-largest city in Connecticut and the sixth-largest in New England. According to the 2010 Census, New Haven's population increased by 5.0% between 2000 and 2010, a rate higher than that of the State of Connecticut, and higher than that of the state's five largest cities, and...
. The building, also known as Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Masons, was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1979.
History
The first school for African-Americans in New Haven opened in 1811. In 1854, Sally Wilson, a black teacher, began a small school for African-American children in her own house in New Haven (The Artisan Street Colored School). The creation of a more permanent institution was proposed at a meeting of New Haven citizens in the home of Atwater Treat in 1864. The purpose was to provide for
...the intellectual and moral well being
of the colored people of the Town of New Haven and especially of their
children...for the elevation and benefit of the class among us, particularly
in view of the fact that they have been less favored than others
as well as to educational advantages.
Mary Lucas Hillhouse, daughter of James Hillhouse
James Hillhouse
James Hillhouse was an American lawyer, real estate developer, and politician from New Haven, Connecticut. He represented Connecticut in both the U.S. House and Senate...
, purchased land for $5,000 and hired New Haven architect Henry Austin
Henry Austin (architect)
Henry Austin was a prominent and prolific American architect based in New Haven, Connecticut. He practiced for more than fifty years and designed many public buildings and homes primarily in the New Haven area...
to design the building. Austin donated his design. Money was raised and the building was built in 1864. The brick
Brick
A brick is a block of ceramic material used in masonry construction, usually laid using various kinds of mortar. It has been regarded as one of the longest lasting and strongest building materials used throughout history.-History:...
, gable-roofed building is two stories with an attic and a wide dentillated cornice. The interior staircase includes heavy turned baluster
Baluster
A baluster is a moulded shaft, square or of lathe-turned form, one of various forms of spindle in woodwork, made of stone or wood and sometimes of metal, standing on a unifying footing, and supporting the coping of a parapet or the handrail of a staircase. Multiplied in this way, they form a...
s and an oak handrail.
The school served as an evening school from 1866 to 1871. Very few educational opportunities for African-American children were available previously. The school then closed in 1874 as African-American children began attending previously all-white public schools, beginning 1869. The building was subsequently used by African-American community organizations, as a parish hall and as a lodge for Prince Hall
Prince Hall Freemasonry
Prince Hall Freemasonry derives from historical events which led to a tradition of separate predominantly African-American Freemasonry in North America...
Masons. The building was sold to the Widow’s Son Lodge No. 1 in 1995.
The building was renovated by the Masons
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
with help from Gateway Community College
Gateway Community College
Gateway Community College is a public community college located in Connecticut. The college maintains two campuses: one in New Haven and one in North Haven. As of February 17, 2010, Gateway had the 1st highest credit enrollment among Connecticut's community colleges, with 6987 students enrolled...
, city public schools and Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
. The one-room Little Red Brick Schoolhouse Museum opened in 1997.