Looking Back to Look Forward- The History of Dunbar School

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On September 17, 1867, the Board of Education purchased a lot for a Negro School in Meredith Alley off Jackson Street between Jefferson and Madison Streets.  This was to replace a school at the corner of Monroe and Beech Streets near Hamilton Street.  Negros in the community contributed their time and labor in the construction of the building, a four-room brick structure with a small frame addition built to accommodate the increasing enrollment.  The building was in use for 61 years.  

The year 1903 brought Edward L. Morton as principal and Mary Jordan as teacher of the first four grades with an enrollment of 45 pupils.  Miss Jordan resigned in 1906 to marry Mr. Morton.  She was replaced by her sister Bessie Jordan who remained until 1909 when she resigned and was replaced by Florence Cobb of Columbus, Ohio. 

In 1909, it was decided that the school should have a name.  It had just been called the "Colored School."  A pupil, the late Jack Dawson, chose the name Dunbar in honor of the eminent poet Paul Lawrence Dunbar.  Another student, the late Lawrence Chamberlain christened the building.  During the dedication service, Elizabeth Chamberlain recited one of Dunbar's works, "When Melindy Sings."

In 1912, the late William Oscar Armstrong, Jr. came from Boston to teach and act as principal.  He remained as principal for a period of 46 years.  The school continued in its location on Dunbar Street until the enrollment increased beyond the capacity of the building.  the over-crowding was first relieved by the construction of a two room block building on the rear of the lot that was to the be site of the new building.  Later this block building was used for classrooms and a shop for industrial arts.  Later, an addition was made to this building.

On January 9, 1928 a contract was awarded for the construction of a new building at the corner of Weatherwax and High Streets at a cost of $169,397.  The architect for the Building was William B. Ittner.  Excavation began January 30 and the cornerstone was laid on April 15.  The building was completed on December 1, 1928 and the dedicatory services were held from December 11 through December 14. 

 This new school was a combination grade and high school.  It had 18 classrooms and a capacity for 600 students.  Three hundred seventy-nine students entered the new school which was to become outstanding in the various curriculum areas.  The number of students grew to 700 plus in 1940.  As proof of its excellence, the school was accepted into membership of the North Central Association for Secondary Schools and Colleges.  The grade school achieved a rating of a Model School. 

The Board of Education during the construction of the new Dunbar School consisted of: RC Jones, President, RT Cunningham, Commissioner, Mrs. W. S. Mayers, Commissioner, Mrs. George DeBold, Secretary and Otis  G. Wilson, Superintendent.  

After the erection of the new building, the old building was sold in front of the east steps of the Marion County Courthouse the first Saturday in January 1929.

In 1954, when, after the US Supreme Court handed down its historic decision on school desegregation, the Board of Education immediately began preparing to desegregate the schools.  Through the efforts of JJ Straight, superintendent, and the Board of Education, an orderly desegreation was accomplished.  Consequently, the class of 1955 was the last graduating class at Dunbar.  The elementary school remained open one more year through the 1955-1956 school term during which the enrollment diminished to the extent that only four teachers were needed.  Mr. ARmstrong remained as principal.  At the end of the term in 1956, the remaining teachers and principal were transferred to Miller School.  Mr. Armstrong was given the position of assistant principal of Miller Junior High School.  

The Dunbar building was closed for several years and later opened as an annex to the Fairmont Junior High School.  The name Dunbar School was covered by a name plate bearing the name Fairmont Junior High Annex.  

Fifteen years after the closing of Dunbar, a group of black citizens preented the board of Education some requests concerning the education of black students.  Included in these requests was one asing the Board to restore the name Dunbar School on the building.  The granting of this request resuted in the opening of Dunbar as an elementary school on an integrated basis.

At the beginning of the 1971-1972 school term, Dunbar opened with Charles W. Nallen, Sr. as the principal with 27 teachers and 471 students.  Mr. Nallen continued as principal until his retirement in 1975.

In September of 1984, Dunbar School became the school for all fifth and sixth grade students in the West Fairmont Area.