Alamance County Honors Restored McCray School for Black Children on 110th Anniversary

The McCray School, a restored one-room schoolhouse for Black children built in 1915-1916 in Alamance County, is being honored on its 110th anniversary as part of Black History Month. Local officials and community posts are highlighting the milestone and the building’s recent restoration as a moment of remembrance and renewal for county residents.

ABSS highlighted the anniversary and restoration in a statement that reads, “ABSS highlights the 110th anniversary and restoration of McCray School, a historic one-room schoolhouse for Black children in Alamance County built in 1915-1916, as part of Black History Month.” An accompanying Instagram post used the hashtag #BlackHistoryMonth and included the wording: “#BlackHistoryMonth | Today, we recognize the 110th anniversary and successful restoration of the McCray School. Built in 1915-1916 on N.C.” The Instagram caption appears truncated at the end; local reporters and historians say confirming the post details will help fill in missing location context.

Preserving the McCray School carries community significance that goes beyond bricks and mortar. One-room schools for Black children are tangible reminders of an era when educational access was shaped by segregation and unequal resources. Restoring such buildings preserves stories of families, teachers, and students who sustained learning under constrained circumstances and provides a focal point for community memory and intergenerational conversation.

Public health and social equity experts note that restoration of cultural landmarks supports emotional and social wellbeing by strengthening community identity and civic engagement. In practical terms, a restored McCray School could offer space for history programming, community meetings, school visits, or health outreach - uses that connect historical preservation to current needs in education, mental health, and access to services. Local leaders who promoted the restoration framed the work as part of broader efforts to honor Black history during this month of recognition.

The announcements to date do not specify the restoration’s timeline, funding sources, or the people and groups who led the project. Those details are important for understanding how preservation projects are resourced and sustained, and for ensuring transparency about public and private investment in local heritage. County residents seeking to learn more or to participate in future programs at the site should watch for follow-up communications from ABSS and local historical organizations.

Today’s observance of the McCray School’s 110th anniversary is both a commemoration of past struggles and a signal about what civic preservation can mean for Alamance County’s future. As the county marks Black History Month, the restored school stands as an asset for education, heritage, and community health — and a reminder to document and support the people and funding that keep such places alive.