TPT Executive Director Dan Brown notes, “The Cairo Rosenwald School represents how a building can anchor its community, providing a space for education and fellowship that is shared by generations.  TPT is pleased to join the National Trust and Lowe’s to preserve this important local landmark.”

The Rosenwald Schools represent an important chapter in the history of the United States.  Originally built by Julius Rosenwald and Booker T. Washington between 1918 and 1932 as part of a school-building program for African Americans in the rural South, today only about 10 percent of the over 5,300 buildings constructed remain standing, and many are in serious disrepair.  The National Trust for Historic Preservation named Rosenwald schools to its list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places in 2002.  For more information on the National Trust’s Rosenwald Schools Initiative, go to www.preservationnation.org.

Many local individuals and organizations joined TPT to support the Cairo School Restoration Project. Charlie Crawford donated his managerial time and provided his subcontractors to the project. This was an extraordinary donation and gesture that Charlie committed to assist us throughout the project. In addition, we received donated planning and architectural drawings from Matchett and Associates Architects and from George Clements and his company G. Morris Construction, LLC, also. TPT board member Reggie Mudd was directly involved with the planning, organization, and daily project management. This project was made possible only through Reggie’s generous donations of his money, resources, and time. Along with Reggie, several TPT board members provided generous support and financing of this project. Likeswise, The Sumner County Historical Society pledged $500 towards the restoration. If you would like to make a donation to TPT to help TPT advocate for other historic sites, please contact Cathleen Collett, associate director, at 615-963-1255 or tnprestr@yahoo.com.

Work on Cairo School started on December 2, 2008. After the structure was stabilized, all stone work was repaired along with piers and sleepers beneath the flooring. Replacement of the sill timbers revealed extensive termite damage; termite shields are now in place. In accordance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards, the wheelchair ramp was removed from the front of the building. The ramp was rebuilt less conspicuously at the rear of the school. The front steps were rebuilt according to historic photographs. The sill timbers were assessed, and sill and storm sheathing was repaired and replaced. The crawl space was excavated for placement of steel beams. Jacking was done to correct uneven floors. In the course of this work, a root cellar was discovered.

Amidst an uncommonly rainy winter, work continued in the new year. By the end of January 2009, all foundation, structural, and siding work was completed. Over half of the window sills were repaired and new upper sashes were custom-made for the side windows. A new cover was added to the awning and the main roof was repaired and painted. The original windows were repaired and reinstalled in February.

On Saturday, March 7, 2009, five Middle Tennessee State University students started their spring break by volunteering at Cairo Rosenwald School. Paul Hoffman, an MA student and graduate research assistant at the MTSU Center for Historic Preservation, organized the student effort along with TPT director Dan Brown. Megan Akerstrom, Catherine Hawkins, Amanda Hall, and Katie Merzbacher, all master of arts candidates in the public history program at MTSU, received hand-on experience in conserving a historic school. The students prepared the original windows for painting and gently cleaned the original painted finishes in the cloak room. Work on the Cairo Rosenwald School was completed in May, 2009.