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Mayo–Underwood School

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Coordinates: 38°12′10″N 84°52′38″W / 38.202883°N 84.8772°W / 38.202883; -84.8772
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Mayo–Underwood School
Location
Map
corner of Mero and Wilkinson Streets,
Frankfort, Franklin County, Kentucky

United States
Coordinates38°12′10″N 84°52′38″W / 38.202883°N 84.8772°W / 38.202883; -84.8772
Information
Former namesClinton Street High School (1882/1884–1928)
Established1929
Closed1964

The Mayo–Underwood School (1929–1964), a successor to the Clinton Street High School (1882/1884–1928),[1] was a segregated public elementary and high school for African American students in Frankfort, Kentucky, United States.[2] There is a historic plaque at the former site of the Mayo–Underwood School.

History

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Clinton Street High School

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Clinton Street High School was founded in either 1882 or 1884 as both an elementary school and high school, at what was once 168-170 East Clinton Street.[1][2][3] The Clinton Street High School closed in 1928, and many of the students were transferred to the newly opened Mayo–Underwood School, located at the corner of Mero and Wilkinson Streets.[1][2] Former teachers at Clinton Street High School included Charity A. Boyd, Annie L. Fairs, Margaret E. Gray, Bianca Parker, Sadie M. Kirby, Virginia M. Madison, Katie Smith, Julia M. Spencer, Lettye A. Williams, Martha E. Williams, and Winnie A. Scott.[1]

Central High School in Louisville, was the first African American high school in the state.[4] Neighboring Kentucky cities added their own segregated public schools for African American students soon after, including the Clinton Street High School; the Paris Colored High School in Paris; William Grant High School in Covington; Russell School in Lexington; Lincoln High School in Paducah; and Winchester Freedmen School (or Winchester High School) in Winchester.[4][5]

Mayo–Underwood School

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The Mayo–Underwood School was also founded as an elementary school and high school.[2] It was named after two people, the first being William H. Mayo the former principal of the Clinton Street High School and founder of the State Normal School for Colored Persons (now Kentucky State University); and the second being Edward Ellsworth Underwood, a local physician, activist, and an organizer of the NAACP chapter in Frankfort.[3][6] The Tiger Inn Café (active from 1931 to 1963) was located near the school and was a popular hangout for students.[2] Alumni of Mayo–Underwood School included football player, Kermit E. Williams (1930–2006);[7] and Luska Joseph Twyman (1913–1988), Kentucky state's first African American mayor in 1968.[8]

The school was torn down in the 1960s as part of an urban renewal plan.[9] Many African American Frankfort community members were upset with the decision to remove the school, as it was associated with important local history they wished to share with the younger generations.[2]

In 2019, the Mayo-Underwood Building at 500 Mero Street, a state building in Frankfort was named in honor of the former school (and replaced the Capital Plaza Tower).[10][11]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "African American Schools in Frankfort and Franklin County, KY". Notable Kentucky African Americans Database, University of Kentucky Libraries, University of Kentucky. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Boyd, Douglas (2011-08-01). Crawfish Bottom: Recovering a Lost Kentucky Community. University Press of Kentucky. pp. 93–96. ISBN 978-0-8131-3409-3.
  3. ^ a b Bracket, Carolyn; Jones, Robbie D. (August 2022). African American Historic Context Report For The City of Frankfort, Kentucky. City of Frankfort, KY. p. 48.
  4. ^ a b Jones, Reinette F. (2002). Library Service to African Americans in Kentucky, from the Reconstruction Era to the 1960s. McFarland. pp. 24–25. ISBN 978-0-7864-1154-2.
  5. ^ "African American Schools in Clark County, KY". Notable Kentucky African Americans Database, University of Kentucky Libraries, University of Kentucky. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
  6. ^ Hughes, Nicky; Hatter, Russell; Burch, Gene (2004). Historic Images of Frankfort. Gene Burch. p. 44. ISBN 978-0-9753697-0-8.
  7. ^ "Williams, Kermit E." Notable Kentucky African Americans Database, University of Kentucky Libraries, University of Kentucky. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
  8. ^ "Throwback Thursday - Kentucky's first African American mayor: Luska Twyman". WNKY News 40 Television. 2021-02-25. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
  9. ^ "Capital Plaza Authority Asks Mayo–Underwood School Site". The Lexington Herald. 1966-08-31. p. 13. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
  10. ^ "State office building named after historic Frankfort African American school". The State Journal. August 13, 2019. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
  11. ^ "New state office building in downtown Frankfort officially named". ABC 36 News. 2019-08-13. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
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