New Life For Dorchester Academy 1932-1940
Dorchester Academy
J. Roosevelt Jenkins, who was Dorchester
Academy's assistant principal, science
teacher and athletic director, replaced
Elizabeth Moore as principal after her death
in 1932. He continued to strengthen the
school's curriculum and the thriving
athletic programs. During his administration,
Dorchester Academy was in its academic
prime. In 1934 the entire graduating class
was admitted to college. Jenkins made sure
the school kept its Georgia accreditation.
In doing so, Dorchester Academy earned
the coveted "A rating" from the Southern
Association of Colleges and Secondary
Schools. In 1934, the school was classified
as a Group I Georgia accredited high school.
This meant it was one of " the best schools
in teaching staff, equipment or laboratory,
library and buildings, and three fourths of
the academic teachers holding degrees."
The boys' dormitory, which burned down
in 1932, was rebuilt and formally
dedicated as the Elizabeth B. Moore Hall
During this time, public school opportunities
were growing for African Americans in Liberty
County. The Board of Education had, until
then, neglected to adequately fund African
American public education. With the creation
and growth of the Liberty County Training
(LCTS) in the 1930s, accredited, public,
adequately funded, county administered
African American high school education was
now available. Because of this the American
Missionary Association (AMA) closed
Dorchester Academy in the spring of 1940
because they did not want to duplicate the
work of the local public schools. All of the
1940 twelfth grade students voted to receive
their diplomas from Dorchester Academy
and the remaining students were distributed
among the other African American public
schools in the county.
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Boys' Dormitory
Elizabeth B. Moore Hall
photograph taken 2004
Most of Dorchester Academy's old buildings
were torn down by the AMA in 1945 because
of their poor condition. They decided it
would be cost effective to remodel the new
brick boys dormitory. The AMA contributed
$10 for every $1 raised in Liberty County,
up to $20,000. Locals organized the
Dorchester Cooperative Building Fund
Drive and raised $2,000 to save Elizabeth
Moore Hall.
Marker is on East Oglethorpe Highway (U.S. 84) near Lewis Frasier Road.
Courtesy hmdb.org
