The National Register of Historic Places recently added 10 North Carolina properties to join the ranks of nearly 73,300 officially recognized historical sites across the state.
Established in 1966, the National Register of Historic Places recognizes buildings and objects for their contributions to American history, architecture, archeology and culture.
Jennifer Martin of MdM Historical Consultants nominated three of the ten recently added properties, including the original Hillside Park High School in Durham.
Located in the historically African American community of Hayti, Hillside dates back to 1922 as the first high school for African Americans in Durham. The history of the property and those affiliated with the school tells a story of African American education in the segregated school system of Durham.
Recognizing the history of Hillside is important because the school was such a focal point for the community, Martin said.
“Hillside is really an icon in Durham for the African American community,” she said. “There was a real spirit and allegiance to that school.”
Martin said researching minutes from school board meetings and other public records showed the extent to which community members were invested in bettering African American education. From advocating for equal teacher salaries to pushing for equal educational resources for students, those affiliated with Hillside were fighting for equality long before the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision of Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka desegregated public schools.
“Early on, even before there was national attention in the 1950s, there was advocating for equality going on here in Durham,” she said.
Martin said Hillside is also an example of an African American school that provided a quality education despite the challenges of the time.
“One thing about Hillside and African American schools in general is that we shouldn’t think of them as less than white schools,” she said. “Yes, they didn’t get the funding that the white schools did, but the dedication of the principals and the teachers was pretty amazing.”
The original building is now vacant, but Hillside continues to serve the community as a magnet school now occupying the third location in the school’s history.
Martin said the National Register recognition reminds the community of the school’s earliest period.
“I think it’s good there’s attention being focused on the original building,” she said.
Official National Register can protect properties from certain federal and state government actions. Recognition can also qualify property owners for tax credits on renovations to their historic properties. As of Jan. 1, 2014, about 3,000 rehabilitation projects were completed with estimated expenditures reaching $1.7 billion.
But Martin said the recognition most importantly validates that the property is worthy of preservation.
“Above all, being listed is an honor for the property.”
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