Hopper Academy, 2011
Sanford (Fla.)
Georgetown (Sanford, Fla.)
African Americans--Florida--Sanford
Segregation--Florida
Buildings--Florida
Schools
The Hopper Academy was the first African-American school in the Georgetown district of Sanford, Florida. Established in 1886, the school was originally named Colored School No. 11. A new building for the school was constructed at 1110 Pine Avenue in 1906. The school served the African-American community in the surrounding region. Although it was the first black school in Sanford, Hopper Academy only went up to grade 10.<br /><br />While today it has fallen into disrepair, Hopper Academy remains a symbol of Georgetown, representing the enduring legacy of Sanford’s African Americans raising themselves through education. Hopper Academy served as a black elementary school for grades 1 – 6 from 1926 to 1961. Professor Joseph Nathaniel Crooms was principal of Hopper from 1906 to 1926, thereafter becoming principal of Crooms High School in Goldsboro. Key individuals who studied at the school include Harlem Renaissance author Zora Neale Hurston and Sanford’s midwife Marie Francis. In 1968, the Hopper Academy ceased to operate as a school.
Firpo, Julio R.
Original color digital image by Julio R. Firpo, April 26, 2011.
image/jpg
eng
Still Image
Hopper Academy, Georgetown, Sanford, Florida
Georgetown Historic Marker
African Americans--Florida
Georgetown (Sanford, Fla.)
Historical markers--Florida
Sanford (Fla.)
Segregation
Seminole County Historic Marker about the community of Georgetown in Sanford, Florida. Henry Shelton Sanford established Georgetown in the 1870s as a community for migrating African Americans to settle. Georgetown became a self-sustaining community with its own commercial district and schools operated by African Americans. Georgetown remained a safe haven for the African-American population in Sanford during times of racial violence during the twentieth century.
Rock, Adam
Original digital color images by Adam Rock, July 30, 2011.
<p><a href="http://riches.cah.ucf.edu/" target="_blank">RICHES of Central Florida</a></p>
Rock, Adam
image/jpeg
eng
Still Image
Sanford, Florida