What You Can Do
Learn about Dorchester Academy's history and the efforts to restore it at www.dorchesteracademy.com.
11 Most Endangered
Dorchester Academy
Year Listed: 2009
Location: Midway , Georgia
Current Status: Endangered
Threat: Deterioration
Dorchester Academy
Dorchester Academy
Crowd gathered in front of Dorchester Academy holding a sign that says "Dorchester Academy, This Place Matters!"
Dorchester Academy
Significance
The story of Dorchester Academy, one of the earliest schools for African Americans in the state of Georgia and a National Historic Landmark, is forever linked to the cultural and political forces that shaped our nation's history. Founded in 1871 as a school for freed slaves, Dorchester started humbly in a one-room schoolhouse with a student body ranging in age from eight to 80. As the school grew, boarders joined day students, many of whom walked miles to fulfill their dream of learning how to read. In later years, the school played a pivotal role in voter-registration drives and as a center of activity for the civil rights movement.
Dorchester Academy was established by the American Missionary Association (AMA) at the urging of William A. Golding, a former slave who became a state legislator. By the 1920s, school enrollment fluctuated between 220 and 300 students, and by the 1930s, the school housed the Dorchester Cooperative Center store and credit union, which helped local residents buy homes and open businesses. When the Academy ceased operating as a school in 1940, the innovative spirit of the institution continued with the opening of a community center housed in the old boys' dormitory.
During the 1940s, the school was the site of African-American voter registrations. At the height of the civil rights movement, Dorchester Academy hosted Citizen Education Workshops sponsored by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference to train grassroots leaders from all over the South and send these leaders home to instruct their neighbors about their legal rights and responsibilities. Later, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Dr. Ralph Abernathy and Dr. Joseph Lowery spent time at the Academy preparing for the Birmingham march, and Dr. King also wrote and practiced portions of his "I Have a Dream," speech at Dorchester Academy.
Updates
April 2009: Today, the only remaining building on the Dorchester campus, a red brick, Greek Revival structure built in 1934 as a boys' dormitory, is deteriorating and structurally compromised. The community that is doing its best to nurture and sustain the academy since its earliest days does not have the financial resources to rescue the building.
While some repair and stabilization work has been completed through the combined efforts of community donations and a $50,000 grant from the State, damage to the dormitory still extends from the roof to the basement and is compromising the structural support beams and foundation.
The cost of completely restoring the building has been estimated at $1-1.5 million. The vision of the Dorchester Improvement Association is to complete this task and create a world-class museum and community facility.
Site videos produced by Polivision Productions.
Share your memories of this endangered place
Submitted by james III at: September 7, 2009
I grew up right beside the Dorchester Academy. It was a place where the community could come together and celebrate events. We had a swimming pool, the young kids got lunches during the summer. No one worried about the kids getting in trouble because we were all at the same place. That's what builds a strong community.Everyone looked after each other.This generation doesn't have that united community spirit like i had growing up. I wish that they could exprience that kind fun i had.This a place that i will always home. WE HAVE TO SAVE DORCHESTER ACADEMY. Without it we may lose our histroy & our heritage. Thank you. James A. Lewis III
Submitted by stacey_t01 at: July 30, 2009
I grew up in Liberty county and this is the first time I've ever heard of Dorchester Academy. I think this academy would have been a great place to study and take a field trip to during black history month or any month. So much history in our own back yard.
Submitted by Arsenalcjm60 at: June 5, 2009
dorchester academy rules!!!
Submitted by Judy at: June 3, 2009
The Georgia Department of Education featured Dorchester Academy in their May 2009 newsletter for Library Media Specialists. You can see/read the newsletter at this link: http://tinyurl.com/media-matters-may-2009
Submitted by Tiffany at: April 28, 2009
Having visted Dorchester I can say it is an amazing building. It location in this rural community is a very impressive example of 19th and early 20th century education for African American's in Georgia. These schools were built at a very difficult time and were responsible for the education and development of many prominent and successful African Americans that have made significant contributions to the community and the state of Georgia. Hopefully this building can be saved and preserved for future generations, it has the support of the community, alumni and a wonderful organization that is leading this charge