Historical Marker to Honor Lincoln School Unveiling June 20

After five years of research, preservation efforts, and community collaboration, a new historical marker commemorating the Lincoln School for Colored Children will be unveiled on Saturday, June 20, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Lincoln Park, 1000 E. Wabash Ave.

The dedication marks the culmination of a project launched in 2021 by the League of Women Voters of Montgomery County to preserve and share the history of Crawfordsville’s black educational heritage. The project included the publication of a book documenting the school’s history, faculty, and students; a museum exhibit at the Carnegie Museum of Montgomery County; and the installation of the historical marker at the site of the second Lincoln School building on East Wabash Avenue.

The story of Lincoln School traces back to the mid-19th century. Although Indiana’s 1851 Constitution and the 1852 Free School Law established a system of publicly funded education, black children were excluded from these educational opportunities. In 1869, Indiana law required communities with significant black populations to establish separate schools for black students, while allowing integration in areas with smaller populations.

As debates over integration unfolded in Crawfordsville, local leaders ultimately chose segregation. In 1881, the Crawfordsville School Trustees authorized construction of the city’s first all-black school. Located at the southwest corner of Spring and North Walnut streets in the city’s North End, the two-story red brick building opened in September 1882 with 42 students enrolled in grades one through eight.

For more than six decades, Lincoln School served black and multiracial students in a segregated educational system. Local newspaper accounts from the era reveal ongoing discussions, disputes, and challenges surrounding educational equity, including the obstacles students faced after graduating from Lincoln School and entering Crawfordsville’s integrated high school.

As Crawfordsville’s black population gradually shifted from the North End to the East End during the 1930s, school officials converted the original Lincoln School into Horace Mann School, an integrated elementary school. A second Lincoln School building was constructed on East Wabash Avenue and opened in 1936. That building remained in operation until 1947.

Following the end of legally sanctioned segregation, the second Lincoln School building was no longer needed as an educational facility. It later became the Lincoln Center, serving as a community and recreational gathering place for Crawfordsville’s black residents. Organizations including Second Baptist Church, Prince Hall Masonic Lodge members, and local civic groups utilized the facility. During the late 1960s and early 1970s, neighborhood residents, assisted by Wabash College students, renovated the building. Community volunteers organized activities for local children, including movie nights and refreshments.

The building was demolished in 1981, leaving only open green space and basketball courts on the site.

Today, the property has been transformed once again. Improvements made include new pickleball courts, updated basketball courts and a gazebo, creating a fitting setting for the historical marker that will permanently recognize the significance of Lincoln School and the generations of students who attended it.

The marker project was made possible through grants from Indiana Humanities and Wabash College, along with support from the Crawfordsville Parks and Recreation Department.

The June 20 dedication ceremony is open to the public. Norvell’s BBQ and Catering will provide sandwiches and side dishes, while Sue Lucas will provide a specially designed commemorative cake. To Remember the Forgotten School book will be available, and free-will donations will be accepted, with proceeds benefiting Bethel AME Church in Crawfordsville.

Organizers especially encourage descendants of Lincoln School students from either building to attend. Following the brief dedication program, a group photograph will be taken to commemorate the occasion.

Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and beverages. Parking will be limited, and carpooling is recommended. Overflow parking will be available on Beech Street, directly south of Lincoln Park.

For additional information, contact Shannon Hudson at shudson@cville.k12.in.us.