Two months after the official closing of RCTS,
Hattie P. Clark, RCTS 5th grade teacher and a mother of the Black community,
reflected on the impact of the decision to close the school. She opened her reflections with, “I would like
to take this opportunity to say farewell to Old Randolph – the Randolph County Training School.” She said, “… it has become one of the
greatest assets within this community as far as African American people are
concerned. It is all we ever had to call
our own. It is the only building in Roanoke or Randolph County where we as a people felt the
warmth of welcome. Our parents, fore-parents and other members of the African
American community helped raise money to buy the land upon which the building
now stands. Many donated hard-earned cash, when a dollar was really a dollar.
Many never lived to see the fruit of their labor. Now behind the walls of Old Randolph linger
only the memories of the many years which we devoted to – silent memories of
pleasure, silent memories not so pleasant.
Behind the silent walls linger the memories of beautiful proms, which
thrilled the junior and senior classes year after year. Behind the walls of
this building remain the silent memories of the sound of the huge drum of the
RCTS Marching Band. Behind the walls, linger the
memories
of the many cold, chilly winter days when the boiler wouldn’t work, and the hot smoldering spring and fall days.
Gone are the walks up and down the aisles on the cement floors, causing calluses and
blisters on our feet. Gone are the screams of little folk who saw the health
nurse coming down the hall. Gone are the dedicated teachers who sat behind the
desks and tried to help the slow child and make him or her a part of the class. Gone, gone, gone; and with it go the memories
of generations of students who passed through the Randolph County
Training School.”
Source: The Roanoke Leader
Mrs. Clark later taught at Handley Elementary School in Roanoke after schools were integrated. Photos courtesy of Clark Collection
Two months after the official closing of RCTS,
Hattie P. Clark, RCTS 5th grade teacher and a mother of the Black community,
reflected on the impact of the decision to close the school. She opened her reflections with, “I would like
to take this opportunity to say farewell to Old Randolph – the Randolph County Training School.” She said, “… it has become one of the
greatest assets within this community as far as African American people are
concerned. It is all we ever had to call
our own. It is the only building in Roanoke or Randolph County where we as a people felt the
warmth of welcome. Our parents, fore-parents and other members of the African
American community helped raise money to buy the land upon which the building
now stands. Many donated hard-earned cash, when a dollar was really a dollar.
Many never lived to see the fruit of their labor. Now behind the walls of Old Randolph linger
only the memories of the many years which we devoted to – silent memories of
pleasure, silent memories not so pleasant.
Behind the silent walls linger the memories of beautiful proms, which
thrilled the junior and senior classes year after year. Behind the walls of
this building remain the silent memories of the sound of the huge drum of the
RCTS Marching Band. Behind the walls, linger the
memories
of the many cold, chilly winter days when the boiler wouldn’t work, and the hot smoldering spring and fall days.
Gone are the walks up and down the aisles on the cement floors, causing calluses and
blisters on our feet. Gone are the screams of little folk who saw the health
nurse coming down the hall. Gone are the dedicated teachers who sat behind the
desks and tried to help the slow child and make him or her a part of the class. Gone, gone, gone; and with it go the memories
of generations of students who passed through the Randolph County
Training School.”
Mrs. Clark later taught at Handley Elementary School in Roanoke after schools were integrated.