Retreat Rosenwald School, 150 Pleasant Hill

#93 School House

Quilters: Nelda Barkmann and Karla Glova

Sponsor: Upstate Heritage Quilt Trail

“My mother, Nelda Barkmann, passed away in 2000 from lung cancer and I inherited the unfinished quilt top, and finished it by machine. My mother would come to my house for the weekend loaded with fabric and a pattern for the two of us to work on. I am not sure when the School House quilt was made but probably around the early 1900’s.”

The Retreat Rosenwald School was one of over 5,300 schools, shops and teachers’ homes built in the United States for the education of African‐Americans in the early 20th century. The school opened in 1924 and served the Westminster community until 1950. Not only did it provide an education for black citizens, but it also served as an important social center for rural blacks. It was one of 10 such schools in Oconee County. As required by Mr. Rosenwald, the school is T‐shaped with entrances on each side of the main wing. Each has a porch opening into a classroom, typical of a two‐teacher community school. The school is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.