Agenda - 12-15-1998 - 8s - Laserfiche WebLink

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17 The White Oak Grove School was built in the late 1920s, adjacent to the White Oak Grove Church. It is believed to have officially opened in 1927 after contributions from the local community matched an appropriation by the Orange County Board of Education. The building of the school galvanized the community. Numerous fund raisers were conducted in order to match the funding from the County school board. Festivities such as cookouts and bake sales, box sales, and `womanless weddings' were organized to raise money for school desks, books, and supplies. School construction was spearheaded by Burrie "Doc" Corbett, scion of the family who donated land for the original White Oak Grove Church in the late 19th century. Mr. Corbett was a prosperous farmer, and was well -known as a philanthropist in the local community White Oak Grove School served the African- American families of Cedar Grove and Carr for 25 years, until the County constructed a modern, consolidated facility near McDade's Crossroads. Around 1952, Doc Corbett converted the school building into a home for his daughters. Later, James Corbett, lived in the house from 1957 until 1978. The structure has been vacant since. Proiect Reauirements The scope of work will include conducting the historical research necessary to determine the cultural significance of the White Oak Grove School; evaluation of the historical integrity of the structure; application of the National Register criteria and preparation of the National Register forms. The work will also include the required photography for the nomination forms and preparation of a color slide presentation. The consultant is expected to present findings at a community information meeting as well as the public hearing on the proposed nomination. Both of these meetings will occur in conjunction with regularly scheduled meetings of the Orange County Historic Preservation Commission. 2