HPC agenda 092398 - Laserfiche WebLink

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v - 6 . HISTORY The Carr community , a traditionally African- American enclave near the Cedar Grove rural crossroads , decided to build a school within their neighborhood because their children were forced to travel several miles to attend segregated schools . The white Oak Grove School was built in the late 1920s, adjacent to the White Oak Grove Church . It officially opened on October 19 , 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 .