Delores Foster (above, far right, with microphone), president of the Page-Jackson Alumni Association, spoke to an enthusiastic crowd gathered on July 27, 2024 at what is currently the administration building for Jefferson County Schools (JCS) to dedicate the newly redesigned Page-Jackson Tribute Hall. The building at 110 Mordington Avenue was originally built in 1951 as a new home for Page-Jackson High School, which had formerly occupied an annex at the Eagle Avenue School at the western edge of Charles Town on Harewood Avenue (now Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard).
The school name honored Littleton L. Page and Phillip Jackson, both leading educators of the local black community. Page was the first principal of the Charles Town District Colored School and later principal of the Eagle Avenue Colored School that opened in 1897. Jackson took on the role of principal of Eagle Avenue in 1914 upon the death of Mr. Page. Both the Eagle Avenue School and the Page-Jackson High School were segregated. The high school continued as a segregated facility until 1965, eleven years after the 1954 Supreme Court decision and the Eagle Avenue School did not close until 1966.
Following after opening remarks from JCS administrators and a spirited rendition of “Lift Every Voice And Sing” by Tanya Dallas-Lewis, Ms. Foster remarked that the association “had a vision, but nothing that like it turned out today,” as she thanked the many people involved in making the tribute hall a reality. “Our team was the Spartans and our yearbook was The Beacon. A torch was lit and held high” she exclaimed as she explained why it’s important for a next generation to learn about this history. She continued, “This room will be a living legacy that never dies. This room speaks — it’s no longer just a classroom, it’s a tribute hall.”
According to JCS officials, the tribute hall will be open to the public when the school offices are open, usually Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm (holiday and summer schedules may vary). Jefferson County Schools, 110 Mordington Ave, Charlestown. Tel: 304-725-9741.
By Staff Contributor