Ada Hanna School, Hamilton, Marion County

​Another nomination by the Alabama Historical Commission (AHC), the Ada Hannah School, began as a Rosenwald school that served the African American community of Marion County for several decades. However, after the Brown v. Board decision in 1954, the State of Alabama committed itself to maintaining “separate but equal” educational accommodations for both whites and blacks and began a period of school construction not previously seen in Alabama. The schools built between 1954 and 1969, are referred to as “Equalization Schools.” The Ada Hannah School in its equalization form was completed in 1965 as one of two schools built for the African American community. The new school building served Marion County for four years until Alabama integrated its public-school system and the county abandoned the new school.

The school was used as a community recreational facility and later converted into a manufacturing facility for showers and bath tubs. In 1985, the property was purchased by its current owners. Since then, the building has been a victim of several arsons. Now, the building is in poor condition and in need of immediate action to save it. When the current owners purchased the building, they planned to convert it into a community space and senior center. Those plans never came to fruition. However, there is a community that supports the resurrection of the building and would greatly benefit from the reuse of the only remnants of an African American School in Marion County.
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For more information on the Ada Hannah School please contact:
Hannah Garmon (AHC): 334.230.2644,
mailto: hannah.garmon@ahc.alabama.gov
Andra Harbison: 205.915.1967
Linda White (owner): 205.528.1224