An over 100-year-old one-room schoolhouse was honored this past Saturday, May 24, as the Mulberry School House Committee unveiled a new historical marker. 

The school was constructed in the Mulberry community of Crenshaw County in 1922. Visitors today can still see the old blackboards used for student instruction throughout the historic Black school’s history. 

The Mulberry School House Committee, made up of Doe Knighten, Norris Sullivan and Joyce Ridgeway, have worked together to renovate the Mulberry School House for years. The committee was started by Knighten, after she receiving a vision to help others in her community.

“On Nov 13, 2019 I had gone to the cancer center – it was my second time with breast cancer; this particular time I had it on my right,” Knighten said. “That particular night, I wasn’t able to sleep [and] there was this vision that came to me about helping people – especially obese people – to educate them about what we can do as a community to try to get better, talk about the foods that we eat and all those things.” 

Since 2022, The Mulberry School House Committee has worked on removing trees that blocked passers-by from seeing the structure, fixing the roof and other repairs. After years of work on renovations, the school was added to the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage, and the committee unveiled a historical marker on May 24 to the Mulberry community.

 “I can’t tell you how many times I shed a tear, because it means a lot. Just to see it means a lot,” Sullivan said. “…the reason it means a lot is because I go back seven [or] eight generations here. My mother went to school here. I’ve got her report card hanging on the wall in there [from] when she was in the sixth grade.” 

The marker details the history and importance of the Mulberry School House to the community. 

“Residents of the Mulberry community constructed the school in 1922 after purchasing the property from John Ridgeway and his wife,” the marker reads. “…It provided a safe environment for local Black students to receive a quality education up to the eighth grade. The Mulberry School House played a critical role in educating residents of their voting rights during the Civil Rights era.” 

The committee plans to invite the local community to be more involved in finishing the Mulberry School House. In the future, the committee members plan to organize fundraisers to help fund further repairs and renovations to the building and surrounding area. 

Knighten said that one of the ways they plan to utilize the building will serve to educate and tutor at-risk children.