Training School has rich 104-year history

By John Brice
Correspondent

In celebrating the 104 years that have passed since the establishment of the Chambers County Training School there will be an unveiling of a historical marker commemorating its founding at John P. Powell Middle School in LaFayette on Saturday, June 24th of 2023.

Lifelong LaFayette resident Ruby Carr took the initiative to spend several months in 2022 researching the history of CCTS which resulted in her successfully applying for and receiving a historical site listing with the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage.

Sharing the joyous victory for the entire community, Carr posted to her personal facebook profile a widely viewed announcement “Chambers County Training School, former Southside Elementary School, & currently JPPOWELL Middle School has been listed to the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage listings as a Historical Site as of this date, August 24, 2022. The Certificate will be sent to the Chambers County Board of Education, Owner of the current site, John Perry Powell Middle School. #GLORYHALLELUJAH”

Ms. Carr shared with the LaFayette Sun a booklet recounting the fabled history of this legendary local institution entitled “A Brief History of Chambers County Training School”. In its introduction it states “Chamber County Training School, one of the earliest high schools for the black citizens of Chambers County, was erected in LaFayette, Alabama in 1918-1919. The school resembled this structure until it burned in 1948.

The more modern building was constructed in 1949 and had some renovations and additions in succeeding years. In 1969 during the dismantling of the state’s dual system of public education, the name of the school was changed to Southside Middle School. Renamed John Perry Powell Middle School in 1999, it still occupies the property on the Cusseta Road deeded to the state of Alabama by Nepon Adams in 1918.”

Further details are provided later on in the booklet recounting “For many years, Chambers County Training School was the only high school for blacks in the county. Students came from all sections of Chambers County, and some came from other counties in the state; they boarded in homes and attended school. Children walked to school from all sections of town, and some walked as far as two or three miles from rural areas.

News articles in the LaFayette Sun praised Chambers County Training School for being rated ‘one of the best schools in the state’ and the ‘second largest in point of enrollment’.”
Bringing everything full circle was a proclamation passed and approved by Mayor Kenneth Vines and the City Council of LaFayette during their June 12th meeting which recognized the history of CCTS and the forthcoming unveiling of its historical marker. Concluding the proclamation was a passage that read “WHEREAS, on this day, Saturday, June 24, 2023, the Chambers County Training School Historical Marker was Unveiled during the Celebration of 104 Years Site Location with Alumni Members, Family, Friends, and Leaders.”