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The Sumner Elementary School is currently a [[National Historic Landmark]] listed with the [[United States Department of the Interior]]. It was constructed in 1936 as a part of the [[Federal Emergency Administration of Public Works]], a [[New Deal]] program. The school was designed in the [[Art Deco]] style by Thomas W. Williamson, and has an unusual amount of stone detailing. Because of the quality of the original construction, it retains many of its original features, including light and bathroom fixtures, clocks, carved woodwork and a marble-rimmed fireplace in the [[kindergarten]].<ref name=NYT072009>Susan Saulny, [http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/20/us/20sumner.html In Purchase of School, Hopes of Saving a Neglected Monument], ''The New York Times'', July 20, 2009, Accessed July 20, 2009.</ref>
The Sumner Elementary School is currently a [[National Historic Landmark]] listed with the [[United States Department of the Interior]]. It was constructed in 1936 as a part of the [[Federal Emergency Administration of Public Works]], a [[New Deal]] program. The school was designed in the [[Art Deco]] style by Thomas W. Williamson, and has an unusual amount of stone detailing. Because of the quality of the original construction, it retains many of its original features, including light and bathroom fixtures, clocks, carved woodwork and a marble-rimmed fireplace in the [[kindergarten]].<ref name=NYT072009>Susan Saulny, [http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/20/us/20sumner.html In Purchase of School, Hopes of Saving a Neglected Monument], ''The New York Times'', July 20, 2009, Accessed July 20, 2009.</ref>


The school closed in 1996. Ironically, it was one of eight schools closed as part of a local [[desegregation]] plan to satisfy the original ''Brown'' case which was re-opened n the 1980s and not closed until 1999. The building was initially purchased by the [[Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library]], which used it as a storage facility. The City of Topeka purchased the building from the library in 2002, hoping to rehabilitate it, but city was unable to allocate the necessary funds. The city then tried to sell the property, but found no buyers; it even considered demolishing the building, which had fallen into serious neglect and had suffered vandalism.<ref name=NYT072009>Susan Saulny, [http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/20/us/20sumner.html In Purchase of School, Hopes of Saving a Neglected Monument], ''The New York Times'', July 20, 2009, Accessed July 20, 2009.</ref>
The school closed in 1996. Ironically, it was one of eight schools closed as part of a local [[desegregation]] plan to satisfy the original ''Brown'' case which was re-opened n the 1980s and not closed until 1999. The building was initially purchased by the [[Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library]], which used it as a storage facility. The City of Topeka purchased the building from the library in 2002, hoping to rehabilitate it, but city was unable to allocate the necessary funds. The city then tried to sell the property, but found no buyers; it even considered demolishing the building, which had fallen into serious neglect and had suffered vandalism.<ref name=NYT072009>Susan Saulny, [http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/20/us/20sumner.html In Purchase of School, Hopes of Saving a Neglected Monument], ''The New York Times'', July 20, 2009, Accessed July 20, 2009.</ref> As a consequence, in May 2008, [[The National Trust for Historic Preservation]] listed the building on their list of [[America's Most Endangered Places]]. <ref>[http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap_travel/20080521/ap_tr_ge/travel_yesterday_s_places_endangered_places Threats to history seen in budget cuts, bulldozers - Yahoo! News<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

In May 2008, [[The National Trust for Historic Preservation]] listed the building on their list of [[America's Most Endangered Places]]. <ref>[http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap_travel/20080521/ap_tr_ge/travel_yesterday_s_places_endangered_places Threats to history seen in budget cuts, bulldozers - Yahoo! News<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>


The city chose to auction the building to the public in January 2009. Hearing of the sale and recognizing the significant to the Civil Rights movement, Rev. W. R. Portee, minister of a nondenominational Christian church based in [[Los Angeles]], purchased the building using the umbrella organization True Foundation World Outreach Ministries in April 2009 for $89,000. The organization plans to renovate the building and open it to the public as a community center and human rights memorial. The estimated renovation costs are $7 million.<ref name=NYT072009>Susan Saulny, [http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/20/us/20sumner.html In Purchase of School, Hopes of Saving a Neglected Monument], ''The New York Times'', July 20, 2009, Accessed July 20, 2009.</ref>
The city chose to auction the building to the public in January 2009. Hearing of the sale and recognizing the significant to the Civil Rights movement, Rev. W. R. Portee, minister of a nondenominational Christian church based in [[Los Angeles]], purchased the building using the umbrella organization True Foundation World Outreach Ministries in April 2009 for $89,000. The organization plans to renovate the building and open it to the public as a community center and human rights memorial. The estimated renovation costs are $7 million.<ref name=NYT072009>Susan Saulny, [http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/20/us/20sumner.html In Purchase of School, Hopes of Saving a Neglected Monument], ''The New York Times'', July 20, 2009, Accessed July 20, 2009.</ref>

Revision as of 21:09, 20 July 2009

Sumner Elementary School and Monroe Elementary School
Sumner Elementary School is located in Kansas
Sumner Elementary School
LocationTopeka, Kansas
Built1954
ArchitectWilliamson,Thomas W.
Architectural styleOther, Renaissance, Art Deco
NRHP reference No.87001283[1]
Added to NRHPMay 04, 1987

The Sumner Elementary School in Topeka, Kansas was involved in the Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka in 1954. Linda Brown attempted to enroll in the Sumner School, which was closer to her house than the all black Monroe School to which she was attending. Her enrollment was rejected by the Topeka Board of Education. Oliver Brown, Linda's father, then joined the class action lawsuit against the Topeka Board of Education that was eventually heard before the Supreme Court.

The Sumner Elementary School is currently a National Historic Landmark listed with the United States Department of the Interior. It was constructed in 1936 as a part of the Federal Emergency Administration of Public Works, a New Deal program. The school was designed in the Art Deco style by Thomas W. Williamson, and has an unusual amount of stone detailing. Because of the quality of the original construction, it retains many of its original features, including light and bathroom fixtures, clocks, carved woodwork and a marble-rimmed fireplace in the kindergarten.[2]

The school closed in 1996. Ironically, it was one of eight schools closed as part of a local desegregation plan to satisfy the original Brown case which was re-opened n the 1980s and not closed until 1999. The building was initially purchased by the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library, which used it as a storage facility. The City of Topeka purchased the building from the library in 2002, hoping to rehabilitate it, but city was unable to allocate the necessary funds. The city then tried to sell the property, but found no buyers; it even considered demolishing the building, which had fallen into serious neglect and had suffered vandalism.[2] As a consequence, in May 2008, The National Trust for Historic Preservation listed the building on their list of America's Most Endangered Places. [3]

The city chose to auction the building to the public in January 2009. Hearing of the sale and recognizing the significant to the Civil Rights movement, Rev. W. R. Portee, minister of a nondenominational Christian church based in Los Angeles, purchased the building using the umbrella organization True Foundation World Outreach Ministries in April 2009 for $89,000. The organization plans to renovate the building and open it to the public as a community center and human rights memorial. The estimated renovation costs are $7 million.[2]

References

  1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2007-01-23.
  2. ^ a b c Susan Saulny, In Purchase of School, Hopes of Saving a Neglected Monument, The New York Times, July 20, 2009, Accessed July 20, 2009.
  3. ^ Threats to history seen in budget cuts, bulldozers - Yahoo! News

Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka : Sumner and Monroe Elementary Schools : management alternatives study and environmental assessment. National Park Service, Midwest Region, 1992


This article about a property in Kansas on the National Register of Historic Places is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

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