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St Simons Land Trust

St. Simons Land Trust
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As a member of the St. Simons Land Trust, you can be sure that your dollars go to work directly in our community to preserve the scenic and natural qualities of the Island.

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St. Simons Land Trust - Harrington School House

Historic Harrington School

History

Harrington was the largest of three African-American settlements established on St. Simons during the Reconstruction. The one-room schoolhouse, built in the 1920s to resemble a Rosenwald-style structure, served as the pillar of education for children in first through seventh grades. It wasn't until the 1950s, when Glynn County consolidated the schools, that the students left the Harrington School to attend school in Brunswick or one of the African American boarding schools in the south.

In 2004, Isadora Hunter, who had attended the school in 1928, donated her portion of the property to the St. Simons Land Trust. This important donation led to the Trust's acquisition of the remaining interest in the property, including the Historic Harrington School and the surrounding 12 acres. This complete acquisition was made possible through a joint effort of the Land Trust and Glynn County, using state of Georgia Greenspace funds and contributions from Land Trust members and others across the community. Restoration of the historic schoolhouse was funded by The Friends of Harrington School in partnership with the St. Simons African American Heritage Coalition. 

Harrington Community Park was established on the 11 acres just east of the school on South Harrington Road and was opened to the public in December 2016. The property contains ecologically sensitive wetlands, as well as two ponds that provide habitat for federally endangered wood storks and other native wildlife. The project includes walking trails, seating, and viewing platforms overlooking the ponds on the property. This park, the result of efforts by St. Simons Land Trust, Supporters of the Park at Harrington, St. Simons African American Heritage Coalition, and the Glynn County Commission, gives the entire community and its visitors access to the beautiful landscape and rich history of the area.
 
The Land Trust owns the one acre surrounding the former school and has provided a 99-year lease on the property to the St. Simons African American Heritage Coalition that maintains and runs the Historic Harrington School.

Please support the St. Simons African American Heritage Coalition and Friends of Harrington School in their efforts to preserve the schoolhouse. For more details call 912-634-0330 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Harrington School House IMAGE Credit Halston Pittman
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Features

Featured on this property is the last remaining African-American schoolhouse on the Georgia coast. Surrounding the school house are 12 acres of woods and two ponds that serve as feeding grounds for endangered wood stork and other aquatic birdlife.