The Iron Hill area was a community of African American farming and mining families. Constructed in 1923, Iron Hill School #112-C was one of over 80 schools built with funding from Pierre S. duPont, who sought to replace rundown public schools with modern facilities. Open from 1923-1964, the school was in session from September through June and included grades 1-6. All instruction was conducted by a single teacher. The Delaware Academy of Science acquired the building in the late 1960s and used it to house a natural history museum for over 40 years. Because of diligent restoration efforts undertaken by the Academy, the building stands as one of only a few former duPont schools still architecturally intact.

NC-211: Installed in 2015.

Location:

1355 S. Old Baltimore Pike, Newark, DE 19702

 

Links to more resources:

• Iron Hill School: An African-American One-Room School (Teaching with Historic Places)
• Iron Hill Science Center
• IRON HILL MUSEUM (IRON HILL SCHOOL NO. 112C) – Society of Architectural Historians
• Iron Hill Museum oral history recordings and transcripts – University of Delaware
• MSS 0587 – Iron Hill Museum oral history recordings and transcripts – University of Delaware