Zachariah School
Why it's listed
Near Wooten's Crossroads in Greene County, North Carolina, a one-story frame schoolhouse with three classrooms sits beside Zachariah African Methodist Episcopal Church. Built in 1920-1921, it was one of five Greene County schools erected with help from the Julius Rosenwald Fund, local African American contributions and the county school board. An auditorium wing added in 1921, also paid for with Rosenwald money, was removed in the late 1960s. The school faces east, with tall six-over-six windows along the west wall to bring in natural light, a feature typical of Rosenwald plans. Inside, beaded-board wainscot and original wood floors survive, along with a slate backboard and original paint colors. From 1920 until it closed in 1956, the school taught local farm families' children and also hosted plays, concerts, adult classes, home demonstrations and meetings with the county extension agent. After closing, it was used for storage, then given to the church in the 1970s and converted into a fellowship hall.
Significance in brief: It was one of five Greene County schools built with help from the Julius Rosenwald Fund, along with local African American contributions and county school board support. It served as an educational and social center for the Black community from 1920 to 1956. Its simplified plan follows several Rosenwald design suggestions, such as grouped windows, a movable partition and no corridors.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 05000377, listed May 4, 2005. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | NC 1239, 0.6 mi. S o NC 1244, Wooten's Crossroads |
|---|---|
| County | Greene County |
| Listed | May 4, 2005 |
| Reference number | 05000377 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1920-1956 |
| Architectural style | Other: Rosenwald School |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Education, Black |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Now used by Zachariah A.M.E. Church as a fellowship or social hall; the building is described as structurally sound. The 1921 auditorium wing was removed about 1967-1969. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 35.52475, -77.69780 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 05000377.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q18706133
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.