Central School
Why it's listed
Central School, at 414 Watkins Street in Asheboro's East Side neighborhood, opened in 1926 as a school for African-American children. Its design follows the Julius Rosenwald Fund's "Seven Teacher Community School" plan, with classrooms along a central corridor and an auditorium at the rear. Funds came from the county school board, from local black residents, and from the Rosenwald Fund. The red brick building has a gable roof, banks of wooden windows and light Bungalow details. A two-level International Style wing, added in 1948 for $63,000, roughly doubled the school's size with more classrooms, indoor bathrooms and a cafeteria. For much of its history the school was the only public secondary school for Black students in Randolph County, and it also served as a community gathering place. It closed in 1969. Weather and vandalism have since damaged windows and interiors, though the original layout and much early detail remain. A neighborhood association has planned its reuse as housing for older residents.
Significance in brief: The school served for much of its history as the only public school in Randolph County offering secondary education to African Americans, and it was a community center for the East Side neighborhood. It is a well-preserved example of a Rosenwald school built from a published pattern-book design. The 1948 wing adds an International Style addition that barely disturbed the original building.
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 93001342, listed November 12, 1993. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 414 Watkins St., Asheboro |
|---|---|
| County | Randolph County |
| Listed | November 12, 1993 |
| Reference number | 93001342 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1926-1943 |
| Architectural style | Other: scholastic functionalism; International Style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Black, Education |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Closed as a school in 1969 and described as vacant; weather and vandalism have damaged window frames and other fabric. The neighborhood association planned to convert it to senior housing. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 35.71065, -79.80365 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 93001342.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5061791
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.