Winston Salem Times

Residents are invited to attend the unveiling of a historic marker dedicated to the former Brown Elementary School. The event is scheduled for Thursday, November 21 at 11 a.m. and will take place at 1125 Highland Ave.

The school was initially known as Woodland Avenue School and served the African American community from the early 1900s until its closure in 1977. Robert Washington Brown became principal in 1914 and held that position for three decades. Following his death in 1941, the school was renamed Robert Washington Brown Elementary School to recognize his commitment to education.

After ceasing operations in 1977, Shiloh Baptist Church acquired the property and used it mainly as a daycare facility. In December 2016, after being sold to the Winston-Salem Housing Authority, a fire destroyed the building.

The marker text reads: "Woodland Avenue Elementary School for African American students opened here in 1910. A two-story brick building replaced the wooden one in 1914. Woodland Avenue was renamed Brown Elementary School in 1941 to honor longtime principal Robert Washington Brown. Professor Brown was an educator, civic and religious leader, and a cofounder of Winston Mutual Life Insurance Co. Brown was integrated in August 1971 when students were first bused between Winston-Salem and Clemmons/Lewisville. Brown closed in 1984. Shiloh Baptist Church and St. Peter’s Church bought the school and operated a daycare center on the site. After a major fire in 2016, the school was demolished."