By JENNIFER MOONSONG
Glasgow News 1
This photo of the Glasgow Training School originally appeared in the Louisville Courier-Journal.
It was built in 1900, and was replaced in 1951 by Ralph E. Bunche School.
Courtesy of the Barren County Historical Society
The Glasgow Training School was one of the schools in Barren County dedicated to the education of African American pupils, prior to integration. The building was a tall, two story white wooden building. Its construction was made possible by former salve and philanthropist, Stephen Bishop.
In 1866, the Kentucky legislature dedicated one half of all revenues generated from the imposition of property taxes on properties owned by African Americans to support educating African American youth. By 1892, there were 27 schools that came to be as a result, however, by 1931, there were 18. The Glasgow Training School was the most well-established and well-documented of these, although little is known.
The Glasgow Training School was built in 1900. Initially it served first through eighth grade students. Around 1926, a two-year high school was added to the facility. In 1934, the City of Glasgow took over the operation of the school. In 1951 the school was replaced by the Ralph E. Bunche School. Ralph E. Bunche was the first accredited 12-year educational program for African American’s in Barren County.
Information for this Flashback Friday was gathered from the writings of Woodford L. Gardner, Jr., who recorded much of the county’s history along with a few others, who saw fit to preserve Glasgow and Barren County’s beginnings.
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