OUR LEGACY
E.A. Armstrong High School was established to provide essential educational opportunities for African American children in rural Cumberland County and Eastover, NC during the challenging Jim Crow Era. Despite facing significant hurdles and enduring systemic inequalities, the school persevered, becoming a beacon of hope and resilience. The legacy of Armstrong High School lives on through its proud alumni, who honor the sacrifices made by their dedicated professors to ensure they received a quality education. Today, Armstrong's legacy continues to inspire and resonate within the community, a testament to its enduring impact.
our HISTORY
In the year 1935 it became necessary that the black children in the rural County be afforded a high school. Prior to 1935 the children in the rural area were allowed to attend high school in the City of Fayetteville, North Carolina, our county seat. Due to the increased enrollment in the city and rural area, the city school became very crowded. The children in the county were no longer permitted to attend the city school in Fayetteville. What should we do? Something had to be done quickly.
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Some concerned citizens, parents, and educators discussed some possibilities. After discussing that matter with Mrs. Addie Owens-Williams, a former teacher at Hickory Shade School on River Road, suggested that a group of parents and educators go to Raleigh to discuss our problem within the Department of Public Instruction. The men who took Mrs. Williams' advice were George Underwood, Daniel L Williams, Jake Gardners, Junius H. McKeithan, Tony Williams, Wesley McMillian, and Reverend Edward Turner.
In Raleigh they were advised to return to the various communities and get at least 100 students to sign up for high school. They were successful in getting more than 100. As had been promised by the Department of Public Instruction, the building was soon started and completed in time for use in the fall of 1935. The building was a wooden structure, just large enough to house the pupils and teachers to comfortably study and learn the academic skills that were taught and prescribed by the State Department.
Our next problem was getting to the school. There were no busses for the rural Cumberland County areas, which included the West side of Fayetteville from Grays Creek to Over Hills in the North side of Cumberland County and the East Side from Cedar Creek north to Wade and Godwin, then returning south to Eastover to the school. This was a large area for one school, and there was no transportation to serve the pupils.
In the first year, everyone walked, thumbed rides, and rode wagons and cars just to get to school. The teachers were very liberal with their cars. Sometimes, there were so many pupils in the cars that you could hardly see the driver. Everyone tried to help each other. Some pupils roomed with relatives who lived close to the school. We had been closed out of the Fayetteville City School System.
Our next problem was getting to the school. There were no busses for the rural Cumberland County areas, which included the West side of Fayetteville from Grays Creek to Over Hills in the North side of Cumberland County and the East Side from Cedar Creek north to Wade and Godwin, then returning south to Eastover to the school. This was a large area for one school, and there was no transportation to serve the pupils.
In the first year, everyone walked, thumbed rides, and rode wagons and cars just to get to school. The teachers were very liberal with their cars. Sometimes, there were so many pupils in the cars that you could hardly see the driver. Everyone tried to help each other. Some pupils roomed with relatives who lived close to the school. We had been closed out of the Fayetteville City School System.
The faculty consisted of six teachers and a teaching principal: Theresa J. Ward, Mary Hollingsworth, Marie Woods (Librarian), and Mr. E. A. Armstrong (Teaching Principal).
The second year was a little better. Two school buses were given to cover the same long distance as the first year. The buses had to make two loads morning and afternoon. We started early and returned late. The old buses would often break down, causing delays in getting to school and late getting home in the evening. After the first two years our transportation got a little better when more buses were added.
As the years passed the school grew with its physical structure as well as the teachers and staff. The enrollment increased, and more subjects were added to the curriculum. Mrs. Theresa Justice-Ware and Miss Perry organized a small singing group of eight pupils. They were Waymen Robinson, Elizabeth Howard, Mable Evans and Arlene Gainey.
As time passed, more pupils joined the singing group and we had a beautiful Glee Club under the direction of Miss Permillia Flack. Other extracurricular activities were a Debate Team and a Basketball Team. Mrs Ware was our advisor for the four years we were in high school. She composed our class song. The words are as follows:
Cumberland County Training School C. C. T. S. we love you.
Cumberland County Training School C. C. T. S. we love you.
We love you in the morning and in the afternoon.
We love you in the evening underneath the silver moon.
Cumberland County Training School C. C. T. S. we love you.
After many ups and downs for four years, the first class graduated in the Spring of 1939, from Cumberland County Training School. The class consisted of 36 pupils. The school did not have a large auditorium; therefore Professor Armstrong secured the use of his church. Evans Metropolitan AME Zion Church for the Baccalaureate service and the Commencement activities.
