Lincoln School (City School No. 8) - a city school located on West High Street at DeRoode, operated jointly by the Board of Education and Lexington Civic League (as a public school during the day and a settlement school during the evening). The school was dedicated in November 1912 and named for Abraham Lincoln (the first non-segregated school designated in the South). The school facilities included shower baths, a swimming pool, carpenter shop, kitchen, sewing room and laundry. In addition, the school included a special facility for children with tuberculosis and an outdoor, roof garden.
In 1899, the Civic League established a settlement school, known as the West End School, to serve as a community center for Irishtown. The school was located on Manchester Street. Over the next ten years, the school expanded to offer grades 1 to 6. In 1912, these programs were transferred to the new Lincoln School.
In February 1910, Elmendorf Dairy began to supply milk, at no charge, for the Kindergarten children at the West End School. The school began offering a morning lunch, with milk and rolls. The rolls were paid for by Charles H. Berryman (manager of the dairy) and the Civic League.[i]
In 1920, the outdoor garden and in 1935, the swimming pool were closed. The school finally closed in December 1966.[ii]
[i] Lexington Leader, August 6, 1911, page 6, columns 1-2.
[ii] Lexington Herald, June 3, 1966, page 1, column 3, August 10, 1966, page 1, column 1-2, August 28, 1966, page 1, column 6 and November 5, 1972, page 5, columns 3-5.
