Letter to Jonathan Jarvis, National Park Service Director - Hillburn Main School as a Historic Place

Letter

I write in support of the candidacy of the Hillburn Main School for placement on the National Park Service's National Register of Historic Places. This school is historically and culturally significant as a symbol of the civil rights movement.

The Hillburn Main School is located in Rockland County, New York and is the headquarters of the Ramapo Central School District. The hamlet of Hillburn grew during the late nineteenth century and by 1888, included a separate school for white and black students in the local school district. In 1912, Main School was built to replace the decaying white school, which contrasted greatly to the Brook School for black students that lacked a gymnasium, indoor plumbing and proper lighting. Unequal, segregated educational facilities led to multiple movements through litigation and local action, which all failed in their integration efforts until Thurgood Marshall, in charge of the NAACP legal department, appealed to the New York State Board of Education in 1943, which led to a decision that brought an end to the last formally segregated school in New York State and officially closed the Brook School, integrating all students into Hillburn's Main School.

The prominent school desegregation battle that occurred at the Hillburn Main School is of great significance to the region, state and country. The events in Hillburn were widely covered by regional, state and national media, and represented a victory for the NAACP, served as the basis for legislative change and inspired activists to pursue equality in other communities. The facility remains architecturally intact, retaining its original plan with historical resources, and the lawn includes a current statue of Thurgood Marshall to honor his contributions as a leader. The school's history is significant to the region as a distinctive example of how the civil rights movement unfolded in New York, and contributed largely to a forward shift in the region's social and economic trajectory. Achieving the distinction of being placed on the National Register of Historic Places will confirm the school's historical significance, while ensuring the preservation of this important site for many years to come.

I ask that you please give the application of the Hillburn Main School your full consideration.

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