Senoia Area Historical Society to Host Program on Historic Rosenwald Schools and Local Preservation Efforts

Debron Walker to Present on the Eleanor Roosevelt School in Warm Springs and the Legacy of an American Education Revolution

SENOIA, GA – The Senoia Area Historical Society will present a special program on the history and preservation of the Rosenwald Schools on Thursday, January 8, 2026, at 6:30 PM. The event will take place at 6 Couch Street in Senoia and is free for members, with a $5 donation requested for guests.

Presenter Debron Walker will share the remarkable story of the Rosenwald Schools, with particular focus on the Eleanor Roosevelt School in Warm Springs, Georgia. Between 1912 and 1936, nearly 5,000 of these rural schoolhouses were built across the South, serving more than 700,000 Black children over four decades and transforming American education.

Debron Walker is the owner of the Eleanor Roosevelt School and the founder of Green Mine Growers, LLC. Walker, community advocate, lecturer, and strategist, is spearheading the historic preservation and educational revitalization of the Eleanor Roosevelt School in Warm Springs, Georgia. As the founder of Green Mine Growers, a state vocational provider, Walker has established a key network across Georgia, including the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, Retired Educators Association, The Roosevelt Foundation, Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency, Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, Rotary, Kiwanis, and the Georgia Farm Bureau.

The schools were born from an extraordinary partnership between Booker T. Washington, a prominent educator and African American thought leader, and Julius Rosenwald, a German-Jewish immigrant and head of Sears,Roebuck & Company. By 1928, Rosenwald Schools comprised more than one in five Black schools operatingthroughout the South.

Today, only about 500 of these historic structures survive, according to the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Some serve as community centers, while others have restoration projects underway. Many remain without champions and are in advanced stages of disrepair. As their numbers dwindle, so does the legacy of their role in forming an American education revolution.

Walker’s presentation will explore this pivotal chapter in American history and highlight the critical efforts to preserve these irreplaceable landmarks, including the local Eleanor Roosevelt School in Warm Springs.

“This program offers our community an important opportunity to learn about a transformative movement in American education and understand why preserving these schools matters for future generations,” said Jennifer Mears, Program Chairperson for the Senoia Area Historical Society.
Doors open at 6:30 PM. For more information, visit www.senoiahistory.com.

About the Senoia Area Historical Society The Senoia Area Historical Society is dedicated to preserving and sharing the rich history of Senoia and the surrounding area through ducational programs, exhibitions, and community engagement.