HICKORY GROVE SCHOOL

The 1993 and 1996 surveys of Orange County do not mention the school. The NCSHPO historic property survey summary states that the school was opened circa 1907 (a date apparently taken from a 1999 newspaper article, which interviewed a previous owner, Henry “Rem” Malloy); however primary sources I can locate only mention a post-1937 structure; but there may have been an earlier Hickory Grove School. The structure is listed as a “two-room frame building” and “valued at $2,000." 

 

A school by the same name is shown on the [allegedly] circa 1922 map as being northwest of Carrboro, but the 1918 soil map does not show it.

 

In the mid-1930’s, a replacement for Sunnyside School was desired by parents and the local school committee. In May 1937, at the monthly Orange County Board of Education (OCBOE) meeting, "Several colored people from the Hickory Grove school section appeared before the board and asked for a new building at a new location for that district."

 

In August 1937, the OCBOE purchased the empty land from Robert Wilson, and the property was expanded/added to in May 1941. This is the site for Hickory Grove School.

 

From the March 7, 1938 OCBOE minutes: "It was moved and carried that the bid of $20 made by Joe McCauley for the Hickory Grove colored school property be rejected and that Mr. M.W. Durham be instructed to dispose of the property at a fair price if possible." This seems to refer to an older Hickory Grove school property being in existence.

 

In 1951, the Hickory Grove School was closed and was consolidated into the new Efland-Cheeks School. The property was sold in May 1952 by the OCBOE to James R. Farlow.

 

The school building was added to the NC Study List of/for historic sites in 1999.

 

The current owners purchased the school building in 1998.

 

From Carrboro (Images of America), by David A. Otto and Richard Ellington