Espanola Schoolhouse, a segregation-era survivor, gets a facelift
The historic one-room Espanola Schoolhouse located at 98 Knox Jones Ave., Bunnell, recently received a much needed facelift.
The structure was built in 1950, and is a scarce survivor of the Jim Crow racial segregation-era. It served as a Black-only schoolhouse from 1950 through 1958, and accommodated 30 or more students per school year. During its time as a school within the Flagler County School District it did not have an indoor bathroom or running water. A wood-burning stove provided heat on cold days. After its schoolhouse days, the building served as an independent kindergarten and then a storage facility. Today, it serves the Espanola community as the St. Paul Youth Center.
Work was completed by tradesman Mike Patrick and included stucco repairs, pressure washing, painting of the building and trim, replacement of the aluminum drip edge, soffit and fascia and a partial rebuild of the front porch roof. A new custom sign that reads, "Historic Espanola Schoolhouse, St. Paul Youth Center, The Only Minority Schoolhouse Still Standing in Flagler County," was also installed.
The facelift is a cosmetic improvement to the overall character of the building. The structural repairs have also increased the building’s stability and longevity. The work was funded by donations from Daytona Beach Chapter 154 of the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors and The Mullins Companies.
Other improvements needed on the building include new windows and doors. Grants will be pursued to raise money to cover this work.
The Espanola Schoolhouse is the only one-room schoolhouse still standing in Flagler County. It is also the first landmark in Flagler County associated to Black history that has been nationally recognized as it was added to the National Register of Historic Places on July 22, 2020.
