Historic Marker Dedicated At Escambia County Training School Site

December 5, 2016

An official historic marker was dedicated Friday in Atmore marking the location of the former Escambia County Training School on Martin Luther King Avenue.

The site’s history dates back to 1920 when a wooden building was constructed as the Atmore Colored School, which operated until 1925. In 1926, a new wood and brick building was erected with assistance from a school fund and the community, and the school was renamed the Escambia County Training School. Current buildings on the site date from 1959, 1980 and 1981.

The school offered instruction in academic and industrial education, and the students were also active in many extracurricular activities.  The Escambia County Training School’s girls’ basketball team won the state championship in 1950-1951. The boys’ football team went undefeated and was regional champions in 1965 and 1968.

The first principal of the school was Robert L. Bradley. Woodrow McCorvey, Sr. was principal when the high school was closed in 1970 due to integration.

The campus became the Escambia County Middle School for the next 30 years when a new middle school was built on North Main Street.

The Escambia County Training School site is the only location with a historic marker in the city limits of Atmore listed on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage.

For more photos from the dedication ceremony, click here.

Pictured: A historic marker was dedicated Friday at the site of the former Escambia County Training School on Martin Luther King Avenue in Atmore. Pictured inset: Louise (Lois) Montgomery was presented a certificate of recognition from Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley. She played on the Escambia County Training School’s 1950-1951 state championship basketball team.  NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.

Comments

11 Responses to “Historic Marker Dedicated At Escambia County Training School Site”

  1. Annie Moore on July 3rd, 2020 2:14 am

    Wow! We my brothers and Sisters and Classmate was students of this Great Institution. I was a proud student of this school until we had to transfer to the New School in 1970, I AM A proud Student of (ECTS) Home of The Eagles.
    Annie Delois Arnold Moore Congralations!!

  2. Jennie Rudolph on July 21st, 2019 4:20 am

    Love this school (went from 1959-1969)

  3. Morast on July 20th, 2018 9:00 pm

    The journey has been long but successful. Thanks to the education foundation provided by the faculty of Escambia County Training School. I will always be grateful!

  4. Doris Jean Harris (Johnson) on March 25th, 2018 2:08 pm

    Escambia, Escambia I will always 77 love and honor thee.You are where I started and I finished at St James Academy in Fort Pierce, Fl.Congratulation on a job well done.

  5. Willie F. Pace on January 23rd, 2017 8:01 am

    Proud member of ECTS Class of 1969

  6. Margaret Holt Caddell on December 13th, 2016 10:47 am

    Congratulations to Escambia County Training School. I attended ECTS from 1959-1966; first to the ninth grades. I completed my high school education at the Escambia County Senior High School; Class of 1969. School Freedom of Choice was allowed a few years before full integration in 1970. A few black attended the White school during these few years. I am glad the ECTS site is being used in the community and historically acknowledged. I look forward to seeing the landmark.

  7. Lynne Mccorvey on December 6th, 2016 8:06 pm

    Congratulations to Escambia County Training School on making Alabama’s Historic Register. My father, Professor Woodrow McCorvey, would have been so proud of this day. He breathed, lived, ate for the success of all his students. The only one of my father’s children who graduated under his leadership is my brother, Coach Woody McCorvey, (ECTS Class of 1968) who is currently AD Football at Clemson University. The other three including myself graduated from ECHS.
    “Escambia Escambia. We’ll always love and honor thee.”

  8. Rebecca Finney-Thompson on December 5th, 2016 10:54 pm

    Congratulations, Class of 1966..Shoutout to North Escambia for outstanding coverage of this historical event

  9. Robert Lee Pettway on December 5th, 2016 3:20 pm

    Glad To Be a Member Of The Class Of 1970

    Glad To a Member Of The Class Of 1970

  10. Floyd Banks on December 5th, 2016 12:41 pm

    I am a proud Graduate of Escambia County Training School,this
    Educational Institutions was a pivotal point in my Career.

  11. Doris (Johnson ) Cunningham on December 5th, 2016 12:10 pm

    Congratulations ECTS . Class of 1970. Looking forward to seeing the Monument in July 2017.