PASSTOWN SCHOOL HISTORICAL HIGHLIGHTS 

With the help of a strong coalition of state and local  organizations and community residents, HHS halted the demolition of Pass  School by township officials and secured funding for architectural  concept plans. Subsequently, a comprehensive proposal to the township to  acquire, preserve and repurpose the school was submitted.

For over 50 years the former school served as the Valley Township Municipal  Building.
 

1800'S

ORIGINAL SCHOOL

The original Pass School opened as a private academy on December 22, 1800 for white students. The first structure was a log cabin. 

1900's-1970's

The GREAT MIGRATION

An influx of African American families moving from the southern states to the northern states, and in this case, to Hayti to work in Lukens Iron and Steel Mill in Coatesville, Pennsylvania.

1923

Fourth pass school building

The fourth Pass School building was opened on September 17, 1923, as a two-room school built for “colored” students to alleviate overcrowding in the one-room Pass School. This fourth structure was a substantial building of stone construction with a slate roof.

An influx of African American families moving to Hayti during the Great Migration to work in Lukens Iron and Steel Mill in Coatesville caused the overcrowding in the one-room Pass School. 

COMMUNITY CENTER

1930's-

1970's

Throughout its history, Pass School served as the centerpiece for Hayti's social, civic, and religious activities. It was a school by day and a community center by night. From the 1930s to the 1970s, the evenings hosted civic meetings, adult education classes, and teenage dances—the latter featuring jitterbug music played on the piano by John Brickus in the 1930s, and later, the Hayti band and soul singers, the Debonaires, in the 1970s. The site also hosted the summer Carnival, served as the local polling place to cast votes, and held the annual May Day festival. Pass School was the center of the community—the Community Center.

1950

COMMUNITY CENTER

The school was expanded to accommodate up to 150 students. The two new rooms had in one room, first and second grades taught by Miss Spann; and in the other room, third and fourth grades taught by Miss Mason. The wall separating the two rooms could open, allowing for a large assembly or large community program.

BROWN VS BOARD OF EDUCATION

1957

The Valley Township School Board integrated its schools in 1957, three years after the 1954 Brown vs the Board of Education Decision declaring school segregation unconstitutional.