Moments in Black History: C.C.T.S./J.D. Thompson, the story continues
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Special to the News
Submitted by Mamie Ellis
In 1953 Bertha L. Lovejoy, a teacher employed at the Coosa County Training School and graduate school student at Alabama State College, wrote a thesis titled “A History of the Coosa County Training School from 1899 to 1953.”
The thesis details information about the staff, students and community, much of which was gathered from personal interviews, documents from the Board of Education, school office, and her first-hand knowledge and experience. The thesis is 66 typed pages, located at Alabama State University, and is our only documented history in book form. A recent search to learn more about Ms. Lovejoy revealed she passed away on December 30, 2023, at the age of 94, in Cleveland, Ohio.
In April 1965, Naomi Leonard Walker (1894-1987) wrote a history of the school based on her knowledge of living in the community, where she and her husband, Robert Walker, raised and educated three children, Robert Jr., William and Dannie.
Mrs. Walker shared with us details of the struggle to maintain a school in the early days. The names of students that were in the graduating classes were listed and names of the people that supported the dream that became a reality. The Walker family purchased the home and land once owned by Mr. John R. Savage, the school founder. Remnants of the home that was once owned and occupied by these history makers are still present near the old school.
Our last history fact is a list of Cottage Grove, Coosa, Alabama U.S. Appointed Postmasters: John R. Savage – June 3, 1908; Urlyne P. Savage – March 8, 1911; Sanford H. Lee – April 16, 1912; Robert W. Taylor – March 12, 1915; Matthew W. Rivers – April 30, 1919; James A. Welton – July 13, 1917; and Naomi Leonard Walker – July 10, 1920. These postmasters paved the way for those that came after them. (Cited from the National Archives, U.S. Postmasters, 1832-1930, volume 66)
We appreciate these individuals for preserving our history and helping us to know our legacy so we can restore our community.
