The Bell Tower and Learning Resources Center with a couple of uprooted trees

Shaw University was one of the places to be hit by the series of storms which rained down tornadoes upon North Carolina. While the devastation is still being assessed across the city and state, Shaw was one of the places in Raleigh hit pretty hard. There are several large and old uprooted trees nears the Bell Tower, sections of the roof of Estey Hall were blown off, and the Student Center sustained a great deal of damage.

Although classes were cancelled for the remainder of the semester, efforts are underway for students across NC college campuses to come together to clean up the damage.

Student Center damaged by the tornado, with repair crew on the roof

The hardest hit place on campus was the Willie E. Gary Student Center. The roof was ripped off and most of the windows were blown out. Crews were working late in the evening to repair the damage.

Public space near the bell tower and memorial garden

The common area around the Bell Tower had at least three uprooted trees.

James E. Cheek Learning Resources Center

How You Can Help

NC State Student Government is helping lead a project named Universities United: Supporting our State. It’s an ambitious project with the aim of raising $10,000 before the end of exams to help those in the NC State, Shaw University, and St. Augustine’s College communities that were affected by this past weekend’s storms. They are also encouraging student groups to hold their own fundraising efforts.

One of the many signs uprooted and tossed about campus

In addition to fundraising, they are also working with other area colleges for Shaw University Cleanup Day. As of now, North Carolina A&T, Saint Augustine’s College, North Carolina Central and UNC-Chapel Hill have committed to help with cleanup. If you’d like to help Shaw University, meet at Estey Hall (pictured below) at 3:00 PM on Thursday, April 21st.

Please be sure to wear work attire (strong shoes, gloves, etc.) and bring heavy-duty garbage bags if possible.

Estey Hall is located on the corner of Blount and East Streets.

Estey Hall

A Brief History Lesson and Tour of Historic Shaw University

Shaw University was founded by Henry Martin Tupper in 1865 and was the first university established for African-Americans following the Civil War.

Estey Hall (above) was built in 1875 and is the oldest college building for black women in the United States. The funds were raised for the building by the Shaw Jubilee Singers, who raised four thousand dollars. Additional funds were raised by Tupper, founder of the university, and from Vermont manufacturer Jacob Estey.

Estey Hall

It was designed by architect G.S.H. Appleget, known for designing Raleigh’s most beautiful residential structure, the Heck-Andrews House on Blount Street, as well as the equally beautiful (but less extravagant) Second Empire-styled Victorian houses in the Oakwood neighborhood. The bricks used in Estey Hall were made by Shaw students from clay on the property.

Estey Hall faced demolition in the 1970s, but a committee comprised of diverse citizens of Raleigh stepped in and with funds from Federal, Municipal, and private sources, was restored and reopened in 1993.

George C. Debnam Hall

Near the historic Estey Hall is the modernist Debnam Hall Administrative Building. The architect of this building is unknown to me, but the cubist structure bears a slight resemblance to the houses created in Raleigh by NC State School of Design professor George Matsumoto.

Leonard Medical School

Another Historic First for Shaw

In addition to being the oldest historically black college in the south and having the oldest college building for black women, Shaw was also home to Leonard Medical School. Leonard was the nation’s first four year medical school, as well as the first medical school dedicated to training African-Americans in the south.

The Beauty of Shaw University

While I was walking around campus, I bumped into Shaw student Gregory Mason. He recently that made a video about the University he attended and loved so much, and mentioned that he got the footage days before the tornado hit and caused so much havoc.

Although there are countless stories of folks losing their homes, businesses, or in some cases their lives, there are a few bright spots shining through this natural diaster. Students and area residents coming together to clean up a treasured historic college is one example of the sun shining through.

More Information:

• Universities United: Supporting our State

Related Posts:

• Leonard Medical School
• Estey Hall
• Shaw University, Raleigh, NC