A grand old building stands before you. This is the Reno School. Built in 1903 it served the African American children of the Reno community. This wasn’t just any school. It was the heart of their neighborhood.
The Reno School is a significant landmark. It reflects a pivotal era in American history. It highlights the struggles and triumphs of a community. Imagine the students who walked these halls. They faced segregation. Yet they thrived. They learned and grew in this very building. Their legacy lives on within these walls.
Designed by Snowden Ashford the school initially housed eight classrooms. Later these were converted to four. It wasn’t only a place of learning. It hosted meetings. Social groups gathered here. The Reno School was the center of community life.
The community itself was unique. It grew around a Civil War fort. The fort was named after General Jesse L Reno. The neighborhood took the name of the fort. The school’s name however is simply Reno School. The name Jesse Lee Reno is not found in historical records concerning this school.
Unfortunately the Reno community was eventually displaced. This was to make way for Fort Reno Park and Alice Deal Middle School. The school closed in 1950. Its days as a school seemed over. But the building’s story didn’t end there.
The building served as a Civil Defense office. It later became the Rose School for special education students. After years of vacancy preservationists stepped in. They secured historic designation for the building. A significant restoration followed. Today the historic Reno School is incorporated into Alice Deal Middle School. A part of its history remains. A lasting testament to the resilient spirit of the Reno community. Its educational legacy continues. This building you see stands as a silent witness. A silent witness to the history of education and community in Washington D.C.