“Built in 1926 with funds from the Julius Rosenwald Foundation, contributions from the local African American community, and support from the Wake County School Board, Panther Branch School is one of only four remaining Rosenwald Schools in Wake County; twenty-one were constructed between 1919 and 1928. During the late 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s, the school served as an educational and social center for the African American Community, hosting plays, glee club performances, adult education classes, vaccination clinics, home demonstrations, and meetings between the county extension agent and farmers.”
-National Register of Historic Places nomination, 2001
The Panther Branch School closed its doors in 1956 and Juniper Level Missionary Baptist Church purchased the property in 1959, continuing to use the building as a meeting hall and social center until the 1980s. The school eventually fell into disrepair and a concerted effort to restore the historic building began in 2001 after the property was nominated to the National Register of Historic Places. A group of Panther Branch alumni came together and the JLBC Alliance was formed, incorporated in 2005 as a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization. After many years of fundraising and events, the Alliance was able to begin initial planning on the phased project in 2009. Capital Area Preservation designated the building a Wake County Landmark in 2013 and Maurer Architecture became involved with planning the restoration of the building after the Alliance received a grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
“In Wake County, the Rosenwald Fund helped to build twenty-one schools, contributing $23,000”, while the school board gave $143, 805 (the second highest in the state), the white community donated $605, and the African American community raised $35,756 (the largest in the state). Part of the $35,756 that had been raised for Rosenwald Schools by the Wake County African American community was solicited by residents of Juniper Level.”
-National Register of Historic Places nomination, 2001
The community rallied around the project, with local stakeholders participating in the hands-on work of paint scraping and sanding, replacing damaged wood siding and trim, and tending to the grounds of the school which include a cemetery that was in use until the 1970s. The State Historic Preservation Office and restoration specialist Jeff Adolphsen led a lead paint abatement workshop in which many church members were involved. New, historically accurate double hung wood windows were re-installed where the openings had been boarded for many years, and the building’s exterior was painted. A new wood double leaf entry door with transom surround was also installed, based on historic photograph documentation and other existing Rosenwald schools in the state. With this phase of work completed, the structural stabilization of the foundation began. The building was lifted off of its original pier foundations and a new concrete block curtain wall was built around the perimeter of the structure. Existing, damaged floor structure were repaired and reinforced.
With the beginning of the schematic design phase, local stakeholders were engaged in a charette to determine new uses for the building. A floor plan sensitive to the original Rosenwald School design was developed to meet the needs of the community today. Original finishes were left intact where possible, and many of the existing historic doors, hardware, and breeze windows remain. The new floor plan retained many existing walls and spaces while introducing new ADA toilet rooms and a handicap ramp in the rear of the building.
The area around the school continues to be developed, most recently with the planning and construction of NC-540 Triangle Expressway- east of US-401 to east of I-40. In early planning stages, stakeholders attended Design Public hearings and made public comment in support of taking measures to retain the important aspects of integrity of location, feeling, setting and association between the historic school and Juniper Level Baptist Church. In 2019, representatives of the church and design team met with NCDOT and the State Historic Preservation Office to discuss the impact of the construction on Panther Branch Rosenwald School. Design coordination between the various stakeholders led to the elimination of retaining walls between the church and school, the addition of a pedestrian crossing connecting the church and school, and construction coordination with the completion of the school’s site work.
After many years of hard work, dedication and perseverance, the Panther Branch Rosenwald School restoration was completed in 2022. Barbara Perry, who passed away in January of 2022, saw the completion of the school as a part of her life’s work and legacy. Since the school has opened earlier this year, a Meals on Wheels Friendship Cafe is being established on site, which provides a space for seniors to dine, socialize with friends, play games and enjoy experiences together. An after-school program has also been established and is in operation at the Panther Branch Rosenwald School as well as a community garden.
