WATCH: Lemon Street School’s historic register plaque unveiling welcomes home alumni

The unveiling of Lemon Street School's National Register plaque welcomed home cherished members of Marietta City Schools' (MCS) history on Saturday, October 5. Fittingly, the plaque was unveiled during Marietta High School’s homecoming weekend, connecting the past with the present as the community celebrates its educational journey. 

In 2024, Lemon Street School was added to the National Register of Historic Places to recognize its historic character and its pivotal role in educating African American students during segregation. The building has been carefully rehabilitated, and key features that reflect its historic significance have been preserved. Working under the guidance of the Kennesaw State University (KSU) Department of Museums, Archives and Rare Books, the formal nomination application to the National Register of Historic Places was completed in part by students in the KSU Public History Program, under the guidance of KSU’s Dr. Jennifer Dickey, Associate Professor.

“The history of the Lemon Street School reflects the history of Marietta itself. It’s a story of progress, resilience, and hope. As we welcomed back the alumni and families who lived through that history, we’re reminded of just how far we’ve come,” said MCS Board Member Angela Orange, “This plaque is more than a symbol of the past—it’s a call to action for the future, to ensure every child has the opportunity to learn, to grow, and to succeed.”

Lemon Street School, which closed in 1971, played an essential role in Marietta’s African American community as the primary school for Black students during segregation. Over the following 40 years, the school served various purposes, including as a junior high, a community center, and a small public library.

In 2020, the Marietta City Schools Board of Education recognized the site’s irreplaceable cultural and historic significance. The school system started a rehabilitation project aimed at restoring the property to its original purpose as an educational facility. Careful efforts were made to retain the building’s historic character, including its distinctive brick, roofline, and porch ironwork.

“Lemon Street has been a cornerstone of the community for generations,” said MCS Chief Impact Officer Kim Blass. “And the Lemon Street School is a place that has shaped lives and built futures. By preserving this building, we’re not just saving bricks and mortar, we’re honoring those who taught here and the students who walked these halls.”

In February 2021, the building reopened as the Woods-Wilkins Campus, now home to Marietta High School’s three nontraditional academic programs. Today, the campus serves nearly 200 students and continues to honor the legacy of education on Lemon Street.