About The Historic Neely School Foundation
About the Foundation
The Historic Neely School Foundation, a non-profit, was founded in 2010 by the Neely family and Rowan County community advocates who believed in the importance of restoring the historic Neely School. In 2017, the Neely School was designated as Rowan County’s fifth historic landmark.
Today the Foundation manages the Neely School historical site and community center complete with a picnic shelter, nature trail, playground, and bathrooms—all of which are available to the public for educational visits and private events.
Neely School History
Around 1910, Julius Erastus Neely founded the Neely School in China Grove, NC. Julius was the son of an enslaved person. As a carpenter and minister, he recognized the importance of educating his family and community. He worked with family and friends to build the single-room Neely School, which educated approximately 1,300 students before the local school system started providing schools for African Americans in 1948.
Our Team
Our team is made up of Neely family members and community leaders who are passionate about preserving history within our community. We partner with a variety of organizations and businesses to keep the historical site standing and a part of the community.