UPDATE:
The Old Espanola Schoolhouse/St Paul's Youth Center is not as active in its youth program as it used to be in years past. These days just a handful of small elementary school kids show up, compared to the bigger numbers and broad spread of years past,(See News-Journal story below for example) and the detailed historical panels that graced the walls near the entrance are much reduced. Nevertheless, things on the cultural front are progressing, and the building has moved closer to a spot on the national registry of historic places. Local historian Randy Jaye nominated the center for a listing on the National Register of Historic Places, and this was cleared by the Florida Division of Historical Resources, which will send the nomination to the National Park Service for final approval.
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The St. Paul Youth Center Old Schoolhouse is a remnant of the days of segregation, but now a center of hope. It is the first black schoolhouse in Flagler County, Florida, in the town of Espanola. This settlement was originally set up for logging and turpentine production. Back then, two separate societies lived, and in 1972 Flagler was the last district to desegregate in Florida when a federal judge threw out the district's argument that there were "no blacks" in the county, only "Orientals." This legacy has thankfully gone, and today all kids in Flagler attend schools together under enlightened teachers and administrators. The Old Schoolhouse was partially restored over many years by Rev. Frank Giddens of the St. Paul’s Baptist Church, and is used to house an academic tutoring program and summer camp for the town’s disadvantaged youth.
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Space was cramped, and there were no summer programs planned or given for the children there. Their peers elsewhere enjoy theme parks, field trips and other opportunities, transported by school district buses that never reach the small town. Thanks to the generosity of donors and sponsors like Bobby and Eileen Boyd, Special Ed Teacher Mark Noel, and the AKA Sorority Chapter of Palm Coast however, the children of Espanola have been able to break through some of these barriers and enjoy a normal summer. Their generosity extended beyond summer camp, but has also furnish supplies and equipment for an academic tutoring program at the old Schoolhouse, helping the kids there improve their reading, vocabulary and math skills. Community service was also a going concern from street cleanups to doing repairs for elderly residents. Motivational speakers also added a powerful voice of encouragement for local youth. The work of the AKA Soroity also tied in revitalization efforts with the Martin Luther King holiday's "Day of Service".
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