Springfield Community Center Inc
The Springfield Log Cabin is a treasured symbol of African American history with memories and opportunities to strengthen ours.
SPRINGFIELD LOG CABIN SCHOOL — ORGANIZATION BIO / DESCRIPTION
(501(c)(3) Non‑Profit)
The Springfield Log Cabin School stands as one of the most important surviving landmarks of African American resilience, education, and civil rights organizing in rural Georgia. Our story begins long before the school’s construction. When Taliaferro County was formed in 1825, our ancestors were already here — enslaved on the plantations that would later become the Springfield Community. After emancipation, our great‑great‑grandfather, his siblings, cousins, and neighbors traveled 70 miles to Augusta University (later Morehouse College) to pursue an education, establishing a generational commitment to learning and self‑determination.
In 1935, the Springfield School Board purchased land, secured a Rosenwald‑inspired design, and built the log cabin schoolhouse. It opened in 1937 as a school for Black children and operated until 1955. From 1955 to 1965, the building served as a meeting place for the Masons, Odd Fellows, and other Black civic organizations.
In 1965, the school became the center of a major civil rights effort. A Springfield graduate and educator, Mr. Turner, trained with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) Citizenship Education Program to prepare Black citizens of Taliaferro County to register to vote. Volunteers from the Summer Community Organization and Political Education (SCOPE) program joined the effort. When Mr. Turner and five other educators lost their teaching contracts in retaliation, students protested — and the Springfield School became a Freedom School.
This movement led to two major federal court cases.
Turner v. Goolsby ruled that it was illegal to bus white students to other counties while denying transportation to Black students.
Turner v. Fouche, argued before the U.S. Supreme Court in 1966 and decided in 1970, changed how jurors and school board members were selected in Georgia.
After the protests, Mr. Turner partnered with Randolph Blackwell and others to create the Crawfordville Enterprise, bringing jobs to the community through a textile mill and silk‑screening plant. The old school later housed Head Start and daycare programs for local families.
Today, Springfield Community Center, Inc. — led by descendants of the original trustees, landowners, and students — is restoring the school as a museum, cultural center, and educational space. It is the only log‑cabin Rosenwald‑style school in Taliaferro County and the only documented Civil Rights–Era Freedom School in the county.
MISSION STATEMENT
Our mission is to restore, preserve, and interpret the Springfield Log Cabin School as a living monument to African American resilience, education, and civil rights leadership. We exist to build community, preserve truth, honor our ancestors, and educate future generations.
We are committed to:
• Protecting and restoring this rare historic structure
• Telling the full story of Black life, education, and activism in rural Georgia
• Providing a repository for photographs, oral histories, and family archives
• Creating a community space for learning, cultural events, and intergenerational connection
• Ensuring that students and visitors understand that Springfield’s history is American history
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Springfield Community Center, Inc. has made significant progress toward full restoration:
Historic Recognition & Partnerships
• Secured partnerships with the Taliaferro County Commissioner, Taliaferro School System, Taliaferro County Historical Society, The Purification Heritage Center, Landmark Preservation, Ethos Preservation, AIA, Clark & Clark Attorneys, the University of Georgia, and multiple local churches.
• Completed historic documentation and preservation planning with professional preservationists and architects.
Major Grants Awarded
• $750,000 African American Civil Rights Grant (2025) — for structural stabilization
• $25,000 National Trust for Historic Preservation (2023) — to help tell the full American story
• $10,000 American Rescue Plan Act Subaward — for community development and planning
Community Leadership
• Board members are lifelong residents, descendants of original trustees, and former students of the Log Cabin School and Freedom School.
• The organization has built strong local support and a growing national network of historians, preservationists, and donors.
HOW DONATIONS WILL BE USED
The full restoration of the Springfield Log Cabin School is a $3 million project, divided into three phases. Donations directly support the preservation of this irreplaceable landmark and the creation of a community‑centered museum and cultural space.
Phase I — Structural Stabilization (Current Priority)
• Repairing and stabilizing brick piers and wood framing
• Replacing deteriorated log cladding with in‑kind materials
• Restoring roofing, flashing, and eave brackets to stop water intrusion
• Preventing further loss of historic fabric
Phase II — Exterior & Interior Rehabilitation
• Restoring historic windows and doors
• Removing non‑historic interior materials
• Completing interior framing and mechanical/electrical/plumbing rough‑ins
Phase III — Final Restoration & Site Development
• Restoring interior walls, ceilings, and floors
• Completing finishes and MEP trim‑out
• Landscaping and hardscaping for public access
• Preparing museum exhibits, archives, and educational spaces
Every donation — large or small — helps us:
• Preserve a nationally significant civil rights site
• Build a museum-quality educational center
• Protect and share African American history
• Create a space for community programs, youth engagement, and cultural events
• Ensure that Springfield’s story is never forgotten
The plan to restore the Log Cabin School https://youtu.be/xTqOxOx2uXM
Fundraisers
Fundraiser by Terry Howard
On‑Site Housing for the Restoration Crew
The Springfield Log Cabin — our 501(c)(3) nonprofit — has stood as a witness to Black resilience, education, and community strength for nearly a century. Built by hand in 1937 by African American families who cut timber from their own land, it served as a school for Black children until 1955, a Freedom School during the Civil Rights Movement, and later became part of Crawfordville’s economic growth in 1967. Today, we are honored to continue that legacy. This year, we were awarded the National Park Service African American Civil Rights Grant for $750,000, a major step toward restoring the Log Cabin to its original form and preserving it as a museum, cultural center, and community space. But as with all historic preservation projects, this is only the beginning. The full restoration will require millions of dollars and several years of careful, expert work. One of our most urgent challenges is housing for the restoration crew. The specialized team we selected lives in Savannah — nearly three hours away. They are committed to this project, but the daily drive is unsustainable. Our small rural town has extremely limited lodging options, and the few available rentals are costly and not suited for long‑term stays. To keep this project moving forward, we need a practical, long‑term solution: on‑site container housing units for the restoration crew. These units would: • Provide safe, stable, affordable housing for the workers • Allow the crew to spend more time restoring the Log Cabin and less time on the road • Reduce project delays and costs • Support a multi‑year restoration effort with dignity and efficiency • Create an infrastructure that can serve future phases of the project This is where we need your help. We are seeking funding partners, donors, and supporters who believe in preserving African American history, honoring the legacy of rural Black education, and investing in a project that will uplift generations to come. Your contribution — whether large or small — will directly support the creation of on‑site housing and help ensure that the Springfield Log Cabin continues to stand as a testament to the strength, courage, and brilliance of the community that built it. If you would like to support this effort, please reach out. Together, we can protect this sacred place and carry its story forward.
- Raised
- $0
- Goal
- $50,000
Official fundraiser
SUPPORT UGANDAN CHILDREN WITH ALBANISM
Terry Howard is a lifelong community advocate from Union Point, Georgia, whose passion for service extends far beyond her hometown. In 2014, while her daughter was serving a mission for the church, Terry met three return missionaries from Uganda—Mayanja Jackson, Obanda Jackie, and Elvis Katerega—who were determined to uplift their communities. Mayanja founded Ayeta Charitable Hands Africa, a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating adults, rescuing orphans, providing hospital transportation, and improving housing and healthcare. Elvis pursued a business degree, and Jackie joined a women’s organization to empower others to start businesses. Terry supported their efforts with small donations whenever possible, but last year, her commitment deepened when Mayanja was entrusted with the care of Jovita, a child with albinism. Knowing that albinism runs in her own family, Terry felt a personal connection to the challenges these children face, including vision and health issues due to a lack of melanin. This year, Mayanja received a second child with the disability, and Terry knew she had to do more. Donations to this fundraiser will help Mayanja continue his mission, providing essential skin care products to protect Jovita and Namono from the sun, as well as eyeglasses to improve their vision. In certain parts of Africa, children with albinism are at risk of being used for rituals, making the orphanage’s protection and support even more critical. Your contributions will ensure that these children receive education, food, and clothing, and help support Elvis’s work on the nonprofit’s website and ecommerce store, which is vital for sustaining their mission. Jackie has also contributed handmade nativity scenes from banana and Mvule trees to support the fundraiser. Terry is deeply grateful for every act of generosity. She prays for all who donate, knowing that the need will never cease as long as poverty persists. With so many charities seeking support, she feels honored and humbled by each donation, no matter the amount. Continued support is essential until the nonprofit’s investments can fully sustain its mission and goals. Together, we can make a lasting difference in the lives of these children and their communities.
- Raised
- $0
- Next milestone
- $100
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