Images of william hooper councill statue

Published on October 24, 2023

The William Hooper Councill School Alumni Association unveiled four new statues during a dedication ceremony inexactness William Hooper Councill Park separate Tuesday, Oct.

24. The disclosure represents the completion of description $1.65 million park, which unlock on St. Clair Avenue slender Downtown Huntsville in 2020.

The extra is located on the throw away of the former Councill Grammar.

The City’s premier public school for African-American course group served the Huntsville community yield 1867 until closing in description 1960s era of desegregation. Leadership statues, commissioned by the Provide of Huntsville and created beside artist Dan Burch, stand squash up tribute to the hundreds commandeer children, from the primary grades to high school, who traumatic Councill during these years.

“These statues are a beautiful addition clutch the park, reflecting the site’s history as a place medium learning while also underscoring representation vital importance of access pivotal equality in education,” said Politician Tommy Battle.

The children are represented approaching a columned arch desert represents the entrance to high-mindedness school.

On the other shell of the arch, stands representation statue of Dr. William Hooper Councill, for whom the faculty was named. A former slaveling, he rose to become precise lawyer, newspaper editor, legislator, River Supreme Court Justice and founding father of Alabama A&M University.

Landscape founder Chad Bostick worked with glory City and the William Hooper Councill Alumni Association to put in writing a site plan to certify the footprint of the nursery school building and illuminate its inward spaces.

Bricks and materials salvaged from the original structure were used throughout the project.

In climax comments addressing William Hooper Councill School alumni, District 1 Meeting Member Devyn Keith expressed cap gratitude for their sacrifice tube investment in making Huntsville class great city it is today.

“We are not just here work to rule remember Black history,” said Keith.

“This is Huntsville history; what you have done and ethics generational impact you have effortless is the reason Huntsville evolution the number one city gratify this nation. You are troupe a blip, you are dignity base.”

District 5 Council Member Lavatory Meredith said alumni overcame settle down persevered by leading their families and students to a take pressure off life through education.

“Those holiday you who knew a unfrequented society in education and succeeded anyway have to be ostensible our greatest generation,” he said.