Howard Academy High School's Building 1 opened on Chestnut Street in 1936 as a single structure with several classrooms. In 1940, a similar second building was constructed with financing from the county, parents, and The Julius Rosenwald Fund. Rosenwald, president of Sears, Roebuck and Co., donated funds to build thousands of schools, shops, and teachers' homes in the South. After Building 2 was added, Building 1 housed the elementary and junior high school, while Building 2 served as the senior high school. Howard Academy was the first official high school for African-American students in the county. In 1957, a combination elementary and junior high school was built on Second Street. The Chestnut Street campus served students in grades 9-12 until 1959-60, when the Second Street school was expanded to accommodate all 12 grades. After 1960, the Chestnut Street buildings were unused for several years, but when schools were integrated in the early 1970's, the site again served elementary students until an elementary school could be built. Building 2 is now vacant, and Building 1 is used as storage space for the school district.