Dunbar-Abrams Community Center

The Dunbar-Abrams Community Center is a community center located at 2715 6th Avenue North in Bessemer in the former Bessemer Colored High School building. The center's executive director is Tyrone Alexander.

The high school was built in 1923 for Bessemer's African-American students. The first principal was J. B. Bickerstaff, who shepherded the first graduating class, of seven students, who matriculated in 1927. That fall, H. M. Shields took over the school. In 1928 a new name for the school, to honor the Ohio-born African-American poet Paul Laurence Dunbar, was suggested by Pearl Blevins.

Paul Laurence Dunbar High School began its football program in 1931 under coach Mule Knox, who named the team the "Blue Devils". The school closed in 1960 after the construction of J. S. Abrams High School.

After decades of vacancy, the school building was purchased by the Dunbar-Abrams Alumni Association, which raised funds and developed plans for a multi-phase renovation to transform the building in the community center to serve Bessemer residents.

The community center is currently housed in the school's gymnasium building, which has been converted into an auditorium. The foundation is working on a program, "Dunbar-Abrams Vision 2000 Community HOPE", which would utilize the now-vacant classroom wing for education and business-development programs. A future phase will include a day-care facility. The foundation's long term goals include renovating housing and restoring neighborhoods in the community.

Principals

• J. B. Bickerstaff, 1923-1927
• H. M. Shields, 1927-1934
• A. D. Shores, 1934-1939
• J. T. Gaines, 1939-1944
• Jennie Davis, 1944-1945
• J. S. Abrams, 1945-1959
• Walter Branch, 1959-1960

References

• Nance, Ramkia (January 24, 2007) "Old Bessemer high school for blacks being renovated." Birmingham News.