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Open houses highlight Fayetteville’s historic Black leaders
- Details
- Tuesday, 20 January 2026
- Written by Anna White
Places hold lessons and memories about those whose lives shaped the world as we know it. Less than two miles apart in the city of Fayetteville stand two such buildings: Orange Street School and the E. E. Smith House. Rich with the history of days gone by and the legacy of leaders who worked to build both a better Fayetteville and a better world, the building’s histories have been kept alive by those who know their importance. Upcoming open houses make it possible to step inside the buildings free of charge and simultaneously step into the past.
Orange Street School is a recently restored landmark located at 600 Orange Street and is one of the first publicly funded schools for black children in Fayetteville. Orange Street School is thought to be the oldest building associated with education in Fayetteville.
A place of growth and opportunity for black children through the decades, it now serves as a community center where children and teens can participate in STEM and cultural arts activities. Its $1.45 Million renovation was completed in 2025.
A partnership between Fayetteville Cumberland Parks & Recreation and Orange Street School Historical Association made the renovations possible. Orange Street School Historical Association’s mission is “to advance the understanding, appreciation, and preservation of history related to African American Culture in Fayetteville, NC,” and the many offerings inside the historic school now stand as a testament to that mission. Masterclasses and programs bring together education and fun in the storied building.
On the ground floor, Greater Life of Fayetteville, a nonprofit that educates and inspires at-risk and behaviorally challenged youth, offers programs that help students thrive academically, socially, and morally. Upstairs, visitors will find a music lab, computer lab and museum. The museum features a historically accurate classroom and artifacts that belonged to Bishop James Walker Hood, a prominent figure in black education.
During the school’s ribbon-cutting in Feb 2025, City of Fayetteville council member Malik Davis said, “For more than a century, this building has been a symbol of education. This is a space where Black students in this community have started to build their futures and pursue their dreams.
"And while time took its toll on this structure, the heart of this school has never faded. Not only has this building been restored, but we have reinvented it for the next generations to come.”
Built in 1915, Orange Street School was also the birthplace of E.E. Smith High School, which began meeting on the second floor of the building in 1927. The high school is named after educator Dr. Ezekiel Ezra Smith.
“Dr. E.E. Smith was not only a prolific educator, but he was also a minister, soldier, diplomat and businessman, to name only a few of his accolades,” explained Hattie Presnell, Historic Properties Supervisor for the Fayetteville History Museum.
Smith served for over 40 years as the principal of The Howard School, which was later named the State Normal School and eventually Fayetteville State University, according to Presnell. He was appointed principal of The Howard School in 1883.
His life and legacy expanded beyond Fayetteville when he served as the U.S. Ambassador to Liberia and played a military role in the Spanish-American War.
As an ordained Baptist minister, he served as pastor of the First Baptist Church in Fayetteville for six years in addition to serving on the executive board of the Lott Carey Foreign Missions Convention.
His home, the E.E. Smith House, is located at 135 Blount Street. The Queen Anne-style house, built in 1902, is located in a historically black neighborhood. Purchased for $100 by Dr. Ezekiel Ezra Smith and his wife, the couple lived in the home for only a short period, eventually renting it out.
Still, it holds the enduring history of Smith’s life and work. Now part of the National Register of Historic Places, the upcoming open house is a chance for visitors to be inspired by Smith’s legacy.
With rich connections to several key black leaders in Fayetteville’s history, both Orange Street School and the E.E. Smith House are bridges to the past. Whether learning what life was like for these figures, hearing of the impact they had on their contemporaries, or observing first-hand their living influence long after their death, these places are opportunities to remember the people who built Fayetteville.
Attend the Orange Street School open house Saturday, Jan. 24, from 11 a.m. to noon and the E. E. Smith House open house Friday, Feb. 13 and Friday, Feb. 27, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Both events are free and open to the public, with registration required.
Children and adults of all ages are encouraged to attend. Register for either event by calling 910-433-1457.
(Photo: The E.E. Smith House is a historic landmark in Fayetteville)
