Goffe Street Special School for Colored Children
The Goffe Street Special School for Colored Children is an important landmark of African-American history at 106 Goffe Street in New Haven, Connecticut. The building, also known as Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Masons, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. History The first school for African-Americans in New Haven opened in 1811. In 1854, Sally Wilson, a black teacher, began a small school for African-American children in her own house in New Haven (The Artisan Street Colored School). The creation of a more permanent institution was proposed at a meeting of New Haven citizens in the home of Atwater Treat in 1864. The purpose was to provide for ... the intellectual and moral well being of the colored people of the Town of New Haven and especially of their children ... for the elevation and benefit of the class among us, particularly in view of the fact that they have been less favored than others as well as to educational advantages. Mary Lucas Hillhouse, daughter of James Hillhouse, purchased land for $5,000 and hired New Haven architect Henry Austin to design the building. Austin donated his design. Money was raised and the building was built