VANDALIA - Once known as one of the largest schools to service the African American students in Missouri, the Lincoln School is making a comeback in its own way.

Built in 1927, using four classrooms to teach its elementary through high school students, the Lincoln School, located at 301 Lincoln Street in Vandalia, closed in 1955 after statewide integration was mandated.

Since then, its identity has been in flux, but Joyce Holman is helping lead the way for a new-and-improved building.

Holman was in the last first-grade class to attend Lincoln School and now she is on the board for the Concerned Citizenry to Save Lincoln School, which was established in 1993.

Holman was a student-aide in the Van-Far school district from 2004-16.

“We acquired the school in 1994,” Holman said. “It became registered on the National Registry in 1996. Since then, we have been trying to recover and restore the school to close to its original habitat.”

The school’s mortgage was officially paid off two years ago, Holman said.

“We had chicken dinners, fundraisers and silent auctions for 20-something years trying to get that school paid off,” Holman said. “Now we need a new roof. It’s 17-years-old. We got a quote, and we are trying to get a grant.”
She added that the challenge to get quotes stems from the “chain of material,” which is difficult to gather for the building.

Holman said she is getting assistance from a number of people to get the grant written and approved.

“We eventually want to use (the building) for the performing arts,” Holman, who used to teach in the Van-Far school district, said. “It’s the only African American historical school in Audrain County that is still standing. It’s one of Vandalia’s landmarks.

“It verifies that the African American exists here. We were only about 10 percent of the population then and probably about the same now – maybe less.”

Holman said that support from people with money in the area is not forthcoming, noting that some cite the project as a “black thing,” even though it is a landmark.

“We don’t understand why we don’t have the support, but we don’t,” Holman said.

For those who want more information about the Lincoln School rehabilitation project or would like to potential support it, contact Holman at JoyceHolman496@gmail.com. Mail can be sent to Concerned Citizenry, P.O. Box 242 in Vandalia, 63382.

A direct deposit donation can also be made through the Central Bank of Audrain County in the name of Concerned Citizenry.