Salerno Colored School highlighted as county historic preservation activity

The Salerno Colored School, a one-room Rosenwald-style school in Martin County, was the subject of a podcast segment highlighting its history, restoration and community events.

Podcast hosts said the school was built in 1934 in the Rosenwald style and is believed to be the only remaining Rosenwald-style one-room schoolhouse on the Treasure Coast. The hosts described multiple moves of the building, hurricane damage and a restoration that included district funding and community involvement; they said it received state designation in 2024.

According to the hosts, the building was used later as part of Murray Middle School, then moved to its current site and transferred by the school board to Martin County. The hosts recounted storms that damaged the structure and a later restoration led by county general services, former students and a district commissioner who contributed district funds. "They saved the schoolhouse," one host said. The restoration work completed in 2012 preserved original walls, preserved a potbelly stove associated with a longtime teacher, and added replica desks built by Southfork students.

The hosts announced related preservation events: a historic marker unveiling at All Saints Church in Jensen Beach on May 24 from 11 a.m. to noon, and a public open house/tour of the Salerno site on May 28 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The podcast also noted a video and background information available on the county website.

The podcast did not record formal actions by the board regarding funding or new policy at the time of the segment; hosts summarized the school’s history and urged residents to attend the events.