A dedicated teacher for many decades in Mathews County, Alex N. Lewis, while obviously much respected in his day, has nearly vanished from local memory.
Instrumental in establishing the Thomas Hunter Training School as a central educational facility for African-American students, Lewis spoke at, and wrote about, its cornerstone laying held Sept. 6, 1926.
He was a member of the Mathews Educational League, formed in 1923, which raised money for the purpose. At the cornerstone ceremony, he pointed out, “We have raised among ourselves including the $200 given us by the white people of the county, $6,500 in three years. This amount does not include a donation of $500 given us in July by the county school board.”
Lewis continued, “We wish to thank you, one and all, for the support you have given and for the sacrifice you have made and are making in order that the League may put over the job on schedule time.”
According to minutes of the Mathews County School Board, available online through t...