Milton, Fla. –  On Tuesday, December 6th, the City of Milton will hold a dedication ceremony to unveil a new historic marker honoring the legacy of the J.B. Turner School.  The ceremony will take place at 2:00 PM at the intersection of Mary Street and West Walker Street.

Established in 1908, the J.B. Turner School was the first public school in Santa Rosa County for African American students and served students from grades 1-9.  Despite the challenges posed by the Jim Crow era and students traveling to class by foot, the school thrived and soon added a program for grades 10-12, which allowed graduates to enter college.  Eventually, the school expanded its facilities and curriculum to include clubs, sports teams, and community activities.

Though the J.B. Turner School graduated its final senior classes in the early 1950’s, many of its former students have gone on earn advanced degrees or served our city, state, and nation with distinction in government or the U.S. military.

For more information, please contact the City of Milton at 850-983-5400, or email us at [email protected].