Friends of the Mars Hill Anderson Rosenwald School led a celebration service, ribbon cutting, and tour of the school on Friday, August 30, 2019, in celebration of ten years of progress on the school’s rehabilitation.
Committee member Dan Slagle gives a timeline of the history of the school. 
Committee member David Wyatt recounts historical facts about the school. 
Committee member Richard Dillingham recounts historical facts about the school. 
Ribbon cutting 
Ribbon cutting 
Alumna Charity Ray is interviewed about her memories of attending the school. 
Committee chair Willa Wyatt recounts the rehabilitation process. 
Alumnus Omar McClain recounts memories from his days at the school. 
Alumna Oralene Simmons recounts memories from her days at the school. 
Alumna Fatimah Shabazz stands beside the original piano used in the school. 
Alumna Sarah Hart recounts memories from her days at the school. 
Alumni of the school 
Members of the Madison County Board of Education and alumni of the school.
Pictured are members of the Madison County Board of Education (on the stairs) L-R: Kevin Barnette, Karen Blevins, Stewart Coates, Superintendent Will Hoffman, Lori Massey, and Barbara Wyatt. Alumni pictured are: Fatimah Shabazz (left of the stairs), Charity Ray (seated), Omar McClain (right of the stairs), Sarah Hart, and Oralene Simmons (far right).
Alumni of the school led tours and recounted memories of their years at the school. Members of the Madison County Board of Education, which still owns the property, cut the ribbon on the rehabilitated structure. Additional observances and programs were held at the school throughout the weekend.
The MHARS was one of more than 5,000 Rosenwald Schools built across the southern United States in the early 20th century to improve the state of education for African American children by the Rosenwald Fund. The rehabilitation of the Mars Hill school is part of a nationwide effort to restore these schools and call attention to the part they played in the education of African Americans in the early 20th century.