By Tonya Brown
Monday, October 19, 2009 at 5:28 p.m.
Read more: Local, Education, Community, Pee Dee High School, Celebrates, 140 Years, Wilson High School
A Florence school, built 140 years ago to educate freed slaves, is still in the business of education today.
Wilson High School was founded in November of 1869, by The Freedmen's Bureau.
The Freedmen's Bureau was organized under the U.S. War Department after the end of the Civil War to educate former slaves.
"As many years as the perseverance of the state and the United States, the same thing has gone on here at Wilson. We've stood the test of time," said Dr. Gerard Edwards, Principal, Wilson High School.
Wilson is listed as one of the older active Freedmen's Bureau High Schools in the country.
This week, school officials will host a number of events in recognition of their 140th anniversary celebration.
