Generations of Black students walked the halls of Todd County Training School before its closure in 1963. Lines of school buses now sit in storage at the former site.
Now, community leaders in the town of Elkton are seeking a state historical marker for the site, hoping to preserve the segregated all-black school’s legacy and educate the public about its role in local Black history.
Greg Russell, a Todd County resident, comes from a family deeply connected to Todd Training School. His parents and uncles attended the school, and his father was part of Todd Central’s first class following integration.
Growing up, Russell heard his relatives repeatedly share stories and memories of Todd Training. He said those memories were meaningful not because the school had abundant resources, new books or modern facilities, but because it cultivated something more lasting: a supportive community…