Carpenter Street School (Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church)

Carpenter Street School (circa 1840) is considered the first school in New Jersey constructed expressly for the education of African American children. The schoolhouse is also the earliest surviving building associated with the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church of Woodbury, New Jersey. Since its 1840 construction, it has continuously been under Bethel AME's direction, who had the foresight to build a neighborhood school when few children, especially African American children, had access to formal education. The school opened as a semi-private institution from 1840-1881 before transitioning to a public school from 1881-1889. An expanding student population forced the church to move them to a larger schoolhouse in 1889, but the building continued to serve Bethel AME as a Parish House and Sunday School for more than ninety years, from 1889-1981.

The lack of voting rights offered to African Americans prevented them from enjoying the same community services afforded to White Americans. Thus, the church often functioned as more than just a place of worship. So, in addition to educating children, churches such as Bethel AME provided a wealth of services to their local community, from hosting events to helping Black Americans find employment. Founded in 1817 by the Rev. Richard Alien and Rev. W.P. Quinn, Bethel AME formally incorporated in 1840. During that span, the members mainly met in people's homes. 

Meanwhile, only 53% of New Jersey children between the ages of five and sixteen attended school in 1839. African American children in Woodbury mainly received their education at Sunday School, partly because many of the children worked during the week. At first, Bethel AME held Sunday School classes at Flemington's Academy, but town pressure forced them out of the school and to the Reverend's back porch. So, incorporation for Bethel AME included a plan to build both a church and a school. Construction started on both structures in 1840, and their position on the same property reflects the African-American church's paternalistic role in developing African-American children.

A new state Constitution in 1844, the establishment of the New Jersey State Board of Education and a mandate that public taxes would specifically go towards funding public schools in 1867, and the abolishment of tuition in 1871 ushered in the era of public education; schooling became compulsory for all children in 1874. As the state established its educational system and funding, the Carpenter Street School functioned as a semi-private institution (from its construction in 1840 until 1881). In 1881, a state desegregation policy included the Carpenter State School among the public schools within the City of Woodbury, which enabled it to receive state funds. Hence, from 1881 to 1889, Carpenter Street functioned as a public school. 

In 1889, eight years after the Carpenter Street School became a public school, a new, larger school opened one block to the west. Consequently, Bethel AME used the 1840 schoolhouse as a Parish House, which remained its purpose until 1981. Bethel AME Parish House accommodated local meetings, Sunday School, and other church functions. Renovations accomplished around 1930 included closet spaces and modern updates. Finally, in 1981, Bethel constructed a new church structure that had space for incorporating the Parish House functions, leaving the 141-year-old schoolhouse and Parish House vacant. 

The New Jersey Historic Preservation Bond Program awarded a nearly $95,000 Grant to the church to restore the historic building. As of 2021, the building stands as a monument to Woodbury's early African American history. Like Macedonia AME Church in nearby Camden, Bethel AME proved exceptionally important in worship and providing community services. However, Bethel AME also included a plan to build the Carpenter Street School, decades before the state truly organized its public school system and began its desegregation programs.

Powers, Mathew. "Macedonia African Methodist Episcopal Church." Clio: Your Guide to History. January 20, 2021. Accessed January 22, 2021. https://www.theclio.com/entry/125057

Westfield, Margaret and Caroline Gavin. "Nomination Form: Carpenter Street School." National Register of Historic Places. nps.gov. August 21, 1997. https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/3573e6c8-68b0-4ece-be35-f8ed5ec48ae3.