The Richardson Avenue School was constructed in 1931 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1998, one of four such buildings designated as such in Swedesboro.  The Richardson Avenue School was the last separate-but-equal school in New Jersey and it served the African American population in Swedesboro until 1942.  Constructed for the Mt. Lebanon Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, the structure over the years has housed many cultural and social activities for the African American community.  The Lodge Hall was not maintained for many years, until a local group organized the Historical and Educational Lodge-Hall Preservatory (HELP) to dedicate its resources to the building’s restoration and interpretation.

“This is an important part of the history of our town and there will be a number of people there on Saturday who attended the school.  The stories and successes of the students who attended this school are amazing and I encourage you to learn more about this historic landmark – and to help continue the preservation of the building,” said Mayor Tom Fromm.