Rev. M.L. Latta House
Encyclopedia
The Rev. M.L. Latta House was a historic home located in the Oberlin neighborhood of Raleigh
, North Carolina
. It was the last remaining building from Latta University, a trade school for African-Americans that operated from 1892 until 1920. The house was named after Morgan London Latta, a former slave who graduated from Shaw University
after the Civil War
. He founded Latta University to educate freedmen and orphans in Raleigh's African-American community and built the campus next to his house. The home was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
and designated a Raleigh Historic Landmark. On January 8, 2007, a fire destroyed the home, leaving only the manmade brick foundation. Before the fire, plans had been made by The Latta House Foundation to turn the home into a cultural center
. After the fire, the property owner gave the land to the city of Raleigh for use as a park.
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. It was the last remaining building from Latta University, a trade school for African-Americans that operated from 1892 until 1920. The house was named after Morgan London Latta, a former slave who graduated from Shaw University
Shaw University
Shaw University, founded as Raleigh Institute, is a private liberal arts institution and historically black university in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Founded in 1865, it is the oldest HBCU in the Southern United States....
after the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. He founded Latta University to educate freedmen and orphans in Raleigh's African-American community and built the campus next to his house. The home was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
and designated a Raleigh Historic Landmark. On January 8, 2007, a fire destroyed the home, leaving only the manmade brick foundation. Before the fire, plans had been made by The Latta House Foundation to turn the home into a cultural center
Cultural center
A cultural center or cultural centre is an organization, building or complex that promotes culture and arts. Cultural centers can be neighborhood community arts organizations, private facilities, government-sponsored, or activist-run...
. After the fire, the property owner gave the land to the city of Raleigh for use as a park.