Program

Hometown Heritage®

Subject

Site

Location

136 W 6th St, Washington, NC 27889, USA

Lat/Long

35.548699, -77.052795

Grant Recipient

P. S. Jones Museum of African American Education

Dr. Haywood N. Dowdy, a Washington, D.C. native, earned his license to practice in North Carolina as a dentist ca. Janu1927,15, 1927 following his graduate from Howard University in June 1926. Dr. Dowdy was the first black dentist in Beaufort County, North Carolina.

In 1951, Dr. Dowdy, in his capacity as one of the state directors of the 4-H Club Foundation of North Carolin, Inc., urged black citizens of Beaufort County to support the drive to raise funds for constructing a new 4-H camp. The state’s goal was $50,000 with Beaufort County’s share being $1,100.00. At the time of his call (December 13, 1951) the county was short of its goal and Dr. Dowdy sought to have the black community be a stronger part of the push to reach the goal.

In June 1965 Dr. Dowdy joined the Washington City School Board of Education as the first black member following school desegregation and served until May 1971. When he retired from the board, the board hosted a special dinner in honor of his service. The Washington Daily News published May 29, 1971, noted Dr. Dowdy’s roles as including State Grand Treasurer of the NC Prince Hall Masons (as a 33rd Degree Mason) and serving as the Chairman on the Board of Trustees of the Metropolitan A.M.E. Zion Church and past president of the Washington Civic League.