Raleigh, N.C. — City officials have set aside $65,000 to help redevelop the site of the former Latta House.
A January 2007 fire destroyed what was left of the school and orphanage for freed slaves was founded in the late 1800s by Rev. Morgan Latta, a former slave and one of Shaw University's first graduates.
Officials decided to convert the 2-acre site off Oberlin Road into a park, and the city approved spending $15,000 on an archaeological survey and dig of the site. The Parks and Recreation Department allocated another $50,000 to help draw up a master plan for the park.



![[SLIDESHOW]](http://wwwcache.wral.com/asset/share/2012/02/09/10711513/4f348e7981bb5-51x75.jpg)
![[SLIDESHOW]](http://wwwcache.wral.com/asset/entertainment/out_and_about/2012/02/04/10712136/pics_agunn53833-100x75.jpg)
![[SLIDESHOW]](http://wwwcache.wral.com/asset/entertainment/2012/02/12/10720429/10720508-1329098360-100x75.jpg)
![[SLIDESHOW]](http://wwwcache.wralsportsfan.com/asset/colleges/ncsu/2012/02/12/10720628/10720628-1329096743-100x75.jpg)
![[SLIDESHOW]](http://wwwcache.wral.com/asset/entertainment/2012/02/11/10719067/10719072-1329050037-100x75.jpg)







WRAL.com welcomes your comments on this story. All comments are moderated prior to publication based on our posting guidelines. Please review them prior to posting and if your message is not approved.
This story is closed for comments. Comments on WRAL.com news stories are accepted and moderated between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday through Friday.
This money should have come years ago to keep the building from falling into such disrepair and finally burning.
This was a highly historical site, regardless of the color of the skin of those who attended there.
Shameful!
God bless.
Rev. RB
August 7, 2008 7:50 a.m.