Sarah Pyle Academy ((1952)

In 1952, the Sarah Webb Pyle School was built as a K-6 school. Sarah Webb Pyle (1869-1959) was born in Wilmington, DE, on March 6, 1869.  Miss Pyle received her formal education at the Northfield (Massachusetts) Seminary, graduating in 1899.  After working for a short time in New York City, she returned to Wilmington and founded the People’s Settlement in 1901.  Pyle devoted over 50 years of her time and talents to the children of East Wilmington through the People’s Settlement.  She retired in 1952 and moved to Daytona, Florida.

Miss Pyle received many honors for her work.  She was known as “the little mother of the Eastside” and the “Jane Addams” of Delaware. In 1951, the Lions Club presented her with a plaque designating her as the Outstanding Woman of Wilmington. Miss Pyle was also an honorary member of the Quota Club and a member of Grace Methodist Church.  When the Wilmington School Board named the Sarah Webb Pyle School in 1952 they broke tradition.  Previously, no school had been named to honor a living person.  Sarah Webb Pyle passed away on March 4, 1959.