Near Reedville in Northumberland County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Julius Rosenwald High School

Photographed By J. J. Prats, August 30, 2009

1. Julius Rosenwald High School Marker

Inscription. Originally known as Northumberland County Training School, this institution opened in 1917, under principal John M. Ellison. Local African Americans raised more than $7,000 to build the school and received additional funding from the Rosenwald Fund. Julius Rosenwald, chairman of the board of directors of Sears Roebuck and Co., created this fund in 1917 to finance the building of rural southern schools for blacks. Some 5,000 Rosenwald schools were built in 15 states, including 308 in Virginia. On 12 Nov. 1932, under its principal the Reverend Dr. Henry M. Ruffin, the school was renamed the Julius Rosenwald High School. It closed in 1958.

Erected 2000 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number O-61.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Education. In addition, it is included in the Rosenwald Schools, and the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series lists. A significant historical date for this entry is October 12, 1932.

Location. 37° 51.528′ N, 76° 16.895′ W. Marker is near Reedville, Virginia, in Northumberland County. Marker is on Northumberland Highway (U.S. 360) just east of Old Bethany Road (County Route 703), on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Reedville VA 22539, United States of America. Touch for directions.

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At least 8 other markers are within one mile of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Reedville (approx. 0.6 miles away); The Elva C Tender Skiff (approx. 1.1 miles away); George M. Butler Skiff (approx. 1.1 miles away); Rowing Skiff (approx. 1.1 miles away); George Pope Butler Skiff (approx. 1.1 miles away); The Lillian-B (approx. 1.1 miles away); Claud W. Somers (approx. 1.1 miles away); Chesapeake Bay Log Canoe (approx. 1.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Reedville.

Regarding Julius Rosenwald High School. This school was specifically renamed for Mr. Rosenwald (b.1862 d.1932). “A Rosenwald School was the name informally applied to over five thousand schools, shops, and teachers’ homes in the United States which were built primarily for the education of African-Americans in the early twentieth century. The need arose from the chronic underfunding of public education for African-American children in the South, who were required to attend segregated schools. Julius Rosenwald, an American clothier who became part-owner and president of Sears, Roebuck and Company, was the founder of The Rosenwald Fund, through which he contributed seed money for many of the schools and other philanthropic causes. To promote collaboration between white and black citizens, Rosenwald required communities to commit

Photographed By J. J. Prats, August 30, 2009

2. Julius Rosenwald High School Marker

public funds to the schools, as well as to contribute additional cash donations. Millions of dollars were raised by African-American rural communities across the South to fund better education for their children.” —from the Wikipedia entry for Rosenwald Schools.

The Former Julius Rosenwald High School, Northumberland County, Virginia image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. J. Prats, August 30, 2009

3. The Former Julius Rosenwald High School, Northumberland County, Virginia

Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), July 4, 2021

4. The Former Julius Rosenwald High School, Northumberland County, Virginia

Banners show commemorating its centennial.

Julius Rosenwald High School image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Julius Rosenwald School Foundation, Beverly, Virginia.

5. Julius Rosenwald High School

Julius Rosenwald image. Click for full size.

Internet Archive, November 9, 2007

6. Julius Rosenwald

from Bertie Charles Forbes Men Who are Making America, 1917.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 5, 2021. It was originally submitted on October 3, 2009, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 2,871 times since then and 129 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 3, 2009, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 4. submitted on July 5, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 5. submitted on July 26, 2015, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. 6. submitted on August 9, 2018, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.