Halifax in Halifax County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Mary M. Bethune High School
Halifax, Virginia
— Halifax County —
In 1872 the Banister Baptist Association built a private African-American training school in Halifax County. Originally the campus consisted of four wooden buildings and a dormitory. The school year was six months, and the grades went only as far as the ninth. Because of transportation difficulties in a county as large as Halifax, the school was primarily a boarding school. Board was $200 a year, which was prohibitive for most blacks at the time. In 1920 the school was rebuilt as the Halifax Training School to house African-America high school students. Later it was upgraded and renamed the Mary Bethune School. By 1950 it was the state's largest rural black high school. While there was no running water in labs, little money for equipment and supplies, and no transportation, a national magazine reported that 27 of the 64 seniors went on to college, far above the national average of 20 percent at that time.
In 1956, in order to meet "separate but equal" standards and stave off integration in the face of court decisions, the county erected the present building, officially named the Mary M. Bethune High School of Halifax County. Despite the county's efforts, the school was the hub of the local integration movement in 1969. After integration in 1970, Mary M. Bethune became a junior high school. All county high school students - black and white- attended Halifax Senior High School. The original Mary M. Bethune High School building has subsequently been renovated. It still provides services for the community under the new guise of the Mary M. Bethune Government Office Complex, School System and Child Care Center.
Erected 2004 by Civil Rights in Education Heritage Trail®. (Marker Number 33.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights • Education. In addition, it is included in the Civil Rights in Education Heritage Trail series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1872.
Location. This marker has been replaced by another marker nearby. It was located near 36° 46.086′ N, 78° 55.389′ W. Marker was in Halifax, Virginia, in Halifax County. Marker could be reached from Cowford Road (Virginia Route 651) near Mary Bethune Street. Touch for map. Marker was in this post office area: Halifax VA 24558, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this location, measured as the crow flies. A different marker also named Mary M. Bethune High School (here, next to this marker); Halifax Court House (approx. 0.3 miles away); Halifax County War Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); Halifax County Confederate Monument (approx. 0.4 miles away); History of Halifax (approx. 0.4 miles away); Frank Eubank Booker, Jr. (approx. 0.4 miles away); Green's Folly (approx. 1.8 miles away); Minister Who Married Lincoln (approx. 1.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Halifax.
More about this marker. On the left are three photos with the captions:
"(Top) Class inside the Mary M. Bethune High School in the late 1950’s."
"(Above) Halifax Training School."
"(Left) Mary M. Bethune, c. 1910."
On the right is a photo with the caption,"(Above Right) W.C. Edwards served as principal of both Halifax Training Center and Mary Bethune High School from 1934 to 1966."
Classroom photo by Lazaru Bates and courtesy of South Boston Historical Museum. Photo of Mary M. Bethune courtesy of Florida State Archive. Photo of Halifax Training School courtesy of Virginia State University Archives.
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. New Marker At This Location also titled "Mary M. Bethune High School".
Also see . . .
1. Mary M. Bethune High School. Historic Places - Halifax County, Virginia (Submitted on May 21, 2010, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.)
2. Bethune Heritage Marker Unveiled. News & Record Online (Submitted on May 21, 2010, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.)
Credits. This page was last revised on November 5, 2021. It was originally submitted on May 21, 2010, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 2,206 times since then and 103 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on May 21, 2010, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.