Front Royal in Warren County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Warren County High School and Massive Resistance

Photographed By Forest McDermott, June 8, 2011

1. Warren County High School and Massive Resistance Marker

Inscription. Warren County High School, a Public Works Administrative project, was constructed in 1940. In 1958, the local NAACP chapter, lead by James W. Kilby, won a federal suit against the Warren County School Board to admit African Americans for the first time, in response, Gov. James Lindsay Almond Jr. ordered it closed in Sept. 1958, the first school in Virginia shut down under the state's Massive Resistance strategy. Following the 1959 Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals ruling that Massive Resistance was unconstitutional, a U.S. Circuit Court ordered it reopened. On 18 Feb. 1959, 23 African American students walked up this hill and integrated the school.

Erected 2010 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number J-22.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights • Education. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical date for this entry is February 18, 1959.

Location. 38° 54.97′ N, 78° 11.883′ W. Marker is in Front Royal, Virginia, in Warren County. Marker is on Luray Avenue, on the left when traveling west. In front of the Warren County Middle School, which use to be the High School mentioned in the

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marker. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 240 Luray Avenue, Front Royal VA 22630, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Mosby's Men (approx. 0.2 miles away); Prospect Hill Cemetery (approx. 0.2 miles away); Warren County Confederate Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away); Revolutionary War Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away); The Warren County Courthouse (approx. 0.3 miles away); Warren County 9/11 Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); Warren County World War I & II Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); Warren County Korea & Vietnam Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Front Royal.

Regarding Warren County High School and Massive Resistance. Marker was dedicated on June 8, 2011 with some of the original 23 students mentioned in the marker present for the dedication. The names of these students are:
Warren County 23
Ann Rhodes Baltimore
Betty Kilby Fisher Baldwin
Joyce Henderson Banks
Louise Dean*
Suetta Dean Freeman
Cuetta Grier*
Frank Grier*
Fay Coleman Hoes
Barbara Jackson*
John Jackson*
Rebecca Fletcher Johnson
James M. Kilby
John F. Kilby
Charles Lewis
Elizabeth Dean Mitchell*
Archie Pines*
Matthew Pines
Dorothy Rhodes
Delores

Photographed By Forest McDermott, June 20, 2011

2. Warren County High School and Massive Resistance Marker

The Warren County Middle School is in the background, this building is the original high school and was remodeled last year for use as the Middle School.

Coleman Sanford
Geraldine Rhodes Smith
Gwendolyn Baltimore Smith
Stephen Travis*
Mary Coleman Washington

eight of the 23 are now deceased, indicated by *

Photographed By Forest McDermott, June 8, 2011

3. Warren County High School and Massive Resistance Marker

Some of the original 23 students mentioned in the marker who integrated the school in 1959 were present to unveil the marker at the Dedication ceremony on June 8, 2011.

Photographed By Forest McDermott, June 8, 2011

4. Warren County High School and Massive Resistance Marker

Some of the Warren 23 students pose for photo after the unveiling of the marker.

Photographed By Forest McDermott, June 20, 2011

5. Warren County High School and Massive Resistance Marker

Looking southwest toward downtown Front Royal on Luray Avenue.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 14, 2021. It was originally submitted on June 10, 2011, by Forest McDermott of Masontown, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 2,051 times since then and 104 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 10, 2011, by Forest McDermott of Masontown, Pennsylvania. 5. submitted on June 20, 2011, by Forest McDermott of Masontown, Pennsylvania. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.