Stafford in Stafford County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Stafford Training School

Photographed By Kevin W., October 18, 2014

1. Stafford Training School Marker

Inscription. Stafford Training School, later known as H. H. Poole School, was constructed in 1939 by the Public Works Administration after African American parents raised money to buy the land. During the segregation era, this was the only school in Stafford County offering black students an education beyond seventh grade. After an earlier attempt failed, two young students from this school, Doretha and Cynthia Montague, successfully entered the all-white Stafford Elementary School on 5 Sept. 1961, seven years after the Supreme Court’s Brown v. Board of Education decision ruled school segregation unconstitutional. Thereafter school systems in the Fredericksburg region desegregated.

Erected 2014 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number E-231.)

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 September 5, 1961.

Location. 38° 24.248′ N, 77° 25.183′ W. Marker is in Stafford, Virginia, in Stafford County. Marker is on Jefferson Davis Highway (U.S. 1). Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1739 Jefferson Davis Highway, Stafford VA 22554, 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. From Indian Path to Highway (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Trooper Jessica Jean Cheney (approx. 0.7 miles away); Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.9 miles away); Union Battery (approx. one mile away); 11th Corps Road (approx. one mile away); Union Army Double-Track Corduroy Road (approx. one mile away); German-Americans and the Eleventh Corps (approx. one mile away); a different marker also named Union Battery (approx. one mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Stafford.

Regarding Stafford Training School. Inside the Rowser Building are several historical pictures of the Stafford Training School. Additionally, there is a plaque that was dedicated at the time the Stafford Training School was entered into the National Register of Historic Places. The plaque reads as follows:
The Stafford Training School was built in 1939 by the Public Works Administration after African-American parents raised the money to buy the land for a school. Also known as H. H. Poole, it was the only school in Stafford County were African-American students could receive instruction to beyond the seventh grade during segregation. The efforts of students who attended the school and their families led to the eventual desegregation of

Stafford Training School and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Kevin W., October 18, 2014

2. Stafford Training School and Marker

Stafford County schools in 1961, seven years after the Supreme Court issued it unanimous yet unanimous decision in Brown v. Board of Education that school segregation was unconstitutional. Other school systems in the Fredericksburg region desegregated soon after. The school is now known as the Rowser Building and houses Stafford County and community offices.

The Stafford Training School is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Virginia Landmarks Register.

Dedicated June 18, 2013

Stafford County Board of Supervisors
Susan B Stimpson Chairman
Robert "Bob" Thomas, Jr. Vice Chairman
Jack R. Cavalier
Gary F. Snellings
Cord A. Sterling
Paul V. Milde, III
Ty A. Scheiber
Anthony J. Romanello, County Administrator

In appreciation of the Stafford County Branch NAACP, Frank White and Norman Schools, whose efforts secured the National Register and Virginia Landmark designations.

In honor of the students who's brave efforts led to the desegregation of Stafford County schools
Dorothia Montague • Cynthia Montague • Gordon Sherman White • Edward "Gary" Mercer • Lois Marie Vines • Stevenson "Steve" Tyler • Rudolph Beverly

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. This is a list of Brown v. Board of Education markers.

Also see . . .

Another Stafford Training School Marker inside image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Kevin W., August 30, 2014

3. Another Stafford Training School Marker inside

1. Stafford Training School, Stafford Co. Brief history of the building. (Submitted on October 18, 2014, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia.)

2. National Register of Historic Places Registration form for the Stafford Training School. (Submitted on October 18, 2014, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia.)

Historical Photograph of the Stafford Training School image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Kevin W., August 30, 2014

4. Historical Photograph of the Stafford Training School

Mounted on a wall inside the Rowser Building are historical photographs and information about the building's history.

Photographed By Kevin W., August 30, 2014

5. Historical Photograph of the Stafford Training School

Mounted on a wall inside the Rowser Building are historical photographs and information about the building's history.

Photographed By Kevin W., August 30, 2014

6. Historical Photograph of the Stafford Training School

Mounted on a wall inside the Rowser Building are historical photographs and information about the building's history.

Photographed By Kevin W., August 30, 2014

7. Historical Photograph of the Stafford Training School

Mounted on a wall inside the Rowser Building are historical photographs and information about the building's history.

Photographed By Kevin W., August 30, 2014

8. Historical Photograph of the Stafford Training School

Mounted on a wall inside the Rowser Building are historical photographs and information about the building's history.

Contemporary Photograph from the same angle. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Kevin W., October 18, 2014

9. Contemporary Photograph from the same angle.

Photographed By Kevin W., August 30, 2014

10. Historical Photograph of the Stafford Training School

Mounted on a wall inside the Rowser Building are historical photographs and information about the building's history.

Photographed By Kevin W., October 18, 2014

11. Contemporary Photograph from the same angle.

Photographed By Kevin W., August 30, 2014

12. Historical Photograph of the Stafford Training School

A newspaper clipping of the article discussing the renovation of the building into county offices.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on October 18, 2014, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. This page has been viewed 797 times since then and 62 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. submitted on October 18, 2014, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia.