South Hill in Mecklenburg County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Mecklenburg County Training School
Photographed By J. J. Prats, August 20, 2017
1. Mecklenburg County Training School Marker
Inscription.
Mecklenburg County Training School. . In 1915, four influential African American residents of South Hill, the Rev. J. H. Simmons, Mary E. Simmons, Robert Walker, and James E. Skipwith, established the Mecklenburg County Training School for black students. The school operated in the True Reformer Lodge Hall for three terms before a two-room frame building was constructed in 1918. Matilda M. Booker, Jeanes supervisor of black teachers in 1920, secured $1,500 from the Rosenwald Fund and encouraged parents to raise another $3,000 for a new school building. With the county’s aid, the 500-student school was completed near here in 1925. It burned in 1942.
In 1915, four influential African American residents of South Hill—the Rev. J. H. Simmons,
Mary E. Simmons, Robert Walker, and James E.
Skipwith—established the Mecklenburg County
Training School for black students. The school
operated in the True Reformer Lodge Hall for
three terms before a two-room frame building
was constructed in 1918. Matilda M. Booker,
Jeanes supervisor of black teachers in 1920,
secured $1,500 from the Rosenwald Fund and
encouraged parents to raise another $3,000 for
a new school building. With the county’s aid,
the 500-student school was completed near here
in 1925. It burned in 1942.
Erected 2007 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number Z-159.)
Location. 36° 43.39′ N, 78° 7.759′ W. Marker is in South Hill, Virginia, in Mecklenburg County. Marker is on East Virginia Street east of South Mecklenburg Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 401 Meadow Street, South Hill VA 23970, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Also see . . . Mecklenburg’s black history. 2015 article by Patrick Love in the South Hill Enterprise. Quote: “All of our parents taught us, if we didn’t get an education, we’ll be lost,” W.P. Hudgins said. “I know my Daddy constantly instilled in me, if you get an education, no one can take it from you. That’s the thing you’ll take to your grave. But anything else, someone can take. But an education is going to stick with you forever, and it’s going to take you places.”(Submitted on August 25, 2017, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.)
Photographed By J. J. Prats, August 20, 2017
2. Mecklenburg County Training School Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on July 8, 2021. It was originally submitted on August 25, 2017, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 483 times since then and 51 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on August 25, 2017, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.
