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. 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.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Education • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Rosenwald Schools, and the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1915.

Location. 36° 43.39′ N, 78° 7.759′ W. Marker is in South Hill, Virginia, in Mecklenburg County. It is on East Virginia

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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.

Regionally, this marker is in Southern Virginia,

specifically in the Piedmont,

in Southside Virginia,

and specifically in Central Virginia.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Veterans Memorial Park (about 800 feet away, measured in a direct line); South Hill (approx. 0.2 miles away); Salem Chapel (approx. 0.3 miles away); Town of La Crosse (approx. 2.4 miles away); Mecklenburg County / Brunswick County (approx. 5½ miles away); Broadnax (approx. 6.1 miles away); Brunswick County / Mecklenburg County

Photographed by J. J. Prats, August 20, 2017

2. Mecklenburg County Training School Marker

(approx. 6.4 miles away); Brunswick County, Virginia (approx. 6.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in South Hill.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 12, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 25, 2017, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 1,068 times since then and 73 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 25, 2017, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.