Near Skipwith in Mecklenburg County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

West End High School

Photographed by J. J. Prats, August 21, 2017

1. West End High School Marker

Inscription. Just to the east is the former West End High School, which served African Americans during the segregation era. With the help of Matilda M. Booker, Mecklenburg County’s Jeanes Fund supervisor of education for blacks, local parents first established the school in Clarksville in 1935. In 1951, the U.S. government purchased the West End property for the development of Buggs Island Lake. Using state funds set aside for a major school-construction initiative under Gov. John S. Battle, the county built a new W.E.H.S., which opened here in 1953. The last class graduated in 1969, when the building became a junior high school.

Erected 2014 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number U-94.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Education. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1935.

Location. 36° 42.642′ N, 78° 32.707′ W. Marker is near Skipwith, Virginia, in Mecklenburg County. It is at the intersection of Virginia Route 49 and Middle School

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Road (County Route 698), on the right when traveling north on Virginia Route 49. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Skipwith VA 23968, 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 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: Prestwould Plantation (approx. 3.8 miles away); Patrick Robert “Parker” Sydnor (approx. 3.8 miles away); Charlotte County / Mecklenburg County (approx. 4.8 miles away); Occaneechi Indians (approx. 5.3 miles away); Mecklenburg County Veterans Memorial (approx. 6.3 miles away); a different marker also named Salem School

Photographed by J. J. Prats, August 21, 2017

2. West End High School Marker

(approx. 6½ miles away); a different marker also named Charlotte County / Mecklenburg County (approx. 6.6 miles away); Sunnyside School ca. 1870-1908 (approx. 6.9 miles away).

Another marker is no longer nearby. Salem School (was approx. 6½ miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Credits. This page was last revised on August 26, 2017. It was originally submitted on August 26, 2017, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 932 times since then and 118 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 26, 2017, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.

Editor’s want-list for this marker. current and vintage photos of the school • Can you help?