Wythe in Hampton, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Deaf and Blind School

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, January 20, 2019

1. Deaf and Blind School Marker

Inscription. In 1906, the Virginia General Assembly authorized the Virginia School for Colored Deaf and Blind Children. Founded by deaf humanitarian William C. Ritter and Hampton Delegate Harry R. Houston, the school opened on 8 Sept. 1909 to serve students from throughout Virginia. More than 100 acres were eventually purchased or donated for buildings used for instruction, dormitories, and infirmary, a farm, and other facilities for academic and vocational training programs. Desegregated by 1964, after several name changes the school was renamed The Virginia School for the Deaf, Blind and Multi-disabled at Hampton.

Erected 2006 by Virginia Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number WY 98.)

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

Location. 37° 0.119′ N, 76° 24.066′ W. Marker is in Hampton, Virginia. It is in Wythe. It is at the intersection of Shell Road and Aberdeen Road when

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traveling west on Shell Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 700 Shell Road, Hampton VA 23661, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Virginia’s Peninsula

and in Coastal Virginia.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in the Tidewater,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. 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 walking distance of this marker: Pleasant Shade Cemetery (approx. 0.4 miles away); Newport News POW Camp (approx. half a mile away); Confederate Dead (approx. half a mile away); Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.7 miles away); Greenlawn Cemetery (approx. 0.7 miles away); The Clark Oak (approx. ¾ mile away); George Wythe Schools (approx. 0.8 miles away); Newsome House (approx. 0.8 miles away).

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, January 20, 2019

2. Deaf and Blind School Marker

Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hampton.

Regarding Deaf and Blind School. This facility is closed. Commercial/Residential development is close at hand.

Deaf and Blind School location sign still visible image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Brandon D Cross

3. Deaf and Blind School location sign still visible

Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 13, 2019, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 2,556 times since then and 115 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 13, 2019, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.