Halifax in Halifax County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Mary M. Bethune High School
Halifax, Virginia
— Halifax County —
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), September 4, 2021
The Banister Baptist Association built a private African American training school in 1827, originally consisting of four wooden buildings and a dormitory. The school met only six months of the year and went through ninth grade. Because of transportation difficulties in a county as large as Halifax, the school was primarily a boarding school. Board cost $200 a year, which was prohibitive for most Blacks at the time.
In 1920 the four original buildings were torn down and a new building was erected to house African American high school students; the school was newly called Halifax Training School. Later it was upgraded and renamed the Mary M. Bethune High School. By 1950 it was the state's largest rural high school for Blacks.
While the school had no running water in science labs, little money for equipment and supplies, and no means of transportation, a national magazine reported 27 of the 64 seniors went on to college, far above the national average of 20 percent at that time.
In 1956, to meet "separate but equal" standards and stave off integration in the face of court decisions, the county erected the present building, officially named the Mary M. Bethune High School of Halifax County. Despite the county's efforts otherwise, the school became the hub of the local integration movement in 1969. After integration in 1970, Mary M. Bethune became a junior high school. All county high school students — Black and white — began attending Halifax Senior High School.
The original Mary M. Bethune High School building was later renovated and renamed the Mary M. Bethune Government Office Complex. The complex provides services for the community and houses the school system administration.
Erected by Civil Rights in Education Heritage Trail. (Marker Number HX3.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Churches & Religion • Civil Rights • Education. In addition, it is included in the Civil Rights in Education Heritage Trail series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1827.
Location. 36° 46.085′ N, 78° 55.387′ W. Marker is in Halifax, Virginia, in Halifax County. Marker is on Cowford Road (Virginia Route 651) 0.1 miles east of North Main Street (Virginia Route 360). Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1030 Cowford Rd, Halifax VA 24558, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Halifax Court House (approx. 0.3 miles away); Halifax County War Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); Halifax County Confederate Monument (approx. 0.4 miles away); History of Halifax
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), September 4, 2021
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. Old Marker At This Location also titled "Mary M. Bethune High School".
Credits. This page was last revised on November 5, 2021. It was originally submitted on September 5, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 223 times since then and 37 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 5, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.