Nathalie in Halifax County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Meadville Community Center
Nathalie, Virginia
| | Halifax County | |
The Mead Community Center is the realization of a dream of Caleb Robinson, who imagined an African American gathering place to enhance and educate the community. Professor Robinson was born in Jamaica in 1864 and graduated from Virginia Union University in Richmond. In 1893 he formed the McKinley Institute on land he purchased in the Meadville section of Halifax County. He imported Northern teachers to train African American girls in reading, writing, and industrial arts at the school. On his deathbed, Professor Robinson gave the land to the school's executive board. He had expressed to them his dream of an African American gathering place to enhance and educate the community, but at the time the community, but at the time, the community was relatively impoverished, and his idea lay dormant for a quarter of a century.
Then, in 1975, three African American Baptist organizations (all of them members in the larger Banister, Staunton, and Sunnyside Baptist Association) joined with local leaders to charter the Meadville Community Center. Through determined community efforts, the present-day center was financed, built, and
this page online
Today, the center, which seats 400-500 people, is a significant educational and community focal point, enriching the lives of residents of Halifax County and surrounding counties.
Erected by Civil Rights in Education Heritage Trail. (Marker Number HX1.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Charity & Public Work • Education • Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the Civil Rights in Education Heritage Trail, and the Historically Black Colleges and Universities series lists. A significant historical date for this entry is October 10, 1978.
Location. 36° 50.161′ N, 79° 2.244′ W. Marker is in Nathalie, Virginia, in Halifax County. It is on Chatham Road (Route 57/832) 0.3 miles west of Meadville Road (Virginia
Regionally, this marker is in Virginia’s 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 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Samuel Harris (approx. 5.7 miles away); L.E. Coleman African American Museum (approx. 6½ miles away); St John's Episcopal Church (approx. 7½ miles away); Halifax County War Memorial (approx. 7.7 miles away); Halifax County Confederate Monument (approx. 7.7 miles away); Halifax Court House (approx. 7.7 miles away); History of Halifax (approx. 7.7 miles away); Vietnam Veterans Memorial Bench (approx. 7.7 miles away).
Another marker is no longer nearby. Meadville Community Center (has been replaced with this marker).
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. Old Marker At This Location also titled "Meadville Community Center".
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 892 times since then and 115 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 5, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
