Martinsville, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Dry Bridge School

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, September 8, 2022

1. Dry Bridge School Marker

Inscription. Henry County opened a new Dry Bridge School just south of here in 1928 after the School Improvement League, an organization of African Americans living east of Martinsville, campaigned under the leadership of the Rev. W. F. Geter to replace the original Dry Bridge Colored School. Funding came from the African American community, the public, and the Julius Rosenwald Fund, which helped build more than 5,000 schools for African Americans in the South. The school, led by teaching principals J. L. Hairston and the Rev. R. T. Anderson, served students in grades 1-8. Known as East Martinsville School after the city annexed this area in 1948, it was closed in 1968 as the city desegregated its schools.

Erected 2021 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number A-136.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Education. In addition, it is included in the Rosenwald Schools series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1928.

Location. 36° 41.569′ N, 79° 50.926′ W. Marker is in Martinsville, Virginia. It is at the intersection of Church Street East (Business

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U.S. 58) and Boden Street, on the right when traveling east on Church Street East. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Martinsville VA 24112, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southern 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 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: The Dick & Willie Passage (approx. 0.3 miles away); a different marker also named The Dick & Willie Passage (approx. half a mile away); Connecting Communities (approx. 0.7 miles away); Changing With Industry (approx. 0.8 miles away); Continued Connections (approx. 0.8 miles away); DeShazo's "Silo" (approx. one mile away); Traditions to Celebrate (approx. 1.1 miles away); Martinsville's Early Textile Mills

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, September 8, 2022

2. Dry Bridge School Marker

(approx. 1.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Martinsville.

Credits. This page was last revised on March 5, 2024. It was originally submitted on September 9, 2022, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 345 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 9, 2022, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.