Lexington, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Lylburn Downing School
Photographed By J. J. Prats, September 25, 2022
1. Lylburn Downing School Marker
Inscription.
Lylburn Downing School opened here in 1927 after the Home and School League, an organization of local Black parents and citizens. campaigned for equitable schools. Built with financial support from the Black community. Rockbridge County, and the Rosenwald Fund, the countywide school first served grades 1-9 and expanded to include a high school in the 1940s. Desegregation closed the original edifice in 1965, but the newer buildings became Lexington’s middle school. Lylburn Downing (1862-1937) was born enslaved in Lexington, attend- ed Lincoln University, and was pastor of Roanoke’s Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church for more than 40 years. He was a longtime advocate for African American education.
Lylburn Downing School opened here in 1927 after
the Home and School League, an organization of
local Black parents and citizens. campaigned for
equitable schools. Built with financial support
from the Black community. Rockbridge County,
and the Rosenwald Fund, the countywide school
first served grades 1-9 and expanded to include a
high school in the 1940s. Desegregation closed the
original edifice in 1965, but the newer buildings
became Lexington’s middle school. Lylburn Downing
(1862-1937) was born enslaved in Lexington, attend-
ed Lincoln University, and was pastor of Roanoke’s
Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church for more than
40 years. He was a longtime advocate for African
American education.
Erected 2021 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number I-27.)
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 1927.
Location. 37° 47.178′ N, 79° 26.1′ W. Marker is in Lexington, Virginia. Marker is at the intersection of Diamond Street and Maury Street, on the left when traveling east on Diamond Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 300 Diamond Street, Lexington VA 24450, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Former students were also in attendance for the special day. That includes Louise Mikell, who graduated from Lylburn Downing in 1947 and taught there from 1954 to 1959.
“There’s a lot of information on here about the community itself really, and what the people were about and what the people thought about education for their children, the Black children of this little town,” said Mikell.
(Submitted on October 13, 2022.)
Photographed By J. J. Prats, September 25, 2022
2. Lylburn Downing School and Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on October 13, 2022. It was originally submitted on October 13, 2022, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 82 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on October 13, 2022, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.
