Gate City in Scott County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Prospect Public School

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, June 18, 2023

1. Prospect Public School Marker

Inscription. Prospect School, for six decades Scott County's only public school for African Americans, moved into a new building 1.5 miles northwest of here ca. 1919. Contributions for the two-room school came from the black community ($1,200), the county ($600), and the Julius Rosenwald Fund ($500). This fund, created by the president of Sears, Roebuck, and Co. and inspired by the work of Booker T. Washington, helped build more than 5,000 schools for black children in the South and supported two additions to Prospect in the 1920s. The school offered grades 1-7; black students who sought further education had to leave the county. Prospect School closed in 1965 with desegregation and was later demolished.

Erected 2020 by Virginia Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number KA-22.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Charity & Public Work • Education. In addition, it is included in the Rosenwald Schools, and the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1919.

Location. 36° 38.273′ N, 82° 33.73′ W. Marker is in Gate City, Virginia, in Scott County. It is on U.S. 23/58/421 ¾ mile north of Wadlow

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Gap Highway (U.S. 58/421). Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3808 US-23, Gate City VA 24251, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Tri-Cities Area

and in Southwest Virginia.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. 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 original Cherokee Nation,

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: Donelson's Indian Line (here, next to this marker); First Court of Scott County (a few steps from this marker); Moccasin Gap (a few steps from this marker); John P. McConnell (within shouting distance of this marker); Carter Musical Family (within shouting distance of this marker); Blackmore’s Fort (approx. 0.4 miles away); Gate City (approx. 0.4 miles away); Faris (Ferris) Station (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Gate City.

Other markers no longer nearby. Donelson's Indian Line (was approx. 0.4 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Big Moccasin Gap (was approx. 0.4 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); a different marker also named First Court of Scott County (was approx. 0.4 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, June 18, 2023

2. Prospect Public School Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on February 12, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 18, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 585 times since then and 59 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 18, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.