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

Dedicated To Learning

Ruthville High School

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, January 7, 2010

1. Dedicated To Learning Marker

Inscription. Schools were precious to a community denied education for centuries. Following the Civil War one and two-room schools for "colored" children were established around the county. It was here in Ruthville, however, that a commitment to learning first provided children with more than a basic education. Churches and benevolent societies around the country raised money to build this three-room manual training school in 1911. By 1923 a faculty of five teachers prepared girls to be homemakers and boys to be farmers in a school that had expanded to six rooms. The first brick high school was constructed in 1930 with a grant from the Rosenwald Fund after local residents had raised 27 percent of the cost of its construction.

The second high school, which stands before you, was completed in 1961 after the first was lost to fire.

(sidebar)
Discovery Center
School bus driver Cornelius Allen Whitehead, Sr., retired at the age of 67 after 31 years and wearing out seven school buses. He never took a sick day.

Earl Egerton Scott, Sr., served Ruthville High School for 25 years, not only as principal but also as guidance counselor, biology and chemistry teacher, coach for two sports and site supervisor for construction of this school building.

Erected by

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Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights • Education. In addition, it is included in the Rosenwald Schools series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1911.

Location. 37° 22.048′ N, 77° 2.552′ W. Marker is in Charles City, Virginia, in Charles City County. It can be reached from The Glebe Lane (Virginia Route 615) 0.1 miles west of Ruthville Road ( Route 612). Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 13100 The Glebe Lane, Charles City VA 23030, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Coastal Virginia.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Tidewater.

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 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Ruthville (within shouting distance of this marker); Lott Cary Birthplace (approx. 1.8 miles away); Blanks Crossroads (approx. 2.1 miles away); New Hope & Court House (approx. 2.1 miles away); North Bend (approx. 2.2 miles away); Upper Weyanoke (approx. 2.2 miles away); Weyanoke & Parrish Hill (approx. 2.2 miles away); Kittiewan and Doctor Rickman (approx. 2.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Charles City.

More about this marker. On the lower left is a photo of "The three-room school, ca 1911" courtesy Papers of Jackson Davis, MSS 3072, Special Collections, University of Virginia Library.

The

Mr. Whitehead and Mr. Scott image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, January 7, 2010

2. Mr. Whitehead and Mr. Scott

sidebar displays photos of "Cornelius Allen White" and "Earl Egerton Scott, Sr."

On the right are photos of "The six-room training school." and ""The six-room brick high school."

On the lower right is a photo of "The one-room Bullfield Academy, ca 1911" courtesy Papers of Jackson Davis, MSS 3072, Special Collections, University of Virginia Library.

Also see . . .
1. Rosenwald Schools Initiative. National Trust for Historic Preservation. (Submitted on January 10, 2010, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.)

2. Ruthville Gymnasium Complex. Charles City County Department of Parks & Recreation. The old Ruthville High School is now home to the Fitness Center and the Gymnasium. (Submitted on January 10, 2010, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.)

Old Ruthville High School image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, January 7, 2010

3. Old Ruthville High School

Credits. This page was last revised on January 25, 2020. It was originally submitted on January 10, 2010, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 2,156 times since then and 38 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 10, 2010, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.