Glen Allen in Henrico County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Coal Pit School

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, January 30, 2010

1. Coal Pit School Marker

Inscription. The African-American school most likely took its name from the nearby Springfield Coal Pits. The one room school established about 1905 was once supervised by Virginia Estelle Randolph, the eminent black educator. It had forty-six students by 1913. The school also served as a meeting hall for the Mt. Vernon Baptist Church up until 1918. In 1955, the pupils moved to the larger Vandervall School (now Pemberton Elementary). The County of Henrico purchased the property, and in 1976 Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church established a preschool program here for low-income families.

Erected by County of Henrico. (Marker Number HC-15.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Education • Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical year for this entry is 1905.

Location. 37° 39.835′ N, 77° 32.614′ W. Marker is in Glen Allen, Virginia, in Henrico County. It is on Francistown Road 0.1 miles north of Castle Point Drive, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 5101 Francistown Road, Glen Allen VA 23060, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Virginia’s Piedmont,

in Central Virginia,

and in the Richmond Metropolitan Area.

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: Echo Lake (approx. ¾ mile away); School Desegregation Controversy (approx.

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

0.9 miles away); Maybelle Carter Family Residence (approx. 1.2 miles away); Courtney Road Service Station (approx. 1.4 miles away); a different marker also named Courtney Road Service Station (approx. 1.4 miles away); Sheppard and Baker's Grant (approx. 1½ miles away); Hanover County / Henrico County (approx. 1½ miles away); Meadow Farm (approx. 1.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Glen Allen.

Also see . . . Coal Pit Learning Center. (Submitted on February 2, 2010, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.)

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, January 30, 2010

2. Coal Pit School Marker

Coal Pit Learning Center image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, January 30, 2010

3. Coal Pit Learning Center

Credits. This page was last revised on January 25, 2020. It was originally submitted on February 2, 2010, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,955 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 2, 2010, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.