Covington, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Covington High School
1939
is designated a
Virginia Historic Landmark
by the Virginia Department of Historic Resources
and placed on the
National Register of Historic Places
by the U.S. Department of the Interior
2008
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Education. A significant historical year for this entry is 1939.
Location. 37° 47.057′ N, 79° 59.509′ W. Marker is in Covington, Virginia. It is on South Lexington Avenue south of West Oak Street, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 606 S Lexington Ave, Covington VA 24426, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Virginia’s Mountain Region, in the Shenandoah Valley, in Southwest Virginia, and in the Alleghany Highlands. 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 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 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Fort Young (approx. half a mile away); C and O for Progress / Engine 701 - Track Facts (approx. 0.6 miles away); Alleghany County Confederate Soldiers Monument (approx. 0.6 miles away); Alleghany's Heroic Dead (approx. 0.6 miles away); Alleghany's Heroic Dead. (approx. 0.6 miles away); a different marker also named Alleghany's Heroic Dead (approx. 0.6 miles away); Averells Salem Raid (approx. 1.6 miles away); Humpback Bridge (approx. 3.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Covington.
Also see . . .
this page online
The form was prepared by John R. Kern and Michael J. Pulice with the Virginia Department of Historic Resources' Roanoke Regional Office in February 2008. The Summary Statement & Justification of Criteria is on page 6:
Designed by the Roanoke architectural firm of Smithey and Boynton and constructed in 1939-1940 with federal Public Works Administration funds, Covington High School provided educational and community services that bridged the transitional period from the close of the Great Depression through World War II and into the Cold War. The school's founding principal brought strict discipline to the student body along with modem educational opportunities in the fields of academic scholarship, vocational training, public entertainment, athletics, and community service. Covington High School also served as the community's social center for concerts, public health vaccinations, military recruitment, and Westvaco union meetings. Covington High School is eligible for historic designation at the local level of significance under Criterion A because of its association with broad pattems of public school education in Alleghany County and the City of Covington. Relevant categories of significance are Education and Social History as the high school became a center for public instruction and for community activitiesand services. The period of significance for Criterion A is 1938 to 1958. The school is also eligible at the local level under Criterion C in the area of Architecture because of the blend of architectural styles referenced in its design, and its association with regionally prominent architecture firm Smithey and Boynton, a prolific designer of public schools. The Covington School appears to be unique in their portfolio, owing to the unusual blend of architectural stylistic references, including Classical, Renaissance, Collegiate Gothic, and Art Deco. For the same reasons, the school appears to be unique in the context of school buildings in western Virginia. While most public schools from the period incorporate classical architectural traditions into their designs, they tend to be more conservative and traditional designs than that of the Covington School. The period of significance for Criterion C is 1939.
Notes:
Criterion A: Property is associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history.
Criterion C: Property embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction or represents the work of a master, or possesses high artistic values, or represents a significant and distinguishable entity whose components lack individual distinction. (Submitted on April 27, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.)
Credits. This page was last revised on April 27, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 27, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 10 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 27, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
