Salem School

Red Oak, Virginia

— Charlotte County —

Salem School CRIEHT Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, May 18, 2010

1. Salem School CRIEHT Marker

Inscription.
After the Civil War, in the Red Oak area of Charlotte County, many freed slaves were welcomed to worship at Antioch Baptist Church, a traditionally white church. The Antioch congregation helped raise money to build Salem Baptist Church in 1865, specifically for their African-American neighbors. Around 1900 the trustees of Salem Baptist Church deeded a half-acre of land to the Bacon District School Board for the purpose of building a schoolhouse for black students. A one-room school was erected, funded partly by the School Board, but also by the “league” of students’ parents.

The need to improve rural black education was emphasized in a survey in 1921 for public schools in Virginia, and as a result, the original school building was abandoned and the present Salem School building was constructed on the site. The $4,500-facility consisted of three classrooms, in which grades one through seven were taught. There were also a cafeteria, an entrance hall and a cloakroom. The school was in operation until 1959, at which time the property reverted to the ownership of Salem Baptist Church. More recently, the church has deeded

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the property to the Salem School Preservation Committee, which operates it as a non-profit community center. Salem School was placed on the Virginia Landmarks Register in 1998 and is now used occasionally by Salem Church across the road for gatherings.

Erected by Civil Rights in Education Heritage Trail®. (Marker Number 31.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Education • Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the Civil Rights in Education Heritage Trail, and the Rosenwald Schools series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1865.

Location. This marker has been replaced by another marker nearby. It was located near 36° 46.167′ N, 78° 38.21′ W. Marker was in Red Oak, Virginia, in Charlotte County. It was at the intersection of Cargills Creek Road (County Route 632) and Salem School Road (County Route 608), on the right when traveling west on Cargills Creek Road. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 4050 Salem School Road, Red Oak VA 23964, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally,

Salem School Photos image. Click for full size.

2. Salem School Photos

this marker was in Virginia’s Piedmont,

in Southside Virginia,

and specifically in Central Virginia.

It was also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it was in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found 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 7 miles of this location, measured as the crow flies: A different marker also named Salem School (here, next to this marker); Charlotte County / Mecklenburg County (approx. 3.2 miles away); a different marker also named Charlotte County / Mecklenburg County (approx. 4.6 miles away); Wylliesburgh (approx. 6.3 miles away); Henrietta Lacks (approx. 6.4 miles away); West End High School (approx. 6½ miles away); Paul Carrington (approx. 6½ miles away); The War of 1812 / War of 1812 Opposition — John Randolph (approx. 6.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Red Oak.

More about this marker.

Nannie Elam Hunter, a teacher at Salem School, 1949-59. image. Click for full size.

3. Nannie Elam Hunter, a teacher at Salem School, 1949-59.

On the left are three photos with the captions:
"(Above) Salem School grades 5, 6, and 7 in 1947. Pictured in the third row, third from the right is Ms. A.V. Richardson, teacher and principal."
"(Left) Replacing an outdated log school, Salem School was constructed c.1924 using Rosenwald Funds and local dollars for a total cost of $4,500. Julius Rosenwald was a philanthropist and the president of Sears, Roebuck & Company who authorized the use of funds for the building of schools for African Americans all over the South."
"(Bottom Left) Salem School Students, 1949-50."

On the right is a photo of "(Above Right) Nannie Elam Hunter, a teacher at Salem School, 1949-59."

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. New Marker At This Location also titled "Salem School".

Also see . . . Julius Rosenwald. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on July 4, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

Salem Baptist Church and Salem School image. Click for more information.

via Virginia Department of Historic Resources, 1998

4. Salem Baptist Church and Salem School

Virginia Department of Historic Resources website entry
Click for more information.

Salem School image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, May 18, 2010

5. Salem School

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, May 18, 2010

6. Salem School

Civil Rights in Education Heritage Trail® Map image. Click for full size.

7. Civil Rights in Education Heritage Trail® Map

Appomattox County
1. Winonah Camp/Mozella Price Home
2. Carver-Price School
3. Education in 1800's Rural Virginia

Buckingham County
4. One-Room Schoolhouse
5. Carter G. Woodson Birthplace

Cumberland County
6. Hamilton High School
7. Rosenwald School at Cartersville
8. Jackson Davis

Amelia County
9. Russell Grove Presbyterian Church and School
10. Mrs. Samantha Jane Neil

Chesterfield County
11. Virginia State University

Petersburg
12. Earliest Known Public High School for African Americans in Virginia
13. McKenney Library
14. The Peabody-Williams School

Dinwiddie County
15. Southside Virginia Training Center
16. Rocky Branch School
17. Early Education in Dinwiddie County

Nottoway County
18. Blackstone Female Institute
19. Mt. Nebo Church
20. Ingleside Training Institute

Lunenburg County
21. The People's Community Center
22. St. Matthew's Lutheran Church Christian Day School

Prince Edward County
23. Prince Edward County Public Schools
24. R. R. Moton High School
25. Farmville Female Seminary Association
26. First Baptist Church
27. Beulah AME Church
28. Hampden-Sydney College

Charlotte County
29. Southside Virginia Community College - John H. Daniel Campus
30. Charlotte County Library
31. Salem School

Halifax County
32. Meadville Community Center
33. Mary M. Bethune High School
34. Washington-Coleman Elementary School
35. Mizpah Church

Mecklenburg County
36. Thyne Institute
37. Boydton Academic and Bible Institute

Brunswick County
38. Southside Virginia Community College - Christanna Campus
39. Saint Paul's College
40. Hospital and School of the Good Shepherd
41. Fort Christanna

Credits. This page was last revised on December 12, 2022. It was originally submitted on May 21, 2010, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 2,064 times since then and 69 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 21, 2010, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. 4. submitted on December 12, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 5, 6, 7. submitted on May 21, 2010, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.