Danville, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Schoolfield

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, June 15, 2013

1. Schoolfield Marker

Inscription. Schoolfield, established in 1903 as a textile mill village, was named for three brothers who founded Riverside Cotton Mills, later Dan River Mills. By the 1920s, this company town—complete with a school, churches, stores, a theatre, and other recreational facilities—was home to over 4,500 residents, mostly mill employees and their families, living in some 800 rental houses. A strike in 1930-31 ended a decade of employer/employee cooperation known as "Industrial Democracy," yet the community's tradition of neighborhood and family life continued to flourish. Danville annexed Schoolfield in 1951.

Erected 1988 by Department of Conservation and Historic Resources. (Marker Number Q-5K.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Labor Unions • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1903.

Location. 36° 34.16′ N, 79° 25.481′ W. Marker is in Danville, Virginia. It is at the intersection of West Main Street (Virginia Route 293) and Baltimore Avenue, on the right when traveling west on West Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Danville VA 24541, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southside Virginia

and specifically in Central Virginia.

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.

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At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Schoolfield Welfare Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Schoolfield School (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Site of the Schoolfield Recreation Center (about 700 feet away); Ballou Park History (approx. half a mile away); The Cousins-Tulloch House (approx. 0.6 miles away); Flowering Dogwood (approx. 0.6 miles away); Basswood (approx. 0.7 miles away); Memorial Drive (approx. ¾ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Danville.

W Main St & Baltimore Ave image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, June 15, 2013

2. W Main St & Baltimore Ave

Schoolfield site image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, June 15, 2013

3. Schoolfield site

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, June 15, 2013

4. Schoolfield site

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, June 15, 2013

5. Schoolfield site

Plaques on the Schoolfield Welfare Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), April 23, 2021

6. Plaques on the Schoolfield Welfare Building

Caesars Virginia image. Click for full size.

Photographed by C. Ryan Dodson, December 14, 2024

7. Caesars Virginia

The site of the former Schoolfield textile mill is now the location of Caesars Virginia, a casino and resort.

Schoolfield Mill image. Click for full size.

Photographed by C. Ryan Dodson, November 17, 2024

8. Schoolfield Mill

Portrait on display in the Danville Mall.

Schoolfield Mill shift change image. Click for full size.

Photographed by C. Ryan Dodson, December 10, 2024

9. Schoolfield Mill shift change

Portrait on display in the Danville Mall. The guard gate pictured here still stands.

Schoolfield banner image. Click for full size.

Photographed by C. Ryan Dodson, November 15, 2024

10. Schoolfield banner

The Schoolfield Historic District includes decorative banners as part of its branding.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 13, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 16, 2013, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,421 times since then and 38 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on June 16, 2013, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. 6. submitted on April 25, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 7. submitted on December 14, 2024, by C. Ryan Dodson of Danville, Virginia. 8, 9, 10. submitted on September 4, 2025, by C. Ryan Dodson of Danville, Virginia.