Thomastown in Bath County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Union Hurst School

Photographed by J. J. Prats, October 15, 2013

1. Union Hurst School Marker

Inscription. Union Hurst, a school for African Americans, was built near here on Pine Hurst Heights Road between 1924 and 1925. The school was built with the assistance of the Julius Rosenwald Fund, a program that helped build some 5,000 schools for African Americans in 15 states. Bath County and the African American community also contributed money for its construction. Teachers at the school included Booker T. Poteat and Nellie L. Perry. A high school room was added In 1932. In 1945, the high school portion was closed and students were bused to Covington in Alleghany County. The school closed in 1965.

Erected 2013 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number Q-37.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Education. In addition, it is included in the Rosenwald Schools, and the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1924.

Location. 38° 0.57′ N, 79° 50.555′ W. Marker is in Thomastown, Virginia, in Bath County. It is on Main Street (County Route 615) just east of Pinehurst Heights Road (County Road 616), on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Hot Springs VA 24445, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley,

in the Alleghany Highlands,

and specifically in the Potomac 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

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are within one mile of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Hole 1 (approx. one mile away); The Old Course (approx. one mile away); The Casino (approx. 1.1 miles away); Letitia Pate Whitehead Evans (approx. 1.1 miles away); American Gynecological Society (approx. 1.1 miles away); The Southern Surgical Association (approx. 1.1 miles away); The Advertising Council 50th Anniversary (approx. 1.1 miles away); Dr. William E. Skelton (approx. 1.1 miles away).

Regarding Union Hurst School. This school was also known as Switchback School. Switchback was the name of this community, now called Thomasville.

Additional commentary.
1. Union Hurst - Rosenwald School
From the Union Hurst - Rosenwald School Restoration Facebook page: Union Hurst School was originally known as the Switchback School, named for the community where it was built just outside of Hot Springs in Bath County, Virginia. Construction began on the school in 1924 with its opening in 1925. It was one of two Rosenwald sponsored schools constructed in Bath County and one of only 70 that survive of the 364 that were originally built across the state of Virginia. Its design follows the pattern of many of the two-teacher Rosenwald school models with modifications made to accommodate

Photographed by J. J. Prats, October 15, 2013

2. Union Hurst School Marker

its siting on such a steep hillside.

— Submitted March 6, 2015, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia.

The Union Hurst School image. Click for full size.

3. The Union Hurst School

From the Fisk University Rosenwald Fund

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on November 15, 2013, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 885 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 15, 2013, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 3. submitted on March 6, 2015, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia.