Accomac in Accomack County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Mary Nottingham Smith High School

Photographed by William Pfingsten, April 20, 2008

1. Mary Nottingham Smith High School Marker

Inscription. The first high school for blacks in Accomack County was dedicated on this site in 1932. It was named in honor of Mary Nottingham Smith (1892-1951), a black educator who dedicated her life to educating all young people. In 1956, the school was renamed for T.C. Walker, an attorney from Gloucester County. It was demolished in 1987. A second Mary N. Smith High School was built on another site in 1953.

Erected 1992 by Virginia Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number EP-22.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Education • Women. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1932.

Location. 37° 42.979′ N, 75° 40.7′ W. Marker is in Accomac, Virginia, in Accomack County. It is at the intersection of Alt. US 13 Front Street and T. C. Walker Drive, on the right when traveling north on Alt. US 13 Front Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Accomac VA 23301, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on the Eastern Shore.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

on the Delmarva Peninsula,

and in the Tidewater.

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 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Birthplace of Governor Wise (approx. 0.4 miles away); Accomack County Virginia World War I (approx. 0.4 miles away); Accomack County Virginia World War II, Korea & Vietnam

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(approx. 0.4 miles away); Accomac Historic District (approx. half a mile away); Makemie Statue (approx. half a mile away); Debtors Prison (approx. half a mile away); Elijah Baker (approx. 0.7 miles away); Onancock (approx. 2.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Accomac.

Now a vacant lot. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Beverly Pfingsten, April 20, 2008

2. Now a vacant lot.

Mary Nottingham Smith High School Marker, on Front Street looking east image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mike Stroud, October 13, 2012

3. Mary Nottingham Smith High School Marker, on Front Street looking east

Credits. This page was last revised on November 3, 2024. It was originally submitted on May 20, 2008, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. This page has been viewed 4,736 times since then and 172 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 20, 2008, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. 3. submitted on October 24, 2012, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.