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

Nansemond County Training School

By Richard E. Miller, May 11, 2009

1. Nansemond County Training School Marker

Inscription. Two miles south stood the Nansemond County training School, he first high school in the county for African American students. It was constructed in 1924 with $5,000 contributed by African American families, $11,500 in public money, and $1,500 from the Rosenwald Fund established in 1917 to build schools for African American students in the rural South. The building, with seven classrooms and one auditorium, contained an elementary and secondary school. Hannibal E. Howell was its first principal, serving for 42 years. In 1964, the name was changed to Southwestern High School and after the racial integration of county schools, became Southwestern Intermediate School.

Erected 2007 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number U-128.)

Marker series. This marker is included in the Rosenwald Schools marker series.

Location. 36° 39.287′ N, 76° 49.265′ W. Marker is in Suffolk, Virginia. Marker is on South Quay Road (U.S. 58) east of Leafwood Road, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Suffolk VA 23437, United States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Mount Sinai Baptist Church (approx. 1.3 miles away); First Ruritan Club

By Richard E. Miller, September 27, 2009

2. Nansemond County Training School Marker

(approx. 2.9 miles away); George Fox Monument (approx. 5.2 miles away); Somerton Friends Meeting (approx. 5.2 miles away); South Quay (approx. 5.6 miles away); Battle of Franklin (approx. 5.6 miles away); The Blackwater Line (approx. 5.6 miles away); Confederate Commissary Center (approx. 5.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Suffolk.

More about this marker. Nansemond County no longer exists as a Virginia county. It became the independent city of Nansemond in 1972 and 18 months later, on January 1, 1974, it was merged with the independent city of Suffolk.

Also see . . . Nansemond County Training School Heritage Center. (Submitted on October 4, 2009, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland.)

Categories. • African Americans • Education •

Nansemond County Training School Marker, along eastbound US 58 at Leafwood Road image. Click for full size.

By Mike Stroud, October 15, 2011

3. Nansemond County Training School Marker, along eastbound US 58 at Leafwood Road

Nansemond County Training School image. Click for full size.

By National Register Nomination Form

4. Nansemond County Training School

By National Register Nomination Form

5. Nansemond County Training School

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. This page originally submitted on October 3, 2009, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. This page has been viewed 895 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 3, 2009, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. 3, 4, 5. submitted on October 25, 2011, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.