Schoolfield School Complex

Schoolfield School Complex
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic district Contributing property
Virginia Landmarks Register
Building B
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Location	31 Baltimore Ave., Danville, Virginia
Coordinates	36°34′05″N79°25′27″W / 36.56806°N 79.42417°W / 36.56806; -79.42417
Area	4.5 acres (1.8 ha)
Built	1912 (1912)-1913, 1936-1937, 1939-1940
Architect	Pettit, Charles G. Jr.
Architectural style	Prairie School, Georgian Revival
Part of	Schoolfield Historic District (ID100005881 [1] )
NRHP reference No.	09000392
VLR No.	108-5065-0081 [2]
Significant dates
Designated NRHP	June 3, 2009
Designated CP	December 3, 2020
Designated VLR	March 19, 2009

The Schoolfield School Complex, now the Westmoreland Schoolfield senior apartments, is a three-building complex of historic school buildings located in Danville, Virginia.

History

The Riverside & Dan River Cotton Mill Company built the complex as part of the mill company town named "Schoolfield Village." Originally most boys only attended through seventh grade, when they became eligible to work in the mills. ^[3]

In 1951, the City of Danville the Schoolfield area but the elementary school continued operating for decades by the Danville Public Schools. By the mid-1990s, the school was moved to a new building and the complex served as the Danville City Schools' Central Office Annex. ^[3]

In 2006 and 2007, the buildings were converted to affordable apartments for residents 55 years old or more. ^[4] The complex was added as a single listing on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009 and recognized as a contributing property to the Schoolfield Historic District in 2020. ^[5]

Architecture

• Building A: Schoolfield Elementary School was built in 1912 or 1913. Architect Charles G. Pettit, Jr., designed the two-and-a-half-story Prairie School style brick building includes deep eaves that cap a narrow elongated structure, multi-paned massed windows, and horizontal masonry banding. It has an entry tower and addition added in 1933. ^[3]
• Building B: The vocational center was built in 1936 or 1937. The brick vernacular building has a marble cornerstone indicating that the building also served as the lodge for the Motega Tribe Number 80 of Improved Order of the Red Men. ^[3] That fraternal organization bases their rituals on perceived Native American customs. ^[6]
• Building C: Schoolfield High School was built across the street in 1939 or 1940. The New Deal Public Works Administration constructed the brick, one-story, Georgian Revival style building according to a brass plaque. ^[3] The elementary school later moved into this larger building.

Gallery

• 
  Building A
• 
  Building B
• 
  Building C

See also

• Hylton Hall
• Schoolfield Welfare Building
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Danville, Virginia
• List of Improved Order of Red Men buildings and structures

References

1. "Schoolfield Historic District". Virginia Department of Historic Resources . Virginia Landmarks Register. April 11, 2024. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
2. "Virginia Landmarks Register Master List" (PDF). Virginia Department of Historic Resources. Virginia Landmarks Register. June 15, 2023. p. 7. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 6, 2023. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
3. Lifsey, Emmet W.; Smith, W. Scott; Adams-Doolittle, Jesse (December 28, 2008). "National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Schoolfield School Complex". National Register of Historic Places . Retrieved June 30, 2024– via National Archives.
4. Metcalfe, Trevor (February 12, 2015). "New uses sought for old schools" . Danville Register & Bee . Lee Enterprises . Retrieved June 30, 2024.
5. "National Register of Historic Places 2009 Weekly Lists" (PDF). National Park Service . National Register of Historic Places. December 23, 2009. p. 161. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
6. Deloria, Philip J. (1998). Playing Indian . New Haven, Connecticut: Yale University Press. pp. 59–65.

External links

• Westmoreland Schoolfield
• Schoolfield Elementary School