History of St. John Elementary School (Rosenwald Schools of Virginia)
So few Rosenwald Schools remain that in 2002 the National Trust for Historic Preservation listed them among its “most endangered places.”
The St. John Rosenwald School is one of over five thousand schools, shops, and teachers' homes in the United States that were built primarily for the education of African-Americans in the early twentieth century. This structure is one of the three hundred and seventh historic, Rosenwald schools built in Virginia between 1917 and 1932. Today St. John Elementary School, built in 1922 is one of seven schools identified in Albemarle County as a Rosenwald School.
The idea to construct these schools started after Booker T. Washington requested that funds donated to the Tuskegee Institute by Julius Rosenwald (co-owner of Sears and Roebuck) be used to construct six schools in Alabama for African American children. After seeing the success with this effort, Rosenwald established the Julius Rosewald Fund which also required matching funds from the community.
As with all of the Rosenwald Schools, this school was built under strict guidelines of the time. The goal was to provide a clean, affordable structure, designed for a better learning environment. The windows were large to provide adequate light, high ceilings for ventilation of fresh air, spacious class- rooms to avoid overcrowding, and large coatrooms for storage of coats.
Sometime in the 1950's the St. John Elementary School was closed and sold to a private buyer who converted it into private living quarters. In 2003, the St. John Baptist Church purchased the school from the private owner. The St. John Family Life and Fitness Center will have a lifetime home in the historic landmark located in Cobham, VA.
We are currently in the process of raising funds to restore this structure. Once the center is renovated it will serve as a fitness center, museum and a health resource library, community auditorium and meeting center for the community and surrounding areas. It will also be an emergency center for the community to shower and prepare meals during power outages. The goal of the SJFLC is to provide physical, educational and spiritual programs that will enhance all participants in living a better quality of life.
For more information, visit Rosenwald Schools of Virginia.
The St. John Rosenwald School is one of over five thousand schools, shops, and teachers' homes in the United States that were built primarily for the education of African-Americans in the early twentieth century. This structure is one of the three hundred and seventh historic, Rosenwald schools built in Virginia between 1917 and 1932. Today St. John Elementary School, built in 1922 is one of seven schools identified in Albemarle County as a Rosenwald School.
The idea to construct these schools started after Booker T. Washington requested that funds donated to the Tuskegee Institute by Julius Rosenwald (co-owner of Sears and Roebuck) be used to construct six schools in Alabama for African American children. After seeing the success with this effort, Rosenwald established the Julius Rosewald Fund which also required matching funds from the community.
As with all of the Rosenwald Schools, this school was built under strict guidelines of the time. The goal was to provide a clean, affordable structure, designed for a better learning environment. The windows were large to provide adequate light, high ceilings for ventilation of fresh air, spacious class- rooms to avoid overcrowding, and large coatrooms for storage of coats.
Sometime in the 1950's the St. John Elementary School was closed and sold to a private buyer who converted it into private living quarters. In 2003, the St. John Baptist Church purchased the school from the private owner. The St. John Family Life and Fitness Center will have a lifetime home in the historic landmark located in Cobham, VA.
We are currently in the process of raising funds to restore this structure. Once the center is renovated it will serve as a fitness center, museum and a health resource library, community auditorium and meeting center for the community and surrounding areas. It will also be an emergency center for the community to shower and prepare meals during power outages. The goal of the SJFLC is to provide physical, educational and spiritual programs that will enhance all participants in living a better quality of life.
For more information, visit Rosenwald Schools of Virginia.
In 1922, the "Two-Teacher" St. John School was built for a total cost of $2500
