Display on school opens Sunday (July 14) from 2 to 4 p.m.
| Contributed by Jill Tartaglino |
Did you or someone you know attend Evergreen School in the Wilmington area of Fluvanna
County? The Fluvanna Historical Society is researching the history of the school and would
like the help of anyone who has information about it.
The exact location of the first school is unknown. The first attendance roster from 1887
listed it as the 2nd District (Columbia District) School for Colored. It was described as a “rude
log cabin” consisting of one room, heated by a wood stove and ventilated by cracks in the
wall. It was furnished with one ax, one water bucket, one dipper, one stove, and eight
benches. The classes were two to four weeks long, held between November and April. The
students ranged from 6 to 20 years old, and there were 44 names on the class roster. The
teacher was H.T. Melton.
We have attendance rosters for several years up until 1892. From 1892 to 1930, there are
no records, but students continued to attend. The building burned in December of 1934, but by
September 1935 the School Board had a new building ready for the new school year.
The new school, on Rising Sun Road near Wilmington, consisted of two rooms, one for
primary through grade 3, and the other for grades 4-7. Students walked to school, a distance
of 50 yards to 2 miles. Evergreen School closed in 1958 when the county consolidated all the
“colored” elementary schools in the county at Central Elementary School. The building was sold
and is now privately owned.
On July 14th from 2 to 4 p.m. the Historical Society will be open for visitors to view a display
about Evergreen School. We would like anyone who has pictures, report cards, stories, or any
other mementos to bring them and share them with the community and add to our knowledge
about this historical school. The Old Stone Jail and the old courthouse will also be open at
that time. Please come and get to know the history of your county!
