Scottsville Schools

Before and after the Civil War, education was private with classes held in private schools and private homes. The Peach House at Cliffside, for example served as a private school for the Lewis family. The first free public school in Albemarle County, Virginia, was started in Scottsville in 1871 and located in the old factory building that later became Miss Hannah Moore's Hall. Major Smith served as the school's first principal, and he had three assistants, including the vigorous Miss Willie Hickock. The cousin of "Wild Bill" Hickock of Kansas, Miss Willie was remembered by her students as a good teacher albeit one who freely dispensed corporal punishment with a hickory switch.

About 1876, Scottsville School moved into the brick Brady Building on the southeast corner of Main and Valley Streets. In 1906, the school moved again, this time to a frame building on Schoolhouse Hill. In 1913 and under the stewardship of Principal William Day Smith, Scottsville became the first Virginia high school to be placed on the accredited school list by the University of Virginia and the State Department of Education. In 1917, the Primary School was built on land donated by Captain John L. Pitts at the corner of Bird and Page Streets. Later this building was occupied by the Scottsville Branch of the Jefferson - Madison Regional Library until it was destroyed by fire in September 1980. A new Scottsville branch library was built in the same spot in 1982.

At the beginning of the twentieth century, separate schools existed for blacks both in Scottsville and nearby Esmont. As early as 1909, 'The Loving Charity Lodge' in Esmont served as a private black school for Grades 1-6 and was run by Miss Moore. The Scottsville Public School for Blacks was located originally in a frame, 2-room building behind the Union Baptist Church on Hardware Street. Although under-equipped, these schools survived with the necessary community support and provided opportunities for local pride and accomplishment. In 1964, the Civil Rights Act began the process of equalizing educational opportunities for all students.

What was taught in the schools? The Virginia School Laws of 1915 specify orthography (spelling), reading, writing, arithmetic, grammar, geography, physiology, hygene, civil government, drawing, history of the United States, and Virginia history. In teaching physiology and hygiene, approved textbooks shall be used, plainly setting forth the effects of alcohol and other narcotics on the human system, and such effects shall be as fully and thoroughly taught as are other branches of the said last named subjects. Provision shall further be made for moral education in the public schools to be extended throughout the entire course. Such instruction shall be imparted by reading books and textbooks inculcating the virtues of a pure heart and noble life."

Scottsville School moved one last time in 1925 to the flat at the western end of Main Street. This handsome brick building housed all grades, from third through high school, until 1967 when it became a junior high and elementary school combined. In 1968, high school students began attending Albemarle High in Charlottesville. The Leslie Walton Middle School, located halfway between Scottsville and Charlottesville, opened in 1974. The new Scottsville Elementary School, just north of town on Route 20, opened in the fall of 1979 for grades K through 5.

Please click on each image for a larger view and more information.

Upper Grades at Scottsville School, 1891

Date: 1891

Image Number: B81cdB17

Comments: Pictured in front of the Brady Building at the corner of Main and Valley Streets are the upper grades at Scottsville School in 1891. See the larger image for student names.

Scottsville School Graded Rooms 3 and 4, 1892

Date: 1892

Image Number: B75cdB17

Comments: The Scottsville School's graded Rooms 3 and 4 are seated in front of the Brady Building with their teachers. See the larger image for student and teacher names.

School Scene at the Brady Building, Scottsville

Date: Before 1906

Image Number: RollOneNeg19A

Comments: The Brady Building, located at the corner of Main and Valley Streets, served as the first public school in Scottsville from about 1876 to 1906.

A Girls' Basketball Game at Brady School, 1906

Date: 1906

Image Number: B19cdB13

Comments: Basketball was a popular sport in Scottsville in 1906 with high school games played out behind Brady School, located on the southeast corner of Main and Valley Streets.

Scottsville School on the Hill, 1908

Date: 1908

Image Number: B32cdB14

Comments: Scottsville students gather on the front steps of School on the Hill for this photo with their principal, Clarence Campbell. See the larger image for student and teacher names.

Students Drill at Scottsville High, 1908

Date: 1908

Image Number: B26cdB14

Comments: Students at Scottsville High are shown doing their morning exercises on the field on School Hill.

The Loving Charity Lodge of Esmont, Virginia, 1909

Date: 1909

Image Number: B404cdB27

Comments: The Loving Charity Lodge of Esmont, Virginia, was a private school for black children in grades one through six. The 1909 student body is shown with their teacher, Miss Rebecca Moore. See the larger image for names of these students.

Students at Scottsville's School on the Hill, 1909

Date: 1909

Image Number: B96cdB17

Comments: With their principal, Mr. William Day Smith, the 155 students at Scottsville's School on the Hill gathered on the school steps for this Burgess photograph in 1909. See the larger image for names of these students.

Elocution Class on School Hill, 1910

Date: ca. 1910

Image Number: Roll13Neg23A

Comments: Shown here are the Scottsville students in Miss Lucy Powers' Elocution Class on School Hill. See the larger image for student names.

Scottsville School Bus, 1910

Date: 1910

Image Number: RollTenNeg3

Comments: Pictured here is the first school bus in Scottsville that transported students to the class on 'School Hill' just above Valley Street. See the larger image for names of these students.

Primary School Students, 1917

Date: 1917

Image Number: Roll4Neg13A

Comments: Pictured are Scottsville students at their new Primary School at the corner of Bird and Page Streets. Raymon Thacker, future Scottsville Mayor and coauthor of this history, is standing at the left corner of the school's steps. See the larger image for student names.

Drilling the Scottsville Home Guard

Date: 1918

Image Number: RollTwoNeg4A

Comments: Rev. Leslie Walton stands in uniform at the left of this photo as he drills Scottsville High School boys in 1918 to be our home guard.

Scottsville High School Class of 1918

Date: 1918

Image Number: B659cdB40

Comments: Scottsville High School's Class of 1918 poses for their graduation photo at Scottsville's School on the Hill . See the larger image for student names.

William Day Smith, Scottsville Principal

Date: ca. 1920s

Image Number: Roll5Neg20A

Comments: William Day Smith served as principal of Scottsville School for 30 years (1907-1937). Under his leadership, Scottsville High School became the first Virginia high school accredited by the University of Virginia and the State Department of Education. William Smith was a beloved classroom teacher and wrote the lyrics to "The Scottsville School Song."

Home Economics Class at Scottsville High School

Date: ca. 1921

Image Number: Roll7Neg3A

Comments: Scottsville High's home economics class poses with their cooking tools at School on the Hill. See the larger image for student names.

Scottsville High School's Class of 1922

Date: 1922

Image Number: PR01cdPR01

Comments: Scottsville High School's Class of 1922 poses for their graduation photo on the stage at Victory Theater. See the larger image for student names.

Second Grade at School on the Hill, 1922

Date: ca. 1922

Image Number: B91cdB17

Comments: Scottsville second grade students pose with their teacher, Miss Ann Brown, on the Primary School steps. See the larger image for student names.

Laying the Cornerstone for Scottsville School

Date: May 5, 1924

Image Number: Roll5Neg24A

Comments: In 1924, Masonic Lodge #45 laid the cornerstone for Scottsville's new school on West Main Street. See the larger image for additional photos and school information.

Miss Moore's Class on School Hill

Date: ca. 1925

Image Number: RollOneNeg7A

Comments: In 1906, Scottsville School moved to 'School Hill' above Valley Street and behind Victory Theater. The school was a large, double-gabled building with four large rooms on the first floor and an assembly room upstairs. Topped by a bell tower, the school's robust bell could be heard for miles. See larger image for student names in Miss Moore's class.

Scottsville High School's Class of 1925

Date: 1925

Image Number: RM01cdRM01

Comments: Principal William Day Smith and Scottsville High School's Class of 1925 gather on School Hill for their graduation photo. See the larger image for student names.

Scottsville High School's Class of 1927

Date: 1927

Image Number: B212cd22

Comments: Principal William Day Smith and Scottsville High School's Class of 1927 gather for their graduation photo. See the larger image for student names.

Scottsville High School's Class of 1928

Date: 1928

Image Number: B94cdB17

Comments: Posed with Principal William Day Smith are the graduating seniors in Scottsville High School's Class of 1928. See the larger image for student names.

Scottsville High School's Class of 1929

Date: 1929

Image Number: B211cd22

Comments: The Scottsville High School Class of 1929 poses for their class photo with Principal William Day Smith. See the larger image for student names.

Scottsville High School's Class of 1934

Date: 1934

Image Number: B08cdB18

Comments: Scottsville's graduating class of 1934 poses for a group photo in front of Scottsville High School, located at the end of West Main Street. See the larger image for student names.

Esmont High School's A Cappella Choir, 1935-1936

Date: 1935-1936

Image Number: B401cdB27

Comments: This Esmont High School a cappella choir, under the direction of Mr. Harry Washington, participated in a choir competition held in Petersburg, Virginia. See the larger image for names of the students, teachers, and parents attending this Petersburg music event.

Esmont High School's Class of 1942

Date: 1942

Image Number: B677cdB41

Comments: The graduating Senior Class of Esmont High School in 1942 is shown with their Principal Henry L. Summerall. See the larger image for names of the students of Esmont's Class of 1942.

Esmont High School's Class of 1943

Date: 1943

Image Number: B691cdB41

Comments: The graduating Senior Class of Esmont High School in 1943 is shown with their Principal Isaac D. Faulkner. See the larger image for names of the students of Esmont's Class of 1943.

Katherine Phillips, A Favorite Scottsville Teacher

Date: ca. 1960

Image Number: KM209bcdKM09

Comments: Katherine Phillips taught seventh grade at Scottsville School from about 1935 until she retired in the 1970's. With her perspective that life need not be a narrow existence, Mrs. Phillips encouraged students to explore their creative interests and stimulated their thinking. Former students rate Mrs. Phillips among the best teachers they've had at any educational level. See the larger image to learn more about this favorite teacher of Scottsville.

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Scottsville Museum · 290 Main Street · Scottsville, Virginia 24590 · 434-286-2247