Edwin Washington Project

We know from interviews of former students at Conklin (a colored school) and discussions with tour docents at Waterford that many children brought their own lunches to the one room school houses, usually in metal pails specially constructed for the purpose or in old molasses tins.

1917:  White Teacher Institute October 11-12, 1917, discussed food conservation in the home and the provision of hot lunches, though there is no evidence they were provided to “colored”.

Food and Meals:  Memo 3431.  Dealt with the School Lunch Program.   See EWP 2.1.

1934:  A special home economics program was started in fifteen rural schools on January 1, 1934, paid by the CWA (Civil Works Administration)[1], a short-lived federal program aimed to help families through the harsh winter of 1934.

Low cost meals and hot lunches were provided January-April, 1934, according to a report by Mildred Weadon, (see 5.4 Home Economics 1934-1935).  The goal was to not only properly feed children, but also train adults in the proper preparation of food.  According to media reports, “It is hoped lunches can be arranged for in all white one-room schools and a few negro schools (LTM Staff 1934).”  Funds apparently were only for the staff like Weadon, since CWA was an employment project, so an appeal went out for donations of food.  Food requested consisted of  “canned tomatoes, corn, soup mixtures, beans, salmon, carrot, peas, tomato juice, peanut butter, rice, macaroni, oatmeal, raisons, prunes, sugar, dried peas, dried beans, cocoa, irish and sweet potatoes, turnips, cabbage, apples, onions, dried chip beef, salt pork, milk, canned, dried or fresh.”  (LTM Staff 1934)

• Weadon (Breeze Staff 1932), known as a jolly person in college, reported that she traveled the county in her in her Model T Ford to provide meals to both white and “colored” children. She averaged 222 miles a week between January 1 and April 13, 1934, not missing a single day.  Food was provided to Coleman’s, Carter’s, McGraw Ridge, Philomont, Mountville, Marble Quarry (col), Neersville, Sunny Ridge, Emerick, Little River, Watson (col), Mt Gap (col), Woodland, Brooklyn and Arlington. 

We recommend reading this report as well for how the project was managed, with the support of children, as well as the Loudoun Tuberculosis Association and the Leesburg Rotary Club.  One hot meal was prepared and served to 193 children every day by women in need of work, paid by Mrs. Blanch Melvin, Director of Relief Work. 172 children brought food in jars.  According to the report, children gained weight.  61 adults participated as well, learning how to prepare food.

A ceremony was then held at each school at the end of the lunch project on March 30, 1934

Weadon was Mildred Weadon of Waterford, later Purcellville, a 1932 graduate of the State Teachers College of Harrisonburg, Virginia and a member of 4H.  She was probably also a Catholic, as when attending State College, she was a member of the Francis Sales Club.  Francis Sale was a Swiss saint. (Moore and Bard 1932).

• Mrs. Gertrude Stewart and Mrs Mattie Berryman (of Marble Quarry), were African-American teachers secured to help with community canning over the summer.

1935:  Nurse Report for August, 1935.[1] Discussion about providing milk and hot lunches, as well as cod liver oil to underweight children.

1938/39.  Report of Lincoln High School for home economics showed they developed a plan “for serving hot food to underweight children…during winter months.”  The money was provided by the PTA for one meal a day for about 29 children[1].  .

1941.   Many African-American students from Douglass were turned away after Pearl Harbor because they were malnourished.  Not giving up, they used the lunch programs of the Home Economics to bolster their physical condition[1]. 

1942-43.   Douglass’s lunch room was self-sufficient.[1]

1943-44.   Douglass’s lunch room was run by the home economics clubs. Food was purchased from a nearby grocer and the girls prepared the food.[1]

1944-45.   Douglass HS lunch room was too small.[1]

1945 HOT Lunch Program, Discussion by Hamilton staff.

May, 1953.  Indicative of the budget crisis, in May, 1953, Emerick required reimbursement for electricity used to heat water and/or cook school lunches.[1]

1954/55.   Described as supplemental only, the school lunch program for Willisville colored school only operated for two months and didn’t take advantage of National School Lunch Act Funds, but did use a concessionaire[1].

1950’s and Milk.  Many schools didn’t serve milk in 1953/54 but in 1954 received a subsidy (Memo of Oct 29, 1954).[1]

1955:  Fund Ledger.  Only for Carver, not dated, but appears to cover 1955. Showed expenses and explanations.  Might be lunch fund.

1957/58: Food and Meals:  Memo 3431.  Dealt with the School Lunch Program[1].

1958:  Federal School lunch program (memo of October 21, 1958).  Many African-American schools didn’t benefit from this[1].

1965/66:  Carver School Lunch Fund.   Check book covering 1965-66.