Farmwell, Colored

Edited 8/18/2023

Opening and Closing  TBD

Physical and Map Location

TBD. During segregation, was in the the Broad Run School District

Petitions  TBD

Transportation

Walking was a common method of school transportation even before the creation of Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS).  It’s believed that students who lived within 3 miles of a school could walk from their home to school.  The figure at https://edwinwashingtonproject.org/s/ewp/item/31147 shows the location of the school with a circle representing the area from which students could have walked, back and forth from their home to the school.  Travel by horse was also used and could have extended the travel distance.

History

The Balch Library has a number of documents that relate to the history of Colored School #A in the Broad Run School District, which would eventually also be known as Farmwell, Cedar Run, and Cedar Sayre. “This collection contains the teacher's register for Colored School #A , and the names of students and their attendance records. Student Statistics colored-school-a.pdf See link to report.

The project plans to eventually develop a bio on each student. See also (Colored School #A,) Cedar Lane, Cedar Sayre) Broad Run District.

Instructors

  • October 4, 1886 – May 13, 1887: M.M. Snowden. Source: (Snowden, Jackson, Thomas, Walker, & Smith, 1886-1893)./li>
  • October 3, 1887 – March 30, 1888: John W. Jackson. Source: (Snowden, Jackson, Thomas, Walker, & Smith, 1886-1893).
  • October 1, 1888 – March 29, 1889: W. A Thomas (possible gap 11/26/88 – 12/21/88). Source: (Snowden, Jackson, Thomas, Walker, & Smith, 1886-1893).
  • Jan 26, 1891- April 1891: John C. Walker. Source: (Snowden, Jackson, Thomas, Walker, & Smith, 1886-1893).
  • Nov 2, 1891 – Adam .J. Smith: March 30, 1894. Source: (Snowden, Jackson, Thomas, Walker, & Smith, 1886-1893).
  • 1893/94 : Mr. Adam J. Smith of Middleburg instructed at “Farmwell” on a second grade certificate. Source: Census of Colored Teachers 1893 1894 Colored Reel 4418 1893/94 – March 30, 1894). and (Snowden, Jackson, Thomas, Walker, & Smith, 1886-1893).
  • 1894/95: Mr. Adam J. Smith continued at Farmwell. Source: Census of Colored Teachers (1895 Colored A 1894/95 – Done Dec 10, 1894). And (Snowden, Jackson, Thomas, Walker, & Smith, 1886-1893).
  • 1895/96: Mr. Adam J. Smith continued at Farmwell on a 2nd Grade Certificate. Source: Census of Colored Teachers 1896coloredcombined.pdf Census of Colored Teachers 1895/96 – Done Dec 15, 1895).

Insurance and Physical Description

The register provided dimensions of the school and this raises the question of whether the same structure was used throughout the period. Although the measurement always equals 7200 sq ft, the wall lengths vary.

  • Undated notes by Morgan M. Snowden who instructed November 30, 1886 to May 13, 1887. These notes indicated the structure was 36’x20’x10′. It isn't clear if Snowden was discussing the dimensions of the room or the exterior.
  • Jan 26/1891-April 17, 1891: John Walker provided 24’x 20’x 15′ as the dimensions.
  • Nov 12, 1992 to April 29, 1992: A.J. Smith concurred with Walker on dimensions.

Fuller report on Physical Contents, etc.  See colored-school-1physical.pdf in EWP archives.

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