Powell’s Grove Colored

POWELL’S GROVE, Mt. Gilead District

Data as of  4/25/2018, 7/17/19, 2/27/2020

Location:  19100 Airmont Road, Purcellville, VA

Schools for Blacks were given number designations, in addition to their names.  The same system was used for White schools except that they were given letter designations.  In 1938/39, the number designation for Powell’s Grove Colored was #30. Source 1.7 1939 Socio Econ Study

1.  History

• Constructed in 1880 as a one room frame structure at the cost of $300.  May have b been known as Airmont, due to the road location; but not to be confused with Airmont White. Source: Report of Survey Committee on Long Range Planning for Loudoun County, Jan, 1940.  Location:  EWP Archives 2.2 County School Board, 1918-1952.
•  1943.  Globe was given the school by school system. EWP Archives: 1.5  May 26, 1943.  Memo by Ruby Vaughan, Supervisor to co-workers.

2)   Instructors

• 1917-1923   Unknown.
• 1924/25.   Mrs. Sarah Henderson
• 1925/26.   Rosa Carter.  The tiny woman (weighed only 94 pounds) became one of the county’s most famous educators.  Born Jan 29, 1904, Ms. Carter made her home in Parkersburg, West Virginia and was educated at Sumner High School, Howard University, West Virginia College and Storer.  Powell’s Grove was her first assignment in Loudoun.  She then transferred to fame, if not fortune, in Middleburg.  Source:  Term Reports and Teacher Reports, LCPC Archives.
• 1926/27:   Nannie W. B. Cunningham.  Ms. Cunningham only instructed for the one year in Loudoun, though she arrived with six years of prior experience.  She was born Aug 24, 1894 and educated at Slater Normal in North Carolina and at Petersburg. Source:  Term Reports and Teacher Reports, LCPC Archives.
• 1927/28 – 1928/29:   Mrs. E. Randolph. Term Reports, LCPC Archives
• 1930/31 – 1939/40.  Clarence L. Murray was elected an instructor by the School Board on June 10, 1930.  He was born in 1886 and had 4 years of college, according to the 1940 U.S. Census.  Back in 1920, he was a messenger in Washington, DC .   Sources: 1940 and 1920 U.S. Census records for Leesburg, Va and Washington, DC.,  Term Reports, LCPS Archives. Loudoun Times Mirror Staff. (1930, June 12). School Board Holds Its Regular Session. Loudoun Times Mirror, p. 1.
• 1940/41 – 1943/44:  Victoria Goens.  Mrs. Goens was born Oct 23, 1913.  Her home was Bolivar, West Virginia and she was educated at DuBois High School in Mt. Hope, West Virginia, graduating in 1937.  She also finished a two year program at Storer in 1940.  Sources:  Teacher Records and Term Reports, LCPS Archives. Loudoun Times Mirror, Times Staff, School Board (from page 1), pg. 2 showed colored teachers. April 16, 1942.  Further research has indicated that Virginia Gretchen (Davis) Goens died 12 October, 1999, Ranson, West Virginia and was buried in Cedar Hill cemetery in Bolivar.  At the time, she was a retired school teacher in Jefferson County, West Virginia
• 1944/45 –   Nannie C. Coles
• 1945/46  –    Nannie C. Coles
• 1946/47
• 1947/48  Closed.  Students moved to Carver.  Source: 6.6 Student Enrollment Cards\EnrollmentCardsAll\School Colored Records

2) Repairs:

• $46.50 was authorized by the School Board on June 10, 1930 for repairs.  Source:  Loudoun Times Mirror Staff. (1930, June 12). School Board Holds Its Regular Session. Loudoun Times Mirror, p. 1.

3) Insurance:

• 1924/27.  Insured by LCPS system as a “colored” school in the Mt. Gilead District.  Source:  Insurance Record. Purcellville: Page 32/33.
• Possibly 1929. Insured by LCPS for $200.  Insurance Record. Purcellville:  Pg 54/55.

4) Photographs:

Photo  By Thos E. Sims, Jr.   Source:  Insurance Analysis and Permanent Record – Property of Loudoun County School Board: Garrett Insurance Company (Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company), Leesburg, Virginia.  October, 1940. (Blue Insurance Binder, LCPS Records Office, Round Hill, Loudoun, Co., Va.)  Notice attached outhouse.

Powell’s Grove was eventually torn down and replaced by the parking lot of a traditional Black church, as of 4/25/2018, also defunct.