[Petitions (Colored schools) 1946 - Middleburg Grant - requests new school be built in Maxville not St Louis · Edwin Washington Project

[Petitions (Colored schools) 1946 - Middleburg Grant - requests new school be built in Maxville not St Louis

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PARENT-TEACHER ASSOCIATION
AND
COMMUNITY LEAGUE
Grant School
Middleburg, Virginia
February 6, 1946
Mr. O. L. Emerick,
District Superintendent of Schools
Loudoun County,
Leesburg, Virginia
Dear Mr. Emerick:
At our regular meeting held on February 4, 1946, your recent letter written to Dr. Edmead, chairman of our building site committee, was read. Indeed, it made us more informative than we had been before. Nevertheless, it was rather shocking to us to learn of your definitive decision.
We had been impressed with the fact, as conveyed by you, that our committee would have been informed voluntarily without having had to write to you. You, of course, evaded this point of the agreement.
In addition, at our last gathering at the School Board meeting we had been informed that a plot of land could have been obtained definitely from Mr. William N. Hall at Maxville and that, were we satisfied with this location it would be a foregone conclusion. We definitely agreed to the proposal. Consequently, with your contrary decision and action we are undoubtedly disappointed.
We feel certain that you have taken cognizance of the many disadvantages of the selection of a site in St. Louis. At any rate, may be have the pleasure and opportunity to point out, as we see them, some of the many disadvantages of constructing school in St. Louis rather than in Middleburg:-
1. St. Louis roads are unsatisfactory, and during some winter months they are impassable.
2. The land selected is swampy and will require extensive drainage. In short, all lands in St. Louis present this feature.
3. St. Louis lacks all of the conveniences of stores, theatre, and denominational churches.
4. St. Louis lacks Negro leadership and Negro wealth.
5. St. Louis will not attract much patronage in case of school functions and activities.
6. In any school neighborhood there should be conducive surroundings so as to offset the decoy of youngsters. St Louis does not present this qualification.
[page 2] 2.
7. In case of accidents, which undoubtedly will occur, a physician could not be reached immediately, neither could the proper first aid be administered because of the lack of clinical facilities.
8. The inhabitants of St. Louis are less progressive and less community conscious than those of Middleburg. Consequently, cooperation will be inadequate and inefficient.
9. BBuilding such a school in St. Louis would not improve the panorama of our colored and white citizens. This should be one of our ultimate objectives, especially in this atomic age.
10. A building of such anticipated magnitude and architecture should be within the range of sightseers. Therefore, it should be definitely located, if not on, near a macadam road. Such an execution of contemplation and democratic principle shall, without the shadow of a doubt, revere you in the hearts of ali Negroes.
11. Middleburg has always been the leading centre of the surrounding communities for Negroes. It possesses leadership, wealth, progressiveness, and potentialities.
12. St. Louis has always presented a problem in the boarding of teachers --- the homes are limited and are without modern conveniences. The situation will be more perplexing with an increased staff. No one knows any better than you the difficulty in obtaining and retaining qualified teachers, particularly at so critical a time. Hence, we should at least attempt to make the surroundings pleasant for those who are here, those who are to come, and those who will stay.
In short, we Negroes with broad minds and considerable forethought are desirous not only to facilitate improvement of ourselves alone, but for our white brethren as well. It must be borne in mind that a community cannot progress adequately half weak and half strong. We should be able to produce the same impact alike though it may be on opposite sides of the fence.
Now that we have presented our points of view we beg to offer an alternative site --- Mr. William N. Hall's plot of ground at Maxville which is still available. We understand that the price is far beyond the Board's intended expenditure. However, realizing what it would mean to our race and posterity we have committed ourselves to reimburse Mr. Hall the deficit should you and the other members of the Board be so gracious as to grant us our request and conclude the deal.
Conclusively, we, the undersigned patrons, citizens and. taxpayers, petition you to reconsider the proposed site and substitute Mr. Hall's plot. Furthermore, we trust that you may be sufficiently open-minded to visualize our predicament as a race to extend to us due consideration and to make such considera- tion possible.
We wish to express our grateful thanks for your immediate action.
[page 3] 3.
Clarendon C. FIsher
Gurley H. Wanzer
Lorraine Dade
John Parker
Henry Page
Joseph P. Butler
John W. Wanzer
Robert Douglass
Gee. G. Turner
Welby Grayson
J. M. Hansborough
Mrs Katie Smith
Fannie B. Stewart
Nora Smith
Ellen Grayson
Dorothy E Scott
Lunella Brown
Alicia Read
Mat Read
Laura M. Harris.
Estelle R. Wade.
Mrs. Hattie S. Hall
Mrs. Mildred. Jackson
X Mrs Katie Hill
X Mr. Floyd Huill
Lenna Stewart
Mrs Jane Butler
Miss Sadie Scott
Mauria B. K. Edward, M.D.
William Mk. Jackson
Ruth T Cook
C.P. Cooke & Son (Metal roof construction)
Willie H. Gaskins
Virginia Artis
Malbe Smith
Johnnie T. Smith
Theodore D Bolden
[page 4] 4
A.R. Smith
Edith C. Smith
Mrs Carl Dawson
Pauline Trammell
Mrs Laura Dawson
Louise Brooks
Mrs Carrie Donaldson
Robert T Shepton
Mrs Mamie Douglass.
Mrs Mary Douglass.
M. Christine Bolden
Mary Taylor
Frances M. Wanzer.
Mary Jackson
Gcittee[?] Peterson
Sallie Irving
Lillian L. Ford
Kirjeat[?] Thomas
Ethel S Brown
Pinckney C Brown.
Mollie M. Evans
George G Evans
James Smith
Randolph B. Evans
Edna B. Evans
Thomas C. Young
Virgie W. Young
Myrtle McQuay
Mrs Moses Grayson
Mr Moses Grayson
Mrs Isabel Grayson
Mrs Mozell Hatcher
Mr Wilmer Hatcher
Mrs Sophia Washington
Mr Force[?] Washington
Lloyd Hall.
Mrs. Lloyd Hall
Mrs. Mary Hall
Hannah Perry
Juanita Bushrod
John H Moten
Fannie B Moten
Rosie Richardson
Clara F Pyle
[page 5] 5
Charles H. Smith
Emma D Smith
Henry Artis
Flossie Blunder
Mrs Josephine Washington
Irwin L Blundder

Title: [Petitions (Colored schools) 1946 - Middleburg Grant - requests new school be built in Maxville not St Louis
Description: Feb 26, 1946, the PTA and Community League for the Grant School in Middleburg opined that Saint Louis was an inappropriate location for the new school and provided a detailed argument for Maxville (or Macville), a community east of Middleburg on the north side of route 50. The petition places Middleburg above St. Louis in every way, possessing "leadership, wealth, progressiveness, and potentialities." In contrast, St. Louis is described as a poor backwater that has little to offer Loudoun residents.
Tag: St. Louis, Petitions, Grant School, Middleburg, Maxville, Macville, St Louis, Route 50, PTA, Community League,
Date: 1946-02-26
Creator: Individual school PTOs/PTAs/Parent Teacher LeaguesSee all items with this value
Place: Middleburg Grant ColoredSee all items with this value; St. Louis ColoredSee all items with this value; VirginiaSee all items with this value
Identifier: 1015184
Is Version Of: 1015184_EWP_PetitionstLouis1946.pdf
Is Part Of: Black Petitions
Format: PDF DocumentSee all items with this value
Source: Petition labeled "2.5.A Petitions C Middleburg-Grant 2/6/1946 Locate school in Maxville, not St Louis Complaint by PTA & Community League" in the 2.5.A Colored Petitions box in the Loudoun County Public School Records Office
Publisher: Digitized by Edwin Washington ProjectSee all items with this value
Rights: Loudoun County Public SchoolsSee all items with this value
Language: English
Replaces: /Volumes/T7 Shield/EWP/Elements/EWP_Files/source/Ingest One/2 Petitions Plans School Board and Districts/2-5A_Colored_Petitions/Old_FIle_Petitions_Colored_Schools/PetitionSt_Louis/EWP_PetitionstLouis1946.pdf
Category: 2-5A Colored PetitionsSee all items with this value
Transcription: PARENT-TEACHER ASSOCIATION
AND
COMMUNITY LEAGUE
Grant School
Middleburg, Virginia
February 6, 1946
Mr. O. L. Emerick,
District Superintendent of Schools
Loudoun County,
Leesburg, Virginia
Dear Mr. Emerick:
At our regular meeting held on February 4, 1946, your recent letter written to Dr. Edmead, chairman of our building site committee, was read. Indeed, it made us more informative than we had been before. Nevertheless, it was rather shocking to us to learn of your definitive decision.
We had been impressed with the fact, as conveyed by you, that our committee would have been informed voluntarily without having had to write to you. You, of course, evaded this point of the agreement.
In addition, at our last gathering at the School Board meeting we had been informed that a plot of land could have been obtained definitely from Mr. William N. Hall at Maxville and that, were we satisfied with this location it would be a foregone conclusion. We definitely agreed to the proposal. Consequently, with your contrary decision and action we are undoubtedly disappointed.
We feel certain that you have taken cognizance of the many disadvantages of the selection of a site in St. Louis. At any rate, may be have the pleasure and opportunity to point out, as we see them, some of the many disadvantages of constructing school in St. Louis rather than in Middleburg:-
1. St. Louis roads are unsatisfactory, and during some winter months they are impassable.
2. The land selected is swampy and will require extensive drainage. In short, all lands in St. Louis present this feature.
3. St. Louis lacks all of the conveniences of stores, theatre, and denominational churches.
4. St. Louis lacks Negro leadership and Negro wealth.
5. St. Louis will not attract much patronage in case of school functions and activities.
6. In any school neighborhood there should be conducive surroundings so as to offset the decoy of youngsters. St Louis does not present this qualification.
[page 2] 2.
7. In case of accidents, which undoubtedly will occur, a physician could not be reached immediately, neither could the proper first aid be administered because of the lack of clinical facilities.
8. The inhabitants of St. Louis are less progressive and less community conscious than those of Middleburg. Consequently, cooperation will be inadequate and inefficient.
9. BBuilding such a school in St. Louis would not improve the panorama of our colored and white citizens. This should be one of our ultimate objectives, especially in this atomic age.
10. A building of such anticipated magnitude and architecture should be within the range of sightseers. Therefore, it should be definitely located, if not on, near a macadam road. Such an execution of contemplation and democratic principle shall, without the shadow of a doubt, revere you in the hearts of ali Negroes.
11. Middleburg has always been the leading centre of the surrounding communities for Negroes. It possesses leadership, wealth, progressiveness, and potentialities.
12. St. Louis has always presented a problem in the boarding of teachers --- the homes are limited and are without modern conveniences. The situation will be more perplexing with an increased staff. No one knows any better than you the difficulty in obtaining and retaining qualified teachers, particularly at so critical a time. Hence, we should at least attempt to make the surroundings pleasant for those who are here, those who are to come, and those who will stay.
In short, we Negroes with broad minds and considerable forethought are desirous not only to facilitate improvement of ourselves alone, but for our white brethren as well. It must be borne in mind that a community cannot progress adequately half weak and half strong. We should be able to produce the same impact alike though it may be on opposite sides of the fence.
Now that we have presented our points of view we beg to offer an alternative site --- Mr. William N. Hall's plot of ground at Maxville which is still available. We understand that the price is far beyond the Board's intended expenditure. However, realizing what it would mean to our race and posterity we have committed ourselves to reimburse Mr. Hall the deficit should you and the other members of the Board be so gracious as to grant us our request and conclude the deal.
Conclusively, we, the undersigned patrons, citizens and. taxpayers, petition you to reconsider the proposed site and substitute Mr. Hall's plot. Furthermore, we trust that you may be sufficiently open-minded to visualize our predicament as a race to extend to us due consideration and to make such considera- tion possible.
We wish to express our grateful thanks for your immediate action.
[page 3] 3.
Clarendon C. FIsher
Gurley H. Wanzer
Lorraine Dade
John Parker
Henry Page
Joseph P. Butler
John W. Wanzer
Robert Douglass
Gee. G. Turner
Welby Grayson
J. M. Hansborough
Mrs Katie Smith
Fannie B. Stewart
Nora Smith
Ellen Grayson
Dorothy E Scott
Lunella Brown
Alicia Read
Mat Read
Laura M. Harris.
Estelle R. Wade.
Mrs. Hattie S. Hall
Mrs. Mildred. Jackson
X Mrs Katie Hill
X Mr. Floyd Huill
Lenna Stewart
Mrs Jane Butler
Miss Sadie Scott
Mauria B. K. Edward, M.D.
William Mk. Jackson
Ruth T Cook
C.P. Cooke & Son (Metal roof construction)
Willie H. Gaskins
Virginia Artis
Malbe Smith
Johnnie T. Smith
Theodore D Bolden
[page 4] 4
A.R. Smith
Edith C. Smith
Mrs Carl Dawson
Pauline Trammell
Mrs Laura Dawson
Louise Brooks
Mrs Carrie Donaldson
Robert T Shepton
Mrs Mamie Douglass.
Mrs Mary Douglass.
M. Christine Bolden
Mary Taylor
Frances M. Wanzer.
Mary Jackson
Gcittee[?] Peterson
Sallie Irving
Lillian L. Ford
Kirjeat[?] Thomas
Ethel S Brown
Pinckney C Brown.
Mollie M. Evans
George G Evans
James Smith
Randolph B. Evans
Edna B. Evans
Thomas C. Young
Virgie W. Young
Myrtle McQuay
Mrs Moses Grayson
Mr Moses Grayson
Mrs Isabel Grayson
Mrs Mozell Hatcher
Mr Wilmer Hatcher
Mrs Sophia Washington
Mr Force[?] Washington
Lloyd Hall.
Mrs. Lloyd Hall
Mrs. Mary Hall
Hannah Perry
Juanita Bushrod
John H Moten
Fannie B Moten
Rosie Richardson
Clara F Pyle
[page 5] 5
Charles H. Smith
Emma D Smith
Henry Artis
Flossie Blunder
Mrs Josephine Washington
Irwin L Blundder

Item sets: St. Louis Colored; Black Petitions