Switchback School facts for kids
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Switchback School
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Western side of the school
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 Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Location | 210 Pinehurst Heights Rd., near Hot Springs, Virginia |
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| Area | 0.9 acres (0.36 ha) |
| Built | 1924-1925, 1933, c. 1960 |
| Architect | Rosenwald Fund |
| MPS | Rosenwald Schools in Virginia MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 13000985 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | December 24, 2013 |
The Switchback School, also known as Union Hurst School, is a special old school building. It is located near Hot Springs, Virginia, in Bath County, Virginia. This school is important because it was a Rosenwald school.
It was built between 1924 and 1925. The building is one story tall and made of wood. It was designed for two teachers to teach many students. Later, in 1933, a big part was added to the school. Another addition was built around 1960.
There are also other old structures on the school property. These include an old outdoor toilet from around 1950. There's also a water tank, called a cistern, built in the late 1930s. This cistern was part of a project by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Three stone walls were also built around the same time by workers from the Works Progress Administration.
Switchback School is one of about 70 Rosenwald schools still standing in Virginia. A total of 364 such schools were built across Virginia. They were very important for educating African-American students during a time when schools were separated by race. The school was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2013. This means it is recognized as a historically important place.
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What Was a Rosenwald School?
A Rosenwald school was a special school built for African-American children in the early 1900s. These schools were built mostly in the Southern United States. They were a project between Booker T. Washington and Julius Rosenwald.
Who Was Julius Rosenwald?
Julius Rosenwald was a very successful businessman. He was the head of Sears, Roebuck and Company. He cared a lot about education for all children. He used his own money to help build these schools.
Who Was Booker T. Washington?
Booker T. Washington was an important educator and leader. He founded the Tuskegee Institute. He worked with Rosenwald to create plans for these schools. They wanted to make sure African-American children had good places to learn.
How Were Rosenwald Schools Built?
The Rosenwald Fund helped pay for these schools. But local communities also had to raise money. They also provided land and labor. This was a big effort that brought many people together.
Important Programs That Helped
The Switchback School property also shows the work of two other important programs. These were the Civilian Conservation Corps and the Works Progress Administration. Both programs were started during the Great Depression.
What Was the Civilian Conservation Corps?
The Civilian Conservation Corps, or CCC, was a program for young men. It started in the 1930s. These young men worked on projects to improve the country. They built parks, roads, and helped with conservation. The cistern at Switchback School was built by CCC workers.
What Was the Works Progress Administration?
The Works Progress Administration, or WPA, was another program from the 1930s. It created jobs for many people. WPA workers built public buildings, roads, and other important structures. The stone walls at Switchback School were built by WPA workers.
Why Is Switchback School Important Today?
Switchback School is important because it tells a story. It shows the history of education for African-American students. It also shows how communities worked together to build schools. It reminds us of a time when people came together to make things better.
The school building and its surrounding features are a reminder of these important historical efforts. They help us understand the past and how education has changed over time.
Images for kids
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Western side of the school
