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Central Rappahannock
Heritage Center Newsletter
 
A place that loses its history loses it soul
Volume 5, Issue 9
September 2015
In This Issue
Message From The Chairman
Become a Member Today
Save the Date
Back to School
Can you help identify these photos?
On Sale: The Circle Unbroken
Quick Links
 
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Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, 10:00 a.m. to
4:00 p.m., the first Saturday of each month, 9:00 a.m. to noon or by appointment
 

Location: 

900 Barton Street #111 Fredericksburg, VA  22401

(540) 373-3704
 
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Message From The Chairman
 

On Tuesday, September 15, at 7 p.m., CRHC will hold its annual meeting at the Central Rappahannock Library Headquarters, 1209 Caroline Street, downtown Fredericksburg. First there will be a short business meeting for members to elect officers and new directors and vote on proposed changes to the bylaws. We must have a quorum to conduct this business. Members, please come!
 
Then we will enjoy a program offered by noted researcher and author, Michael Hill. He will illustrate his presentation, "Tools for the Researcher," with slides and stories based on his research for David McCullough, Ken Burns, and his own recently published book, "Elihu Washburne." His talk is sure to be interesting and entertaining.
 
The public is invited to the meeting and the program. Refreshments will be served.
 __________

On Sunday, October 11, from 4-7 p.m., CRHC is hosting the Rappahannock Repast, our annual fundraiser. This year it is being held at a private home in Argyle Heights. Invitations are being sent to previous attendees, but if you have not attended and want an invitation, call (540-373-3704) or email (crhc@verizon.net) the Center.
 
Space is limited, so get your tickets early. Prices remain the same as in previous years: a ticket for a couple costs $125, for an individual, $75, with the tax-deductible portion being $25 per person. You won't find a better bargain elsewhere, given the seafood, side dishes (some surprises here), dessert, and drink, besides the music, lovely setting, and gathering of friends-old and new!
__________
  
We are saddened to learn of the passing of Sylvia Scaife. Sylvia was a member and supporter of the Center. She served on the board and as an officer. Those of us who knew her have fond memories of a thoughtful, dedicated woman and her many contributions to the Center. Our thoughts are with Sylvia's husband Bill and her family.
  
  
Barbara Barrett, Chairman
Board of Directors
  


Become a Member Today


 
CRHC memberships support the important work done by the Center.  The Center fills a unique role in the region:  the preservation of our people's history, which we make available for research.  We are a 100% all volunteer, non-profit organization.

Please join us as part of the Heritage Center's preservation team!  As a CRHC member, you will be helping to preserve our priceless local history.  Click here to become a member today! 


Thank you for your support,

The Central Rappahannock Heritage Center
Save the Date

CRHC 5th Annual Rappahannock Repast
October 11, 2015
Argyle Heights
Fredericksburg, Virginia

If you would like to receive an invitation to the 2015 Repast, please email your name and mailing address to membership@crhcarchives.org
Please put "Repast Invitation" in the subject line.
You may also call the center at (540) 373-3704 to request an invitation.

Space is limited, so reserve your invitation today!



Back to School
     

It's the end of summer vacation for students as well as teachers. Summer vacations weren't always vacations. Students were needed to work on farms. Even today, many industries count on students and teachers, to work in summer jobs. The Heritage Center has many resources relating to schools and education.
 
Early local education consisted mainly of tutoring and mostly for male children. The more affluent residents did educate their daughters. The Female Charity School was established by the Episcopal Church in 1802. Land was purchased and a sturdy brick building constructed in 1835. That building, now privately owned, is at 1119 Caroline Street. Thomas Fitzhugh Knox, a wealthy wheat speculator, sent his two oldest sons Robert (1837 - 1915) and Thomas (1839 - 1904) to board at Howard School in Alexandria. Howard is now known as Episcopal School. The younger Knox sons attended Hanson School in Fredericksburg. Kindergarten did not become part of the public school curriculum until the 1960s. Prior to that, parents sent their children to private kindergartens. Anne Wilson Rowe said she went to a nursery or kindergarten taught by Mary Van Rawlings Purks. Mrs. Rowe said it was kind of a "play" school where everyone sang little nursery rhymes and wore costumes like Little Bo Peep and Bobby Shafto. On the other hand, Florence Overley Ridderhof attended Miss Anne Cunningham's kindergarten as did her two older siblings. The Overly children learned reading and arithmetic and went directly into the second grade. (Anne Wilson Rowe Oral History and Florence Overley Ridderhof Oral History)
 
Barbara Pratt Willis recalled carpooling. In 1969, Hugh Mercer Elementary School, grades K through three, with air conditioning, opened west of the Bypass. This was much too far for young children to walk, and they would have had to cross the busy road that was the main north/south artery that bisected Fredericksburg. No provisions had been made for school buses. Parents took turns shuttling students to and from Hugh Mercer. The following year school buses transported the children. (Barbara Pratt Willis Oral History)
 
The Center's first collection, the Stearns Collection has much information about Fredericksburg education in the first half of the twentieth century. The Stearns family lived in the big white house at 716 William Street, now Jan Williams Florals. The Stearns were prolific letter writers and saved much of their correspondence. Frank Stearns, a local builder and his wife, Bettie had six daughters. Two became teachers. One in particular, Emeline Lee Stearns (1905 - 1994), is still remembered by former students. Some remember her fondly as a demanding, but excellent teacher, others quake at the thought of her. Those with good memories said Emeline Stearns was a dedicated teacher whose instruction provided a solid foundation for further education. Yet another student recalled being unable to join a school club because she had "blackballed" him. (Stearns Collection)

Emeline Lee Stearns
 
Catesby Willis Stewart wrote a "History of Schools of Fredericksburg, Virginia, Thesis Prepared at Harvard University," (1930). It was a summer course and she was one of the first women admitted to study at Harvard. She attributed this partially to her name, Catesby. Mrs. Stewart felt perhaps the registrar's office didn't realize she was a woman when they allowed her to enroll. (Willis Collection)
 
For a history of Stafford schools, the Center has "A Historical Study of Public Education in Stafford County, Virginia, From 1865 Through 1965," by H. Stewart Jones. Dr. Jones, another woman whose name confused people, submitted this study to the Faculty of the College of Arts and Sciences of the American University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement of the Degree of Doctor in Education. Dr. Jones was a teacher and counselor in Alexandria and Stafford schools for over 50 years. (H. Stewart Jones Collection)
 
Marion Woodfork Simmons wrote "Memories of Union High: An Oasis in Caroline County, Virginia 1903 - 1969," (2011) about Caroline's first high school for African-Americans. The book was the result of Ms. Simmons extensive genealogical research of her ancestors who lived in Caroline County. Ms. Simmons used the resources of the Center. Upon completion of her book, Ms. Simmons donated her research materials to the Center. (Marion Woodfork Simmons Collection)
 
Dr. Edward Alvey, Jr., a professor of philosophy at Mary Washington College wrote extensively on education at all levels. He wrote "The History of Mary Washington College (1908 - 1972)." (Edward Alvey, Jr. Collection)
 
Despite the US Supreme Court ruling, Brown v. the Board of Education in 1954, Virginia schools remained segregated. In the early 1960s local schools began complying with the law. The iconic photo of Cynthia Montague accompanied by her parents and a family friend shows her as she attends her first day of school in Stafford County. 
 
 
Click on photo to enlarge


The Center has many more items including a 1902 yearbook from Fredericksburg College, as well as dozens of yearbooks from Mary Washington College, James Monroe High School, Stafford High School, Fredericksburg High School, Walker-Grant Training School and others. There are also programs from school pageants and plays, athletic events and photographs.
 
Anyone wanting to know about local education, schools, teachers and students will find a rich source of information at the Central Rappahannock Heritage Center.
 
 
Beth Daly
  
Can you help identify these photos?
Shelton Collection                
Unidentified photo from the Everett Shelton Family Collection. (click on photo to enlarge)

Knox Collection
Unidentified photograph labeled "Sept. 28th, 1910 Fredericksburg Fair" from the Thomas Fitzhugh Knox, III photo album. (click on photo to enlarge)
The Circle Unbroken: Civil War Letters of the Knox Family of Fredericksburg

On sale now at the Heritage Center 
$29.70 for members 
$33.00 for non-members 
You can also purchase the book online from the Historic Fredericksburg Foundation
                       (click on image to order online)