Hickory Hill School
Hickory Hill School was a model of adaptability in the 20th century as the city experienced economic and social shifts including the collapse of the Freedman's Bank. Today, Hickory Hill School functions as a community center, influenced by gentrification and economic trends.
Education
With Nat Turner’s rebellion in Southampton County in 1831, all forms of slave education were prohibited by law, which held that educated blacks were dangerous. Around 1851, African American families living in the same neighborhood would hire a teacher and eventually donate land to establish the Hickory Hill School which endured for over 100 years.
Legacy
There were struggles in the segregation era for students and teachers. As Hickory Hill School flourished, a landfill and a beltway loop were situated in front of the school; which still is in need of remediation.
​
Virginia State University's workforce training program was transferred to Hickory Hill County Training School in 1924. There was support from Booker T. Washington (President of Tuskegee Institute) and Julius Rosenwald (President of Sears Roebuck & Company) who by 1932 had built 4,977 schools, 217 teacher’s homes, and 163 shop buildings in 15 Southern states. (Anderson, 100 years of Hickory Hill).
.jpg)
Stewardship
Interests for development persist with present-day advocates for social and economic justice, particularly for the preservation of 7 acres of green space at Hickory Hill.
Agricultural Roots
As in the past, agriculture is viewed as a viable approach for workforce training and community development at Hickory Hill.
