Memories of Union High: An Oasis in Caroline County, Virginia, 1903-1969 - Softcover

Simmons, Marion Woodfork

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0615530923 ISBN 13: 9780615530925

Publisher: Woodfork Genealogy LLC, 2011

Synopsis

Based on over two years of research performed using archival materials and over 100 interviews, Memories of Union High: An Oasis in Caroline County Virginia, 1903-1969 traces the school's history from the vision of Rev. R.W. Young and the members of the Caroline County School Union, to its humble beginnings as a private academy with five students and one teacher (Bowling Green Industrial Academy), then a training school for Negro teachers (Caroline County Training School) and finally a premier educational institution in  Caroline County (Union High School).
 
The school's history in brought to life through remembrances from alumni, faculty, family and friends; excerpts from school newspapers and yearbooks; and over 100 photographs and other memorabilia.  Memories of Union High is a fitting tribute to the people associated with Union High and a good history lesson to those who are not familiar with the school.

About this title

From the Author:

I became interested in the history of Caroline County, Virginia while performing genealogy research in the county.  I often noticed a dearth of information about African Americans in the historical archives and libraries and decided to take an active role in preserving the history of the communities where my ancestors lived. 
 
In 2009, I initiated the Union High History Project to research, document and preserve the history of Union High School, Caroline County's only high school for Negroes during the era of segregation. Information was gathered from a variety of historical archives and over 100 Union High alumni, faculty, family and friends were interviewed.  Union High memorabilia and ephemera were also collected from a variety of sources.
 
I was honored to learn first hand from teachers and administrators about their efforts to provide educational opportunities to the students and help them become productive self-sufficient citizens.   I thoroughly enjoyed listening to alumni reminisce about their teachers, such as Ms. Mary Banks, the kind-hearted home economics teacher who encouraged her students to act like ladies at all times, the brilliant but eccentric mathematics teacher, Mr. James Luckie, who had no patience for foolishness and Ms. Poole who was only at the school for a very short time but had a major impact on a student's life with a single class discussion
 
It was a joy to learn about the school's award wining marching band, choir and champion boys baseball team who made history by becoming the first school (Black or White) in Caroline County to win a state championship in the 1950's. It was also a pleasure to hear about the many school functions such as May Day, Prom and Commencement.
 
It was interesting to listen to the decisions students made when they were given the opportunity to attend the previously White high schools during desegregation and their feelings of ambivalence about the end of their beloved school after integration. Participants of the Union High History Project are proud of the legacy of Union High and were happy to be given the opportunity to let the world know about their treasure.  It was a joy and honor to work with them and I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to preserve an important piece of Caroline County history for posterity.

From the Back Cover:

In 1895, members of the Caroline County Sunday School Union carried out a plan to build and operate a secondary school for Negro children in Caroline County, Virginia. From 1903 to 1969, the school - originally named Bowling Green Industrial Academy, then Caroline County Training School, and finally Union High School - served as the only secondary school for Negro children in Caroline County.  

Thousands of children passed through Union High's doors.  Their minds were filled with a wealth of knowledge from the academic and vocational subjects.  Caring and nurturing teachers took a genuine interest in their development and encouraged them to strive for excellence in all endeavors, enriching their lives.  An abundance of extra curricular activities taught them leadership skills and the value of teamwork and built their confidence. Field trips to educational and cultural events outside their rural community opened the wider world to them.

On June 5, 1969, the last group of students graduated from Union High School.  At the start of the 1969-1970 school year, both Black and White students attended the school, renamed Bowling Green Senior High School, when the Caroline County School system became integrated. 

Although Union High School no longer exists, it lives on in the fond remembrances of those who were privileged to attend it. Memories of Union High uses photos, memorabilia and first hand accounts from Union High alumni, family and friends to preserve the history of a premier institution in the African American community of Caroline County.

About this edition

• Publisher: Woodfork Genealogy LLC
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 0615530923
• ISBN 13: 9780615530925
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 168