Esmont’s Early Schools

The very first school to serve African American students in Esmont was established by the Freedmen's Bureau in 1869, just five years after the end of the Civil War. Benjamin Franklin Yancey Elementary School opened in 1960. In 2017, the Albemarle School Board voted to close the school, ending a long history of community-supported education in Esmont. This exhibition exists to celebrate the achievements of African Americans in Esmont in the face of Jim Crow segregation and discrimination.

The historical period directly following the Civil War is known as Reconstruction. During this time, the Freedmen's Bureau placed federal agents in communities throughout the South, where they built schools, hospitals, and banks. The Bureau provided

The historical period directly following the Civil War is known as Reconstruction. During this time, the Freedmen's Bureau placed federal agents in communities throughout the South, where they built schools, hospitals, and banks. The Bureau provided legal help to newly-free African Americans and paid teachers from the North and South to staff the schools. Many white Southerners and former plantation owners opposed the activities of the Freedmen's Bureau and terrorized communities where agents were affecting change.The Freedmen's Bureau gradually lost funding between 1869 and 1872, and was fully disbanded in 1872. Image courtesy of the Library of Congress.

Pictured here is Glendower, the first school to serve African American students residing in Esmont, though the school itself was located in Keene. Glendower was created by the Freedmen's Bureau, an agency established to support African American commu

Pictured here is Glendower, the first school to serve African American students residing in Esmont, though the school itself was located in Keene. Glendower was created by the Freedmen's Bureau, an agency established to support African American communities in the South after the Civil War. The school was built on the site of the former Merrick plantation in 1869 and remained open until 1951. Image courtesy of the Scottsville Museum.

The Loving Charity Lodge School was Esmont's first private school for African American children. It was founded in the early 1900s and sponsored by the Forsyths, a wealthy white family living in Esmont. The school was housed in the Odd Fellows Hall

The Loving Charity Lodge School was Esmont's first private school for African American children. It was founded in the early 1900s and sponsored by the Forsyths, a wealthy white family living in Esmont. The school was housed in the Odd Fellows Hall at 7302 Porters Road. The Forsyths hired Rebecca Moore, a white teacher from New Orleans, to teach at the school.

Starting in 1869, several schools opened for African American students in southern Albemarle County. The schools were small, operating out of one-and-two-room schoolhouses. Often connected to nearby churches, the schools were built by the communities

Starting in 1869, several schools opened for African American students in southern Albemarle County. The schools were small, operating out of one-and-two-room schoolhouses. Often connected to nearby churches, the schools were built by the communities they served. Teachers came from across Albemarle to help educate African American students in Esmont, despite the lack of available resources for their classrooms. Pictured here is the Oak Ridge school. It was built in the early 1900s, and served the community around Oak Ridge Baptist Church in nearby Schyler. (Image courtesy of the Scottsville Museum)

Chestnut Grove school was another school serving African American students in the early 1900s. The school was built next to Chestnut Grove Baptist church and served students in that area into the mid twentieth century. (image courtesy of the Scottsvi

Chestnut Grove school was another school serving African American students in the early 1900s. The school was built next to Chestnut Grove Baptist church and served students in that area into the mid twentieth century. (image courtesy of the Scottsville Museum).