The Howland Chapel School is a historic school building for African-American students located near Heathsville, Northumberland County, Virginia. It was built in 1867, and is a one-story, gable fronted frame building measuring approximately 26 feet by 40 feet. It features board-and-batten siding and distinctive bargeboards with dentil soffits. The interior has a single room divided by a later central partition formed by sliding, removable doors. The building is a rare, little-altered Reconstruction-era schoolhouse built to serve the children of former slaves. Its construction was funded by New York educator, reformer and philanthropist Emily Howland (1827-1929), for whom the building is named. It was used as a schoolhouse until 1958, and serves as a museum, community center and adult-education facility.[3]

Howland Chapel School
Howland Chapel School, August 2012
Howland Chapel School is located in Virginia
Howland Chapel School
Howland Chapel School is located in the United States
Howland Chapel School
LocationJct. of VA 201 and VA 642, Heathsville, Virginia
Coordinates37°52′16″N 76°27′23″W / 37.8712°N 76.4563°W / 37.8712; -76.4563
Area1.6 acres (0.65 ha)
Built1867
Built byEmily Howland, Beverly Taliaferro
Architectural styleVernacular Gothic Revival
NRHP reference No.90002206[1]
VLR No.066-0110
Significant dates
Added to NRHPJanuary 25, 1991
Designated VLRJune 20, 1989[2]

It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. ^ "Virginia Landmarks Register". Virginia Department of Historic Resources. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  3. ^ Jeffrey M. O'Dell and Carolyn E. Jett (June 1989). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Howland Chapel School" (PDF). Virginia Department of Historic Resources. and Accompanying photo