National Register of Historic Places

Cary, John B., School

Richmond (Independent City), Richmond County, Virginia
Listed
August 23, 1992
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
92001030

About this property

John B. Cary School is a historic school building located in Richmond, Virginia. The structure was built by the Wise Granite Company from 1912 to 1913 based on a design by noted Virginia architect Charles M. Robinson. The building is considered to be an outstanding example of Gothic Revival architecture. It is a 2+1⁄2-story, granite faced that has been little altered since its original construction. The school was named for Confederate Colonel John B. Cary, who served as the superintendent of the Richmond Public Schools from 1886 to 1889. In 1954, the school was renamed the West End School, when the school was converted for use as a school for African-American students in Richmond's segregated public school system. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1992. When West End School was formed John B. Cary School moved to a new location, 3021 Maplewood Ave, Richmond, as a White school. West End School was opened until 1976. The building of the new expressway displaced many families and enrollment dropped. The building housed the Adult Accelerated Learning Center (AALEC) from 1976 to 1984 and Franklin Military School from 1984 to 1986. It was released to the city to be sold in 1989. In 2012 the building became Winthrop Manor, an assisted living facility. John B. Cary School moved from a segregated enrollment to an open one in 1969. It was recognized by the U. S. Department of Education as one of Virginia's most outstanding elementary schools in 1987 and 1988. In 2012 the city considered closing the school due to lowered enrollment. As of 2012, fewer than 39 percent of the children who live in the Cary school zone attend there.

Location

2100 Idlewood Ave.
Richmond (Independent City), Richmond County, Virginia
37.54708, -77.46926

Categories

EDUCATIONARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Nearby Historic Sites

Fan Area Historic District (Boundary Increase)
Listed
0.1 mi
Whitworth, John, House
Industrial
0.4 mi
Stonewall Jackson School
Industrial
0.5 mi
Randolph School
Industrial
0.5 mi
St. Sophia Home of the Little Sisters of the Poor
Industrial
0.6 mi

Nearby Battles

Dahlgren Raid (Richmond Raid)
1864Civil War
1.9 mi
Kilpatrick-Dahlgren Raid
1864Civil War
1.9 mi
Battle of Bloody Run
1656Colonial
1.9 mi

Questions about this property

When was Cary, John B., School listed on the National Register?

Cary, John B., School was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on August 23, 1992.

What type of historic resource is Cary, John B., School?

Cary, John B., School is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Cary, John B., School?

The period of significance for Cary, John B., School is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Cary, John B., School?

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