"Oldest Building " on MCV Campus Still Standing
News Archive
"Oldest Building " on MCV Campus Still Standing
With the aggressive development currently underway on the VCU's Medical Campus, it is nothing short of a miracle (or an oversight) that this early building is still standing - but for how long? While this vestige of Richmond's slave roots is not currently threatened with demolition, VCU continually erodes at the remaining historic remnants on the MCV campus. West Hospital, A.D Williams Clinic, Cabaniss Hall, the White House of the Confederacy, and now this little building - a former school for slaves - are all in the way of the continued massive expansion of the MCV campus. A.C.O.R.N. believes in progress but does not think expansion excludes preserving historic resources. They can co-exist to the benefit of the entire area if open minds and reasonable compromise are explored. A.C.O.R.N. will continue to advocate for preserving the remaining historic buildings on the MCV campus. Below is an excerpt from the web site of Lawrence David Lanberg, a VCU student who started researching the building. His detailed information reveals much about Richmond's history.
"So we likely have an early, one room school house - early 19th century and at least 170 years old - which was once was adjacent to the oldest Baptist church in Richmond, which is the present site Randolph-Minor Annex. This would make it the oldest building that is part of the MCV Campus".
A similar building, built in 1835 exists on the grounds of St. John's Church in Church Hill. That school house was used to educate African-American children and supports the theory that this unobtrusive building was also likely used to educate African-Americans.
Click here to visit his web site.
