Old school remembered fondly

The Amherst Training School, also known as ATS, originally called the Amherst Negro School, was the first high school for black students in Amherst County. It was built on School Street with black community contributions in 1921 or 1922. ATS educated students in first through 11th grades, from the northern half of Amherst County. Madison Heights had no high school until the 1940s. Small elementary schools fed into ATS for high school.

Amherst County Public Schools added 12th grade in the latter 1950s and kindergarten in the 1970s. ATS’s high school was replaced by Central High School, another all-black school, in September 1956. ATS continued to serve as a black elementary school until integration in 1969.

It closed in 1964 when Central Elementary School was opened.

A 1941 Engineering Report (submitted to the School Board of Amherst County by W.D. Campbell and Sons Inc. Lynchburg, www.amherst.

k12.va.us/docs/ACPS_Enginering-Report-October-1941.pdf) features a school photo and description: “Amherst Negro School, Amherst, Virginia. A one story and part basement, frame building with composition shingle roof and wood floors. Wood sealed finish, electric lighting, stove heat. Approximately 19 years old, in fair condition. Occupancy –– six classrooms and kitchen.”

Two additional buildings, still standing, were added. A wooden structure contained a kitchen and lunchroom. The other (now WAMV Radio) was a two-classroom brick building. Former student Willie Diggs recalls that while supposedly in bed with whooping cough, he snuck out to help dig the foundation for the brick building. Classroom coal stoves heated the main building — Diggs says his

grandchildren just don’t believe it when he tells them they are lucky not to have to shovel coal in school.

Students brought their lunches in the early days, but after the lunchroom was built in the 1930s, it was possible to buy lunch. Students who helped cook received free lunch and also learned cooking skills. Patricia Rose remembers, “watching the hands” of the cook, Miss Jackson.

The principal from 1948-1956 was Nathaniel Anderson, who also conducted music programs. He held a Ph.D. and honorary degrees. “I remember him securing scholarships from colleges all over the Eastern United States for graduating seniors,” Jean Sandidge said. “We also had an outstanding chorus under his direction. He would bring out a well-known Lynchburg pianist, Miss Anita Jones, to accompany rehearsals and performances. I remember we did performances at Mount Olive Church, where there was a lot of seating and the acoustics were good.”

Edith Jones, now 101 and living in Monroe, taught first and second grade in the 1950s. Asked what she liked best about the school, Mrs. Jones said, “The children, I just loved the children.” The feeling was mutual for many students. Gilbert Rose described Mrs. Jones as “A real nice lady ––the same as a mother to me.” Robert Sandidge said his favorite teacher was “Cousin Edith.”

Annie Chambers (now Mrs. Pinn) taught government and senior English at ATS from 1948-50, after graduating from Virginia State University, leaving for graduate school. Mrs. Pinn chuckled when she recalled that because University of Virginia would not allow black students in their graduate guidance programs, the Commonwealth of Vir-ginia’s “Separate but Equal” requirements paid for her to obtain two master’s degrees from prestigious Columbia University Teachers College in New York.

ATS has a number of distinguished alumni. Willard Douglas Jr., class of 1949, was the first fulltime African American judge in the commonwealth. The Rev. Margaret Nelson, now pastor of St. Peter’s Baptist Church in Clifford, served as a nurse and nursing instructor in the Air Force and was the first female black colonel in that area of service.

Former ATS students made important contributions to Amherst life: Ordained minister Jasper “Eddie” Fletcher was a Town of Amherst magistrate. Gilbert and Patricia Rose own What a Blessing Bakery. Mabel Hughes drives a county school bus; Robert Sandidge is a landscaper; Helen Will-iams has spent 50 years as administrative assistant at the Cooperative Extension Service; Jean Higginboth-am Sandidge is a retired Amherst County social work supervisor; Gloria Higginbotham works at Sweet Briar College; and Barbara Parks is a retired teacher.

Douglas remembers young black teachers, recent college graduates, as “excellent examples who showed students they could become teachers and professionals in other fields.” Nelson remembers that Miss Cash, Miss Chambers and Miss Coles were particularly dedicated, talented young teachers. Nelson credited Miss Coles, a college math major herself, with having prepared her particularly well for college mathematics by giving her extra work in geometry.

Nelson, who majored in biology at VSU, believes that ATS was poor in science: “We had very little equipment. I wondered why they let me major in biology in college when I did not have the background,” she said. When asked how she made up ground in college and nursing school science courses, Nelson replied: “Hard work.”

Fletcher greatly res-pected biology and chemistry teacher Maurice Moore.

“He was a local Amherst County man. He returned to Amherst as a teacher, having been in the service and then through college, when he was in his late 20s. The way he carried himself and conducted his life was a wonderful example for young men. He taught us that if we prepared ourselves, there was no limit to where we could go in life. He was thorough in his teaching –– we didn’t have the science equipment in the Amherst Training School, but he was able to give us a thorough feel for the subject.”

Patrica Rose recalled with joy learning about poetry at ATS. “It’s something I still love today –– poetry,” she said.

Looking back on ATS brings a variety of reactions. Students who went on to advanced education often were questioned whether they had attended academic or trade school, because of the name “Amherst Training School.” Robert Sandidge said, “It sounded like we could only be trained, not educated.” Eddie Fletcher recalled, “Because my brother went to a school called a training school, Virginia State was reluctant to let him go into the fields he wanted to study. He had to pass an entrance exam to qualify.”

Nelson remembers a feeling of community at ATS. “We were a close-knit class. Many of us remain close.”

Mabel Hughes was a student in the segregated ATS and then a parent during early integration. Her own children had to pass tests in Richmond to prove they were “qualified” to attend previously all-white schools in Amherst County. Mrs. Hughes says, “I tell students on my bus that they should take advantage of all the possibilities they have in school. They have so many more opportunities than we did.”