Walker-Grant School
Also known as: Fredericksburg Colored School; 111-145
Why it's listed
Walker-Grant School is a brick school in Fredericksburg's Mayfield neighborhood, an African-American community south of downtown. Opened in 1935 as the Fredericksburg Colored School, it was built from Virginia Department of Education plans and has Art Deco details, with three stories on its south side. Additions in 1938 and 1940 turned the original L-shaped building into a larger structure with high school classrooms, a west wing and a third story. The school was renamed for Joseph Walker and Jason C. Grant, two local men who worked for Black education in the city. It matters as the first and only segregated African-American secondary school in Fredericksburg, following earlier private high school efforts supported by churches and community members. It later served as the city's middle school after integration in 1968 and then stood empty after 1988. Alumni lobbied to reopen it, and it now hosts community and educational programs.
Significance in brief: It is significant under Criterion A in education and ethnic heritage as the first and only segregated African-American school of secondary education in Fredericksburg. It was built from Virginia Department of Education plans and later expanded to house high school classes. The form calls it a well-preserved school of the Great Depression era and a long-standing landmark for the city's African-American community.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 98001311, listed October 30, 1998. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Gunnery Rd., bet. Dunmore and Ferdinand Sts., Fredericksburg (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Fredericksburg |
| Listed | October 30, 1998 |
| Reference number | 98001311 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1935-1948 |
| Architect / builder | Virginia Department of Education; J.H. Bennett Co. Inc.; Lucas Construction Company |
| Architectural style | Art Deco |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Black, Education |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | After the middle school moved out in 1988, the building sat empty until its alumni association gained use of it for community activities and programs. It now serves as a cultural and educational center for young people. |
| Acreage | 3 |
| Coordinates | 38.29335, -77.45757 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 98001311.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7962398
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.