First Union School
Also known as: 037-5016
Why it's listed
Built in 1926 on Old Mill Road near Crozier in Goochland County, this one-story frame building was a two-teacher school for African American children, constructed to a standard plan from the Rosenwald Fund. The total cost was $3,536, paid by the county school board, the local Black community and the Rosenwald Fund. Local carpenter Gaius Gathright won the construction bid. The building keeps its weatherboard siding, standing-seam metal roof, concrete foundation, large nine-over-nine windows, beaded-board paneling and heart-of-pine floors. The eastern classroom was remodeled in the 1980s, and the building is now a home. The school took its name from nearby First Union Baptist Church, whose members helped build it and many of whose children attended. About 50 students were enrolled at a time. It operated until December 1958, when students transferred to a new school. The property is recognized for its role in Black education and as a surviving Rosenwald design.
Significance in brief: The school is argued to be locally significant under Criterion A for Ethnic Heritage (Black) and Education, because it reflects the educational aspirations of Goochland's African American community, which helped fund it alongside the Rosenwald Fund and the county school board. It is significant under Criterion C because it retains its materials, exterior footprint and much of its interior layout as a standard Rosenwald two-teacher school. It served as a school until December 1958.
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 09000614, listed August 12, 2009. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1522 Old Mill Rd., Crozier |
|---|---|
| County | Goochland County |
| Listed | August 12, 2009 |
| Reference number | 09000614 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1926-1958 |
| Architect / builder | Gaius C. Gathright (contractor) |
| Architectural style | No Style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Black, Education |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Now used as a single dwelling, with a shed used for storage; described as in excellent condition. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 37.65356, -77.79083 (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 09000614.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5453939
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.