November 24, 2007
Then and Now
Whether or not you agree with their editorializing, the amateur historian Richmond Then and Now has a treasure trove of “then and now” photos from around Richmond and a collection of newspaper articles on Fulton from 1930-1980 (such as the Jan.1967 ‘Birthplace’ of Richmond Now Appears Sick, Shaggy, particularly evocative from 40 years out).
Hey Fulton Family , My name is Melvin Pearson my family moved to Fulton in 1958 at 702 Lewis ST I was 4yrs old at the time. we stayed there till 1971. I many great memories of Fulton. The playground at Webster-Davis Elementary School. Grubbs Supermarket, A chicken Box from Frozen-Delight and working at the Black_Spot Laundry Mat. Where has everyone gone.. Pls lets hear from others about things you remember about growing up in Fulton.
Melvin
Webster-Davis Elemanrty School
A History
Davis (Webster) School
4410 Northampton Street (Denny Street between Northampton & Union Streets)
This school was named for D. Webster Davis, a highly respected civic leader and teacher; he was said to have been also an orator, pastor, author, businessman, musician, and poet. Upon his death on October 25, 1913, Superintendent Chandler wrote: ‘Webster Davis was one of our most able colored teachers and was greatly loved by ail Be was a teacher, a poet, and a lecturer. He received more honors, probably, than any colored. man in the service of the Richmond schools. He served the system faithfully for 34 years. Most of his years of service were given at the Baker School.”
The earliest (1889) colored school in Fulton was located on Orleans Street; there is later reference to a school (perhaps the same one) at 505 Orleans Street.
In 1906, the two-room Reidsville School (Nicholson Street near Government Road) was acquired by annexation from Henrico County. At this time in Fulton there were five classes of colored pupils supervised by Assistant Superintendent A. H. Hill until 1915. These classes met in several locations, some rented, and were known as Webster Davis School. One of the rented locations was at 830 Graham Street (the comer of Graham & Union Streets).
The annual reports for the sessions 1920-23 list 1222 Nicholson Street (Reidsville School) as the address for Webster Davis School. In July 1920, the School Board Clerk reported on Webster Davis: ”Building being repaired and new addition erected on same lot. A new building for a colored school in this district badly needed.”
By 1921,when the enrollment numbered 350, Superintendent Hill stated that over a hundred pupils had to go to George Mason School in Church Hill because there was no room for them in Fulton. Finally, on December 3, 1923, the classes were brought together in a new brick building on Northampton Street; additional play space was also secured. The principals of Chimborazo and later Robert Fulton had general supervision of this school prior to 1933. An addition (nine classrooms, library, cafeteria, and auditorium) was built in 1950-51.
Webster Davis School was discontinued in 1973, due to the expense of maintaining a full staff with a low enrollment, and the pupils were transferred to Robert Fulton. (There was some community opposition to the closure.) Pupils from the Chandler Special Education Center were housed in the building for the first semester of 1973-74; the office of the director of Area I was also housed at Webster Davis in 1973-74.
Webster Davis was declared surplus to the City, July 18, 1974. The building has since been torn down.
Enrollment: 1923-1924 272
1950-1951 342
1955-1956 759
1972-1973 194 (final)
Architect: 1923 Charles M. Robinson
1950 Addition Dixon & Norman
Cost: 1923 $ 48,027
1950 Addition 434,628
Principals: 1915-1933 Sarah Brown (Head Teacher)
1933-1944 Sarah Brown (Acting Principal)
1944-1969 Elsie Graves Lewis
1969-1971 Russell Marvin Busch
1971-1973 General John Johnson
see: Fulton School (colored)
Reidsville School
(From Richmond Public School’s Website)
My Teacher’s as I remember
1st Grade Mrs Thronton
2nd Grade Mrs McEachin
3rd Grade Mrs Gilpin
4th Grade Mrs Wolwitz
5th Grade Mr Dockery
6th Grade Mr Kemp
Do you remember your teachers . Pls share
Melvin
DUTCH’S
Long before the Seven_Eleven,Wawa’s there was the neighborhood store. Many of these stores were a part of my youth.
Ms Lucy had a store in the 700 block of Nicholson St , Mr Henderson had a fish Market/ store on Williamburg Road, There was Liberty Market on the corner of Lousianna and Williamsburg. Grubbs had the Supermarket .. But the one store that we used the most was DUTCH”S on the corner of Fulton and Denny St.
Aubrey “DUTCH” Schultz was a former number runner who did time for that in the 40’s . His store was run by a friend name Jean (i cant remeber her last name)
They offered all the basic things like Bread Eggs Milk etc. Because most of us were poor they offered these things on Time or Credit. We could come to the store for our parents and get a stick of butter or a bag of coal and put it on the Book. Our mother would make payments or pay it off once a week or per month .
Dutch also had PinBall machines , many hours and nickels were spent trying to get the high score or win free games.
Jean would have local kids help out in the store from time to time. The Brown boys Jerry and Bud lived behind the store and often worked there.. I also worked there helping Dutch bring in the stuff he purchased from Richfood , the city’s main supplier for most stores like this.
I remember as a child I loved these cookies that were chocolate and vanilla with white cream. they cost 3 for 5 cents. As time went on I had many fond memories of hanging out at Dutch’s Store . With the coming of Redevelopment
We moved to SouthSide and Dutch moved to Northside.. Please add your memories of Fulton.
Melvin
The artice here is very interesting, and what it gives me is a lay out of some of the stores in the Fulton Bottom. My great rand father had one on Louisana St. near Gilliam..The one on Nicholson St. was also ran by a McCabe at one time.
Again I thank you for your article
Gene McCabe..
I spent a lot of time digging through this site. It’s quite a resource.
I l lived at 507 Nicholson Street, my neighbors was Mrs. Kizzie, Ms. Mary and Ms. Vera (vera mae, trescilla)and I went to Webster Davis. Mr. Shift store was on the corner and I remember Center Street Baptist Church, Simons Department Store, Knox theater, the hardware store and the Foulton Center,and Bethlehem Center. I had a class in the trailer taught by Mr. Kemp, and my fifth and sixth grade teacher was Mrs. Robinson, principal Mrs. Lewis. I recall the night we had the gas scare, twice.
does the church hill website have testimonials like this?