Starkey School Explained

Starkey School
Designated Other1:Virginia Landmarks Register
Designated Other1 Date:June 13, 2001[1]
Designated Other1 Number:080-0348
Designated Other1 Num Position:bottom
Location:6426 Merriman Rd., SW, Starkey, Virginia
Coordinates:37.2019°N -79.9992°W
Built:c. 1894, c., 1928
Added:January 24, 2002
Refnum:01001513

Starkey School is a historic school building located at Starkey, Roanoke County, Virginia. It was built about 1915, and is thought to incorporate an earlier one-room school built about 1894. It is a brick school building flanked by wings built in 1928, and measuring 24 feet by 33 feet. In December 1962, the school was closed and was purchased by Roanoke County. The school is now privately owned.[2]

The school was named for the district, and is built upon land once owned by Tazewell M. Starkey. Tazewell Starkey was an influential landowner and farmer in the district, and two roads that intersect at Starkey school are named for his family: Starkey Street and Merriman Road. He was a member of the Roanoke County School Board, Cave Springs District, from 1873–1895.[3]

In 1941–1942, Starkey school taught children of the area from first through 6th grade. Crispean Divers was the school principal and taught the combined fifth and sixth grades. Martha T. Flora taught the combined 3rd and fourth grades, while Lillian S. Woodford taught the first and second grades.[4]

It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Virginia Landmarks Register. Virginia Department of Historic Resources. 5 June 2013.
  2. Web site: National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Starkey School . Anne Stuart Beckett. April 2001. Virginia Department of Historic Resources. and Accompanying photo
  3. Writers' Program (U.S.). Roanoke, Story of County and City. [Roanoke]: [Stone Print. and manufacturing Co.], 1942. Compiled by workers of the Writers' program of the Work projects administration in the state of Virginia ... Sponsored by the School board of Roanoke city and the School board of Roanoke county. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/2881615 Page 309.
  4. Writers' Program (U.S.). Roanoke, Story of County and City. [Roanoke]: [Stone Print. and manufacturing Co.], 1942. Compiled by workers of the Writers' program of the Work projects administration in the state of Virginia ... Sponsored by the School board of Roanoke city and the School board of Roanoke county. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/2881615 Page 293.