Scrabble School Preservation Foundation

The mission of the Scrabble School Preservation Foundation is to preserve Scrabble School and to share its legacy through educational programs.

More About Us

Scrabble School is one of the first Rosenwald Schools to be restored and is listed on both the Virginia and the national registers of historic landmarks. It is a featured site on Virginia's African-American Historic Sites Network and the Journey Through Hallowed Ground. Built in 1921, Scrabble is among the more than 5,000 Rosenwald Schools built across the South in the early 20th Century thanks to the leadership and beneficence of Sears Roebuck cofounder Julius Rosenwald and the African-American educator and leader Booker T. Washington. Scrabble also has the distinction of being the first of four Rosenwalds built in Rappahannock; the other 3 locations are Amissville, Flint Hill, and Washington. So few "Rosenwald Schools" remain that in 2003 the National Trust for Historic Preservation listed them among America's "most endangered places."
The Scrabble School Preservation Foundation (SSPF) also is noted for its historical interpretation, with an exhibit, oral history collection, and school curriculum. SSPF hosts a variety of special programs--including movies, presentations, traveling exhibits, and school tours. SSPF premiered our documentary entitled: "Places of Hope and Aspiration: Rosenwald Schools in Rappahannock County" - on - September 9, 2023 - The BARN, Mt. Prospect, Washington, VA - Available for viewing NOW on YouTube! Scrabble School Virginia Documentary                                                                                 Click here: https://youtu.be/Mqf__VBUbr4

Testimonials

"We are fortunate…to be able to add the African-American Heritage Center to our historic and cultural attractions." ~ Roger A. Welch, Chairman, Board of Supervisors, Rappahannock County

"[The Scrabble School Preservation Foundation is] at the forefront of the movement throughout the South to use the preservation of "Rosenwald" schoolhouses as an opportunity to interpret their significant history. …A committee has recently formed with the goal of creating a National Historic Site honoring Rosenwald and the schools…Scrabble School was honored to be one of the five schools nominated by the state of Virginia for consideration…" ~ (2/9/18) Stephanie Deutsch, SSPF Board Member and author, You Need a Schoolhouse, Booker T. Washington, Julius Rosenwald and the Building of Schools for the Segregated South.

"Scrabble School is always the role model I share with people who ask about Rosenwald Schools." ~ Dr. Lynn Rainville, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Director, Tusculum Institute; Sweet Briar College