Harding Avenue Elementary

Brief History

The construction of the current Harding Avenue Elementary School was completed in 1972.
This school occupies two tracts of land: 1) the site of the Blacksburg Graded /Old Harding Ave School and 2) one acre of land purchased from the estate of Jacob L. Robinson for $10,000 in August 1971.
The Blacksburg Graded School was built in 1953. The brick, 2 room (with divider) building was used to educate 1-7th grade African American children until 1963, when these students attended Margaret Beeks Elementary on Airport Road. After 1967, the school, referred to as Old Harding Avenue School, was used as an overflow option for Gilbert Linkous Elementary’s third grade.
The new Harding Avenue Elementary School opened in 1972.

Links and Social Network
School Facebook Page

Blacksburg, Memories of the Way We Were
Search on the school’s name for information

Documents

Montgomery School Board Records

16 Feb. 1971 – “Mr. [Robert L.] Mills also reported that he hopes to have preliminary drawings for the new elementary school in Blacksburg at the March 2 meeting of the School Board. The Board members told him they were quite concerned that the plans for the new Christiansburg High School be expedited, and he promised to see what he could find out about this.”

9 March 1971 – “Mr. Mills presented drawings of the site plan and preliminary floor plan for the new elementary school in Blacksburg at the Harding Avenue site. The school is planned for 525 pupils, and will house kindergarten through fifth grade. The Board set March 30 as a meeting date for study of preliminary drawings for both Blacksburg and Christiansburg elementary schools.”

30 March 1971 – “Mr. Mills, Architect, presented the plans for Blacksburg Elementary School to the Board. These preliminary plans are about ready to go to the State Department of Education.”

29 April 1971 – “The Board authorized Superintendent Hale to contract for the purchase from the four owners of the approximately one acre of land previously owned by Jacob Robinson adjacent to the Blacksburg Graded School at a price of $10,000.00.”

18 May 1971 – “Mr. Hale presented the architect’s report on progress with plans for the two new elementary school. and kindergarten additions. Dr. Stewart moved that the superintendent be requested to discuss the problem of funds with the architects and negotiate with them on a “ggod-faith” basis so that they can proceed without interruption on development of working drawings for these projects. Mr. Sutphin seconded the motion it was passed unanimously.”

8 June 1971 – “Mr. Hale reported that Mr. Sowder, School Board Attorney, is proceeding with the purchase of the J. L. Robinson property at the new Blacksburg Elementary School site.”

22 June 1971 – “Dr. Stewart moved that the Superintendent be directed to work with the architects to provide revised estimates on grading, working drawings and others costs of the two new elementary schools, so that the School Board can arrange a meeting with the Board of Supervisors to discuss financing of these projects. Motion was seconded by Mr. Sutphin and passed.”

3 Aug 1971 – “The Superintendent reported .that the purchase of the Robinson,
land in Blacksburg adjacent to the Harding Avenue site has been completed and deed recorded.”

Social Media

On Facebook’s Blacksburg, Memories of the Way We Were group, several discussions focused on determining the location of the Blacksburg Graded School and the new Harding Elementary School. Thanks to Ed Marsh, the maps of the area through time can be used to determine where the schools were situated.