It is a well known fact by all Danville natives that Schoolfield existed as its own entity until the 1950s -- 1953, if I'm not mistaken. That was the year that the city of Danville was finally successful in annexing the village from Pittsylvania County. It was not, however, for lack of trying. Danville tried for years to annex the mill village from the county. After all, there's an economic boost in them thar mills! The problem with annexing Schoolfield came from the city's unwillingness to agree to the county's terms.
Before you can fully understand the terms which the city ultimately agreed to, you have to realize the geography of the city at the time.
For many years, the city ended at the south bound train tracks. Across the train tracks was a village known as Almagro. Almagro was a primarily African-American community. In many ways, Almagro Village was much like it is today, sans DCC, although Danville Military Institute (DMI) occupied part of the area where DCC is now.
In 1953, when Danville tried once again to annex Schoolfield, the county agreed on the condition that Almagro Village also be annexed by the city. Given that this was during the pre-Civil Rights era, it was quite a proposal to make.
Thus, in 1953 Danville extended itself past the train tracks and finally gained the much coveted Schoolfield Mill.
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