From School to School to Sears to School: A History of Galileo Magnet High School and the corner lot at Ridge and Loyal Streets

(Author's Note: I suppose this could be considered my tribute to the 10 year anniversary of my high school: Galileo Magnet High School. As well as a tribute to the teachers, the staff, Mr. Lawrence, and the friends that helped make it three of the best years of my life.)

Geeks, nerds, dorks....whatever you wanted to call us, we embraced it. In fact, which of three we were was once of great debate as we gathered on the pews of the Common Area and cafeteria, and amidst echoes of Bohemian Rhapsody in the hallways. Later, it became a long running inside joke amongst a rag-tag group of misfits who found their place within the walls of a former department store.

Galileo was a unique entity where the stereotypically popular people were outcasts; set aside within their own clique. And the outcasts? Well, they were the cool kids...the ones at the top of the hierarchy of high school socialization. What most of us had common, and what made us unique, was that we were all a bit strange, and we embraced it.

People like this guy.

 

The site on which Galileo now stands is no stranger to education. Some 120 years prior to the school's inaugural year, on that very lot, stood Danville's very first public school. In 1880, on the site of Stratford College's first campus, a four story brick building was erected to educate all of Danville's youngsters. A total of 49 students attended the "Loyal Street School" that first year, from elementary through high school. The high school being confined to the second floor with it's own principal.

The original Loyal Street School.
I wish I had brought my printer/scanner with me.

 
For 87 years, the young people of Danville were limited to private schools and home education. It was a legislative act in 1870 that finally brought free public education to Danville. Yet it was another 10 years before the city could get a grant and community support to build the school.

The first embodiment of Loyal Street School lasted for 31 years. The building, as was written in the Danville Bee, "continued in use for some years despite a number of small fires – (mostly attributed to youthful incendiaries) – and as a measure of precaution, fire escapes were added.” (Any part of that quote sound familiar Galileans? :-p) At the turn of the century, it was the only school for whites in Danville, whereas there were two small schools for African-Americans.

By all written accounts (at least that I could find), Loyal Street School existed as one building for 31 years. It appears, however, that isn't so. On the Sanborn Fire Insurance Company map from May, 1894, there exists two buildings on that lot. One listed as "Old Public School" and the other listed as "New Public School." The latter, it appears, is the one pictured above.

Note the ravine in front of the two houses (where the compass arrow is pointing, actually). It will come up later.

By 1910, Loyal Street's final year, the old building had disappeared. Between make shift fire escapes and changing times, the school board decided it was time for a new building. In 1911, the school was razed to make way for a nice, new building. Only this time, it had a new name: Robert E. Lee Elementary.

Robert E. Lee Elementary spent it's beginning years rather quietly. In 1925, there were complaints about stagnant water in the branch (or ravine) noted above creating an unpleasant odor. Promises were made that by the beginning of the school year the situation would be remedied.

The following year, the area surrounding the school began to change. Seeing a need for an expanded business district, enterprising landowners J. T. Watson, Grasty Crews, and Henry Lee began preparations for a Loyal Street business district. If you've been following my blog, two of those names should be vaguely familiar. J. T. Watson, for whom Watson Street is named, owned and operated a brick yard near the train tracks just off of Watson Street. Grasty Crews is one of the former owners of Ms. Gott's house.

Within two years, Robert E. Lee started to face the burdens an expanding business district, as well as an expanding town. In 1928, parents, especially those in the West End, began to worry about sending their kids to school so near the business due to increased traffic. Enrollment dropped, as parents removed their children in favor of John L. Berekely School on Grove Street. 

Parents and townspeople began suggesting that the school should be closed, and the building re-purposed for the growing business district. As the city was in dire need of an armory and public auditorium, it was suggested that the location would be ideal. It was also suggested that the building/land be used as a city market, due to easy accessibility and it would be "emminently suitable for Danville housewives." 

Parents were also requesting that a new school be built on the west end. Three lots were considered for this: one on Howeland Circle, one off of Randolph Street, and a third situated between Averett College and Forest Hills. I think we can safely guess which location was ultimately chosen.

For the next two years, school superintendent G. L. H. Johnson would push for the sale of the school to the city. Ultimately, despite the city sending a letter to inquire the price of the property, the would ultimately chose the corner of Spring Street as the location for the city armory and auditorium.

Despite dwindling enrollment, Robert E. Lee Elementary chugged along. It should be noted, however, that for some reason no newspaper articles appeared for the 1940s. I'll go back later and investigate this.

By 1955, Robert E. Lee had run its course. Grove Park School was in the process of being built, and the decision was made to finally close down the old school on the corner of Loyal and Ridge. In January of 1956, Robert E. Lee students were sent to the new Grove Park School to finish out the school year before being dispersed to other schools. By February, the demolition of the old school had already begun.

The land at the corner of Loyal and Ridge was sold to the Danville Housing Authority for the sum of $175,000 following a 1954 proposal. Danville Housing Authority had plans to clear out slums that existed around the school, and plans were set in motion for the building of a new street, improving existing ones, and updating electricity and utility lines to the area.

A few months later, Danville Housing Authority sold the land to Sears, Roebuck, and Co. for $275,000 for them to build a (then) modern store on the lot. The store was to be a big change from the former location on Main Street: it boasted a ~200 car parking lot, a full automotive service center, and garden center. Construction was completed in October, 1956, and the building we now know opened it's doors on October 17th. 

Not too dissimilar from what they built, no?
Photo taken from the Danville Bee.

 Sears was one of the first department stores to break away from Main Street. Conversely, it was the last to leave. Sears remained in business on that lot until 1993, when it moved to the then 9 year old Piedmont Mall. Many in my generation remember visiting the store with their parents.

The old building sat mostly empty for nine years. People who worked for the city used the parking lot, at one point RCATT occupied part of the building. 

Then, in 2002 with the aid of an 8 million dollar grant, the old building was brought back to life as a high school. Walls were built, Gateway computers and laptops were bought, and students recruited. Students who would take history, math, and astronomy in the old Auto Center; history and drama in the now walled former outdoor garden center.

 

Was it small? Certainly. Was it awkward? No more than we were. Was I the only one that once or twice zoned out in class and thought about the washer and dryer set that was probably once on display where I was sitting? Probably not. Was Mr. Lawrence the best principal of all time? No doubt. Was the boys bathroom locked too many times? Definitely.

The point is, the memories were just as important as the education we received. That, and everything came full-circle. What started out as Danville's ONLY school, expanded and grew, became a department store for a few decades, and then returned to its original purpose: developing the minds of Danville's youth.

Loyal Street School may be forgotten, and Robert E. Lee may be but a memory to some, but both were just as pivotal to Danville's educational advancement as Galileo.