Fort Belvoir Elementary School

Fort Belvoir Elementary School

1940 - 1950s

In 1940 the Army acquired the historic African American Community of Woodlawn. This land was located close to present day Ft Belvoir Elementary School. Woodlawn was a thriving African American Community of single-family homes, a church, school, and an Odd Fellows Hall. After acquiring Woodlawn and the surrounding area, the Army built Youngs Village to house the African American soldiers and their families. At first, the students, attended the Gum Springs School. Sometime before 1946 a school was organized on site for the African American children to attend. President Truman in July 1948 signed an executive order to desegregate the military. Ft Belvoir schools were still segregated at the end of 1951 and local reporters pointed out the disparity between schools. In the school for African American students, Miss Laura Mc Phail was teaching first through third grades in one classroom, and Miss Marie Britt taught fourth through seventh in the other classroom. Trumans order was fully executed by 1956 and families in Youngs Village were relocated. The school and homes were demolished in the late 1950s.

What’s in a name – Ft Belvoir Elementary School: https://youtu.be/W2M_JiLs2Gs

Ft Belvoir Housing History: https://www.fortbelvoirhousinghistory.com

Youngs Village was named after African American Officer Col. Charles Young: https://www.nps.gov/chyo/learn/historyculture/colonel-charles-young.htm

“JC at Ft. Belvoir Harms School-Age Children Greatest: Separate Schools, Residential Areas Violate The President’s Directive Ordering Integration” The Baltimore Afro-American December 29, 1951

5970 Meeres Road, Ft Belvoir, VA

Mount Vernon

Courtesy of FCPS