CHESTERFIELD JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Chesterfield Junior High School was established in 1920, and
thus has the distinction at this time (1923) of being the youngest
high school in Caroline. It also has the distinction of being the
only junior high school in the county.
The citizens of Ruther Glen and McDuff communities had felt
the need of a high school for a long time prior to 1920, so when the
matter of consolidating the Ruther Glen and McDuff schools, and
building a high school, was actively taken up by Mrs. J. R.
Blanton, of McDuff, the patrons responded generously and soon
five thousand dollars were pledged to the enterprise. Other
funds were secured from the State, and from local "benefits"
and an adequate building was erected near old Chesterfield, from
which place the school derived its name.
Mr. A. B. Chandler, Jr., President of the State Normal School
for Women at Fredericksburg, upon being consulted regarding
teachers for the new school, visited the community and placed
before the local School and Civic League a plan for organizing
the school as a junior high school under the supervision of the
Normal School over which he presided.
Then plan was accepted, President Chandler organizing the
school and supplying teachers, in return for which his school was
given the privilege of sending its seniors to Chesterfield for
practice teaching and observation.
The school opened with approximately ninety pupils. Miss
Margaret Jeffries was the first principal. The school has prospered,
and with the establishment of a school truck system and
the closing of one-room schools, as in other sections of the county,
the enrollment will be sufficiently increased as to enable the
school to qualify as an accredited high school.
