Schoolfield Museum & Cultural Center / Schoolfield Preservation Foundation

08/13/2019

The Schoolfield Museum & Cultural Center opened on June 23rd, 2011. Maintaining a 102 year old building was proving to be more challenging with each year that we were caregivers to the property at 917 West Main Street. In the passing years our visitor numbers have dropped and funding has diminished. The result is that we made the decision to close the museum and sell the property. The good news is that we have sold the property to someone who is dedicated to historic preservation and will work hard to bring, not only 917 West Main Street, but other properties in the Schoolfield area, back to life! While the physical museum location at 917 is closing, we are excited about taking our proceeds from the sale of the property and committing them toward a scholarship fund. Our historic Dan River Mills and Schoolfield Village collections from the museum will be surfacing in various locations throughout the Danville area in the future. You will hear from us as this happens! Our sincere gratitude to those who have supported us with your donations and visits to the museum in the past 8 years! We are also most appreciative to the SPF Board of Directors and all who have given their time to this project. ❤

06/15/2018

The Schoolfield Preservation Foundation Board of Directors is offering their thoughts, prayers and respect to the Hyler Family in the passing of the SPF Founder, James 'Bo' Hyler. He was instrumental in the early days of the Foundation and continued to support our mission in the years following his departure from the BOD.

"Rest in Peace Bo"

12/10/2017

The Schoolfield Museum & Cultural Center will be open from 1:00 p.m till 5:00 p.m. today as part of the Danville Historical Society Holiday Tour. Tour tickets for the 15 homes and businesses on this year's tour are available at the museum for $25 if you do not already have a ticket. Refreshments will be served at the museum during the tour. Merry Christmas!

11/27/2017

"Back in Time"

Many years ago, this time of year, families in Schoolfield Village lovingly crafted ornaments for their Christmas trees. We decided to go back in time and decorate the main tree in the 'Schoolfield Room' of the museum entirely with handmade ornaments. All of these vintage ornaments were made by ladies who either worked in Dan River Mills and/or lived in Schoolfield.

Please come visit the Schoolfield Museum & Cultural] Center from 2 til 5 on any Saturday or from 1til 5 during the DHS Holiday Tour on Sunday, December 10th.

Peace and joy to you and yours during this Christmas season.

11/26/2016

This is so sad to think about what it used to be and what it is now.

07/16/2016

Pokémon fever hits the Schoolfield Museum & Cultural Center!!! We have had all these cars driving into the side parking lot, pausing near the Log Cabin Playhouse, then pulling out the far end of the parking lot. We just found out that the Playhouse is a Pokémon hot spot! Spin it and prizes fall out!

05/30/2016

We're excited at the Schoolfield Museum & Cultural Center that we're getting new neighbors! A new restaurant will be opening in July at the former Schoolfield Lunch location on West Main Street.

04/24/2016

View from the ground of the underside of one of the 100+ year old water towers on the museum property at 917 West Main Street. Photograph courtesy of David Tatum. Thanks David!

04/08/2016

"Indoor Yard Sale" at the museum starting at 8 am tomorrow morning, Saturday, April 9th! Lots of unique items for sale at great prices! All proceeds go toward the museum.

02/24/2016

The Schoolfield Museum & Cultural Center is please to announce the 2016 Schoolfield Preservation Foundation Board of Directors:

*Dana Edmonds Reagan - Chair
*Gary Knick - Vice Chair
*Mary C. Moore - Treasurer
*Barry G. Reagan - Recording Secretary
*Carol Handy - Corresponding Secretary
Bud Dickens - Director
Kathy Forslund - Director
Dr. Greg Howard - Director
Irene M. Howard - Director (Yard Sale Coordinator)
James Hundley -Director (Golf Tournament Chairman)
Nancy McFalls - Director (Yard Sale Coordinator)
Martha Ramey - Director

Lynn Rumley - Director Emeritus
Matt Bell - Member-at-Large

*Officers

08/25/2015

"Remembering a Schoolfield Icon"

It is with great sadness that we bid farewell to our friend and fellow board member, Doris M. "Dot" Handy. She was proud of being a founding member of the Schoolfield Preservation Foundation & was extremely instrumental in fundraising and recruiting volunteers. Dot was an enthusiastic supporter of the Schoolfield Museum & Cultural Center!

Dot was truly a "Schoolfield Icon." She was born in Schoolfield, graduated from Schoolfield High School (Class of 1945), and worked for Dan River & Riverdan until her retirement in 1994 after 46 years of service. Dot continued to live in Schoolfield for the remainder of her life.

Dot will be missed by the Schoolfield Preservation Foundation Board, as well as all who knew her.

"Rest in Peace Dot"
November 17, 1928 - August 23, 2015)

04/22/2015

The Schoolfield Preservation Foundation is proud to announce our newest additions to the Board of Directors. Both have ties to Schoolfield and Dan River Mills, so they are perfect candidates to help in keeping the memories of the Mill and the Schoolfield Village alive through the Schoolfield Museum & Cultural Center. Please join us in welcoming Gary Knick and Kathy Forslund to the SPF BOD!

12/25/2014

The Schoolfield Preservation Foundation Board of Directors and the Schoolfield Museum & Cultural Center Volunteers wish each of you a warm and happy holiday with your family and friends. Here's to 2015 bringing us all a year filled with prosperity, good healthy and happiness!

We genuinely appreciate your support during the past year with your donations of documents, artifacts, photos, and monetary contributions. We have enjoyed your visits to the museum and are thrilled that many of you bring others with you when you return for another visit.

If you have never been to the museum, please make plans to visit us any Saturday between 2 & 5p.m. if you haven't been in a while, grab a friend or two and come back to see us! If you know of anyone looking for an event venue, let them know that the Schoolfield Museum & Cultural Center offers that service.

Hope to see you soon!

09/19/2014

Just a little over an hour till the start of the Schoolfield Preservation Foundation's Annual Golf Tournament and it's starting to rain! Bring on the sunshine!!!

09/04/2014

"Inside Yard Sale" at the Museum on Saturday, September 6th from 7a.m. til 2p.m. Every penny goes toward keeping the museum doors open and the textile village story alive in Danville. There's lot of great deals in the yard sale and, if you haven't ever visited the museum, it will be open from 2-5. No charge to tour the museum, but donations are always appreciated.

12/24/2013

Merry Christmas from the Schoolfield Preservation Foundation and the Schoolfield Museum & Cultural Center. Here's hoping that you will have the opportunity to spend time with those who mean the very most to you this holiday season.

12/21/2013

If you need a break from Christmas shopping, drop by the Schoolfield Museum & Cultural Center today between 2 and 5.

07/04/2013

Stop by the Schoolfield Museum & Cultural Center today between 10 & 2 to help us celebrate the 2nd Anniversary of the museum and the 75th Anniversary of the Kindergarten Log Cabin Playhouse. This is the first time the playhouse has been open to the public in many years.

07/03/2013

Have you been driving by 917 West Main Street over the years and wondered what the little log cabin playhouse on the property looks like on the inside? Now is your chance! Stop by, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., on Thursday, July 4th and step back in time as you walk into this awesome 75 year old playhouse!

04/25/2013

The museum is open today from 10 till 2 as part of the Virginia Garden Week tour. It's a beautiful day to visit the museum!

04/25/2013

Sam Coleman Construction is hard at work today on restoration of the 1938 playhouse on the grounds at 917 West Main Street!

04/20/2013

It's a great day to visit the museum. We're open from 2-5 today and every Saturday!

12/25/2012

Merry Christmas from the Schoolfield Preservation Foundation Board of Directors. We appreciate your support of the Schoolfield Museum & Cultural Center in 2012.

10/06/2012

It's "Textile Heritage Week" at the museum and will be open from 2-5p.m. today (Saturday, October 6th) and tomorrow (Sunday, October 7th). We have about 30 quilts on display......from recently made quilts, by members of the White Oak Mountain Quilter's Guild, to "vintage" quilts, dating back as far as 1920, made by early Dan River employees. There will also be a quilting demonstration today by local quilting artist, Gary Crutchfield. Please stop by to see these beautiful works of art as we conclude "Textile Heritage Week" 2012.

09/30/2012

Looking for something to do this Sunday afternoon........come visit our quilt display from 2-5. We have really beautiful vintage quilts on display.

09/29/2012

Quilting demonstration today from 2-5 in celebration of Textile Heritage Week. Come see all the beautiful quilts.....there are several that were made. 70-80 years ago!

09/29/2012

Today begins "Textile Heritage Week" at the Schoolfield Museum & Cultural Center! The theme this year is "Dan River Family Reunion." For the next 2 weekends we will be displaying quilts made from Dan River fabric and/or by DRM employees. We are also inviting all former Dan River employees to stop by the museum to have your picture made and tell us a little about your job(s) and years of service for our Dan River Mills Family database. If you have photos of deceased former DRM employees, we can make copies and return the photos to you on the spot. The museum will be open from 2-5pm on Sat., Sept. 29th, Sun, Sept. 30th, Sat., Oct. 6th & Sun., Oct. 7th in celebration of "Textile Heritage Week" and the people who were part of that heritage in Danville. We look forward to seeing you!

09/18/2012

What an awesome view of the Dan River Mills smoke stacks at the Schoolfield Plant. This photo was taken in August of 2011 by Robert Thomas, from South Carolina, while visiting the Schoolfield Museum and Cultural Center.

09/18/2012

Cotton Mill Blues

Cotton Mill Blues

Danville is considered to be a city built by both the tobacco and textile industries. As the textile companies drew families from neighboring mountains and s...

09/18/2012

The Schoolfield Museum & Cultural Center was pleased to be the location for the Danville Concert Association Volunteer Reception on September 16th.

The Schoolfield Museum & Cultural Center was pleased to be the location for the Danville Concert Association Volunteer Reception on September 16th.

09/10/2012

All profits from this tournament went to the operation of the Schoolfield Museum & Cultural Center

All profits from this tournament went to the operation of the Schoolfield Museum & Cultural Center

08/16/2012

Calling All Golfers! September 7th is the 2nd Annual Schoolfield Preservation Foundation Golf Tournament to benefit the Schoolfield Museum & Cultural Center. This year's tournament will be held at Tuscarora Country Club....registration starts at 11a.m., lunch at noon and tee-off is at 1p.m. Great gifts for all Golfers and the chance to win a car from Danville Honda for a "hole in one" on hole 3! Call 434-713-9788, 540-589-5395 or send a facebook message for more details.

07/28/2012

Are you or someone you know planning an event and looking for a unique location? Consider having your next meeting, party, reception, family reunion, etc. at the Schoolfield Museum & Cultural Center. It's a beautiful 1917 historic building, with 2+ acres of lawn, and our rates are very competitive with other facilities in the area. Call 540-589-5395 for more information.

07/19/2012

Here's a little known fact about the Schoolfield Division, specifically #5 Mill. There was an elevator in this mill called "Big Dan." It had a capacity of 25,000 lbs. and was 25 feet by 25 feet. "Big Dan" was the largest hydraulic elevator east of the Mississippi. Find out facts like this and more while visiting the Schoolfield Museum on Saturday's 2-5 or by appointment!!!

07/18/2012

Dan River Mills Quilt Has a New Owner

Dan River Mills Quilt Has a New Owner

On Wednesday out at the Schoolfield Museum in Danville they raffled off a hand stitched full size Dan River quilt just in time for the fourth of July.