Annaberg School
Annaberg School
"Annaberg School Area
(0.2 mile, 15 minutes)
This trail leads to ruins of one of the Caribbean's oldest public school
houses. The site was stabilized and an exhibit placed here by the St.
John Historical Society in 1987. From the school, you'll have fine views
of Mary Point, Leinster Bay, and Tortola. Caution: Pay attention to
road traffic when entering and exiting the trail."
(From Virgin Islands National Park website)
The Annaberg or Mary Point School
"The Annaberg School was completed about 1844 under the direction of the governor general of the Danish West Indies Peter von Scholten. In the early 1800’s governor Von Scholten signed a proclamation which declared that on the Danish islands of St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. John education would be compulsory for all the children both slave and free and that schools would be built on all three islands to insure that this would be done. Such a school was built on St. John and this is the site of the Mary’s Point School, also known as the Annaberg School. This location was chosen because at that time it was one of the most populous locations on St. John. The building was designed by the architect Albert Lovemand and its architectural character is still evident. Much of the structure was later destroyed by a hurricane. (date uncertain) The St. John Historical Society under the guidance of the National Park Service, on whose land the school is situated, has spent more than 1700 hours of volunteer work stabilizing these ruins. When he St. John Historical Society undertook the project the ruins were totally lost in the brush. It is the hope of the Society that this site will be visited by many people who will in turn perhaps have a keener awareness of the rich cultural heritage of the Virgin Islander, and will marvel at the knowledge that education was compulsory for all children on these islands long before it was established in many parts of the continental United States.”
From posted information about the school at the site