By Beverly Belcher Woody
Before we begin, it is important to note that the historical records shared in this piece contain language reflective of the time in which they were written. While some of that language sounds offensive today, it is presented faithfully and respectfully in order to preserve the integrity of the historical record and to honor the people whose lives are represented within it.
High on a quiet rise near the North Carolina line, where the road winds between Five Forks and the state boundary, there stands a place that once gathered a community together in faith, in learning, and in hope.
That place is Indian Knob.
Its story is not told in just one voice, but in many—through church announcements, school records, community gatherings, and the names of the people who lived, worked, worshipped, and learned there.
Let us step back in time and listen carefully to those voices, just as they were written.
DEDICATION OF INDIAN KNOB M. E. CHURCH
From the Stuart Enterprise October 1, 1914
VOL. 29. NO. 40
The dedication exercises of Indian Knob Methodist Church will take place on the 2nd Sunday in October. Rev. B. M. Beckham will preach the dedicatory sermon. Services will begin at 12 o’clock. All are cordially invited.
Even in this brief announcement, we can sense the anticipation of a community preparing for something special—a place of worship rising on the mountain.
And just days later, another notice appeared:
CHURCH ANNOUNCEMENT
From the Stuart Enterprise October 8, 1914
On account of the dedicatory exercises at Indian Knob Methodist Church, there will be no services at Creaseys and New Hope Sunday, announces Rev. J. W. Bouldin.
Then came the full account—rich in detail and pride—of that long-awaited day:
INDIAN KNOB CHURCH DEDICATED
From the Stuart Enterprise October 15, 1914
A Beautiful Country Church Located Near North Carolina Line.
The dedication of Indian Knob Methodist Church took place last Sunday at twelve o’clock, the Rev. B. M. Beckham, Principal of Ferrum Institute officiating.
On the road which runs between Five Forks and North Carolina, about three miles from Five Forks and, in a straight line, about one-half mile from North Carolina, a beautiful little knob rises quite abruptly in the road. It is just here that the new church has been built. The hill is known far and wide as “Indian Knob,” which accounts for the name that has been given the church.
The building measures thirty by forty-eight feet and is as pretty a little church as one generally sees in our rural sections. With its high roof, Gothic windows and transom door the outside shows up nicely in its coat of perfectly white paint. The inside is no less attractive. The floor slopes gently toward the pulpit. The overhead ceiling is put on in six sections, with the planks of each section running at right angles with the planks of the other. The side ceiling is also put on in angular waves down to a wainscoting.
The pulpit is composed of a lower platform in front, with altar railing, a main pulpit platform raised about two feet with a Gothic arch overhead, and a recess effect in the background.
Thus from almost any viewpoint there is something attractive—that there is anything fine or costly about the building as it only cost thirteen hundred dollars—it is only the attractive way in which the material is put together.
The day of dedication was a most beautiful one and will ever be most pleasantly remembered by the congregation present.
The magnificent sermon by our beloved Beckham, the fine congregational singing and the friendly greetings and the good behavior of the great crowd with their horses, buggies, surries and automobiles, will ever be agreeable reminders of the dedication of Indian Knob.
From there, the life of the church continued, woven into the rhythm of the community:
CHURCH ANNOUNCEMENT
From the Stuart Enterprise August 26, 1915
Rev. J. W. Wimbish wishes The Enterprise to announce that he will preach at Indian Knob Methodist Church the fifth Sunday, at 11:00 o’clock.
PREACHING APPOINTMENTS
From Stuart Enterprise January 11, 1917
For Patrick Circuit M. E. Church
S. H. Pulliam, Pastor
Creaseys Chapel — First Sunday, 11:00 a.m.
Indian Knob — First Sunday, 3:00 p.m.
Providence — Second Sunday, 11:00 a.m.; Second Sunday, 7:30 p.m.
Nettle Ridge — Second Sunday, 3:00 p.m.
New Hope — Third Sunday, 11:00 a.m.
Concord — Third Sunday, 3:00 p.m.
Salem — Fourth Sunday, 11:00 a.m.
Fifth Sundays will be given to Creaseys Chapel and Indian Knob
Yet time brings change, and even beloved places face uncertainty:
NOTICE! PUBLIC SALE!
From the Stuart Enterprise September 22, 1927
On the 24th day of September 1927, between the hours of ten and eleven o’clock A. M. of the said day, we will proceed to sell by way of public auction to the highest bidder for cash the Indian Knob Church building. This is a valuable building and also one acre of land. This church is located on the main road leading from Stuart, Va. to the N. C. Line and about seven miles south of Stuart.
But the spirit of Indian Knob did not fade.
It lived on—on the very same spot—in a schoolhouse built by the very hands of the community.
NEW COLORED SCHOOL COMPLETED
From the Stuart Enterprise September 15, 1932
Indian Knob School House, Sept. 4, 1932—The people of Weeping Willow and Black Jack communities are very much pleased with their new, two-roomed school building, which is located on “Indian Knob” south of Stuart on Route 23. It will be known as “the Indian Knob School.”
A grand picnic was held in honor of the patrons and friends who helped to build the new school.
Those present from Martinsville to help celebrate this occasion were Mr. and Mrs. George Foster and family, Mr. and Mrs. Willie Foster and family, Mrs. Edwards and family, Mr. and Mrs. Anglin and family, Mr. and Mrs. Perkins and family, Mr. and Mrs. David Wade, Mr. John Foster and family, Mr. and Mrs. Simon Hairston, and Mr. and Mrs. Willie Lightfoot and family.
Those present from Reidsville, N. C., were Mrs. Annie Jefferson, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Farmer and family, Mr. and Mrs. Phosen Gunnings and family, Mr. and Mrs. Charlie McAlphin and family, Mr. and Mrs. N. C. Smith, Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Settles and family, Mr. and Mrs. Dossie Womble and family, Miss Lillie and Virginia Gray, and Miss Gracie Hill.
Those present from Russell Creek were Mr. and Mrs. Murray Turner and family, Mrs. Ollie Moore and family, Mrs. Sallie Lou Anglin and family, Mr. and Mrs. George Gray and family, Mrs. Adline Gray and family, Mr. and Mrs. Willie Penn and family, Mr. and Mrs. Jim Clark and family, Mr. and Mrs. George Hill and family, Mrs. Jennie Hill and family, Mr. Thomas Clark and brothers, Mr. John Hylton and brothers, Mr. and Mrs. Ballard Tatum and family, and Mr. Harvey Joyce.
Those present from Stuart were Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Staples and family.
Those present from Black Jack were Mr. Sandy Hines and family, Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Martin and family, Mrs. Perry Tatum and family, Mr. and Mrs. Sam Hill and family, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Clark, Mr. George Smith and family, Mr. and Mrs. George Smith, Jr., and family, Mr. Ham Joyce and family, Mrs. Annie Turner and family, Mr. Jim Mills and family.
Those present from Lawsonville were Mrs. Chester Hughes, Mr. Thomas Clark, Mr. Henry Joyce, Mr. John Joyce, Mr. Bedford Joyce, Mr. Murray Joyce, Dimmie Joyce.
Everybody had a joyful time. It was the greatest picnic ever held in Patrick County.
The years that followed tell of perseverance, education, and care:
BOULDIN AT SALEM
From the Stuart Enterprise April 23, 1936
On the 26th of April Mr. J. W. Bouldin, who is now pastor of the Methodist Church of Fieldale, will assist the pastor of Patrick Springs Circuit in a revival at Salem. This is the same Bouldin who has preached in Patrick County at various times for the past forty years. Under his ministry as a Presbyterian preacher, the Presbyterian church at Stella was built in later years as a Methodist; under his ministry the church at Indian Knob, Creasey’s Chapel and Stuart were built. It has been announced that for his sermon Sunday night Mr. Bouldin will recite by heart the 107 verses of our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount.
NEGRO TEACHERS ELECTED FOR SESSION 1938–39
From the Stuart Enterprise August 18, 1938
Indian Knob: Mrs. Josephine Talioferro
Miss Elizabeth Hill
Willis Gap: Mrs. Ethel Johnson Brim
New Hope: Miss Della Houchins
Red Hollow: Lewis Webb
Iron Belt: Miss Evelyne Vincent
West Liberty: Miss Bessie Macklin (sp?)
Woolwine: Otis D. Froe (sp?)
LIBRARY UNITS FOR SCHOOLS
From the Stuart Enterprise July 8, 1943
Twenty-six state aid library units were bought by various schools in the county. Three of these were bought by Negro schools. Stuart Negro school bought two units and Indian Knob bought one. These are the first Negro schools to start building school libraries.
INDIAN KNOB SCHOOL IMPROVEMENTS
From the Stuart Enterprise January 29, 1948
Indian Knob (Negro) school received $40.00 from the sponsor, and this was matched locally. The building was wired for electricity, two teacher’s desks were purchased, and shades for the windows also.
INDIAN KNOB SCHOOL TEACHERS FOR 1948-49
From the Stuart Enterprise August 19, 1948
Webb, Lewis
Staples, Bessie M.
MAY DAY TO BE HELD AT INDIAN KNOB SCHOOL
From the Stuart Enterprise May 3, 1951
May Day will be held at Indian Knob School Saturday, May 5th at 12:00 noon. All Negro schools in the county will participate. The main event will be the Crowning of the May Queen. Everyone is invited.
NOTICE
From the Stuart Enterprise October 28, 1954
Holiness of the First Born Church is holding a rally at Indian Knob, Sunday, Oct. 31, 1954, beginning at 11 a.m. with dinner on the ground. Each and every one are welcome. Rev. Minor will have charge of service, sponsored by Deacon George R. Roberson.
And so the story of Indian Knob is not just one moment—but many.
It is a church built with care.
A school raised with hope.
A community that gathered, celebrated, worshipped, and learned together.
There are places in Patrick County where time does not simply pass—it lingers.
It lingers in the echo of a sermon carried across a hillside.
In the laughter of children at a long-ago picnic.
In the turning of pages inside a small schoolhouse filled with hope.
Indian Knob is one of those places.
And as long as we remember—and as long as we are willing to care—its story will not be lost.
Today, the Indian Knob School still stands—quiet, weathered, and waiting.
It is believed to be one of the last remaining school buildings of its kind in Patrick County, a place where generations of children received an education when opportunities were limited, and where a community poured its heart into something lasting.
Now, there is an effort to preserve it. Indian Knob is listed as one of Preservation Virginia’s Top Ten Most Endangered Places in Virginia https://preservationvirginia.org/our-work/preservation/most-endangered-historic-places/
If you feel moved by this story—by the names, the memories, the faith, and the determination—there is a way to help.
If you would like to help save the Indian Knob School, you may contact Woody at rockcastlecreek1@gmail.com or 276-692-9626 or other members of the Patrick County Historical Society & Museum at (276) 694-2840 for more information on how to support preservation efforts. Thank you to my good buddy, Donna Collins for suggesting the story on Indian Knob.
