Upon its opening in 1929, during the era of racial segregation in Virginia’s public schools, Roanoke’s Lucy Addison High School represented a significant investment by city leaders in the education of local African American students. Designed by local architect Edward Frye, the city’s first purpose-built African American high school was touted as setting the standard among Virginia cities for its provision of high school training for Black youth, and it remains one of the best examples of high-style Georgian Revival architecture in the Roanoke Valley. The school was named in honor of pioneering Black educator Lucy Addison, who was principal of the nearby Harrison School when it was constructed in 1917. Under her leadership, the Harrison School became Roanoke’s first Black high school and the largest school for Black students in Virginia under female leadership. It was renamed Booker T. Washington Junior High when a new Addison High School was built on 5th Street in 1952. Following the integration of Roanoke city schools in 1971, Booker T. Washington Junior High was shuttered as a school and became administrative offices.