217 West Beverley Street, Staunton, Virginia 24401; 38.14948 N, 79.07533 W

Staunton has had its multiple personalities that few or many may recall. Two such personalities would be the father and son custodians of the Stonewall Jackson Primary School. John Henry Johnson, Sr. is remembered for the way he rang his brass bell for school opening, recess or for other events that required getting attention and his son Samuel Jones Johnson is remembered too.  

John Henry was a janitor for 30 years and never missed a day until he became sick. Before his death, John Henry asked the school if they would give Samuel ‘his’ job as a janitor. Samuel or “Sam” as he was affectionately known by most everyone in Staunton, was an extremely talented musician for 39 years. He was the colored Staunton contact man for the annual appearance of the Silas Green performers during Fair Week, a great joy for Sam, as he often would leave town with the performers. You could always find Samuel in the minstrel tent, not as a spectator, but as a performer. Sam mastered every instrument except for the flute and clarinet.