Leesburg in Loudoun County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Mt. Gap School

Photographed By Craig Swain, July 6, 2019

1. Mt. Gap School Marker

Inscription. Mt. Gap School, built circa 1882, exemplifies the iconic one-room rural schoolhouse. White students came from nearby small communities or farms, ranging in age from 5 to 15. Each morning, they traveled to the schoolhouse by horse, cart, or on foot. Due to limited space, children often shared books and desks. Teachers instructed lessons in math, history, geography, reading, penmanship, and science. Because of segregation, African American students could not attend Mt. Gap School. Instead, they were required to attend another one-room schoolhouse, called Mt. Gap Colored School. This schoolhouse was built in the late 1880s on nearby Mt. Gap Road to serve Gleedsville and the surrounding community.

As one-room schoolhouses became obsolete, Mt. Gap School closed its doors in 1953. The National Trust for Historic Preservation bought the building and surrounding acreage in 1973. Today, Oatlands uses the schoolhouse for educational programs throughout the year.

Erected by Oatlands Historic House & Gardens.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Education. A significant historical year for this entry is 1882.

Location. 39° 3.038′ N, 77° 37.165′ W. Marker is in Leesburg, Virginia, in Loudoun County. Marker is at the intersection of

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Moss Valley Lane and James Monroe Highway (U.S. 15), on the right when traveling east on Moss Valley Lane. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Leesburg VA 20175, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Oatlands (approx. 0.3 miles away); The Enslaved at Oatlands (approx. half a mile away); a different marker also named Oatlands (approx. 0.6 miles away); Welcome to Oatlands! (approx. 0.6 miles away); The Carriage House (approx. 0.6 miles away); Reclaim Your Story (approx. 0.7 miles away); The Garden Dependency (approx. 0.7 miles away); The Bachelor's Cottage (approx. 0.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Leesburg.

More about this marker. Supported by the Marge and Joe Grills Fund for Historic Gardens and Landscapes of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and by Oatlands, Inc.

Photographed By Craig Swain, July 6, 2019

2. Mt. Gap School Marker

Mt. Gap School, 1940 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, July 6, 2019

3. Mt. Gap School, 1940

Caption: The most striking difference between the schoolhouse in 1940 and today, is the exterior color. As with many other schoolhouses in Virginia, Mt. Gap School was painted white from c.1900 to the 1950s. After it was closed as a school, the building was painted red. Image courtesy of Loudoun County Public Schools Student Records Department.

Mt. Gap Colored School, 1940 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, July 6, 2019

4. Mt. Gap Colored School, 1940

Caption: Children in Loudoun's segregated schools had fewer resources than the schools for white children. Despite the unequal treatment, students fondly remembered their dedicated teachers, such as Bushrod W. Murray, Elizabeth Johnson, and Janie Stewart Redwood. The school closed in 1955. Image courtesy of Loudoun Public Schools Student Records Department.

Mt. Gap School, 1953 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, July 6, 2019

5. Mt. Gap School, 1953

Caption: In a 1953 article by the Loudoun Times Mirror, prominent lawyer and Mt. Gap School graduate, Wilbur C. Hall, discussed his purchase of the building at auction and his plans to restore it for historical interpretation. He installed a traditional pot-belly stove, wooden desks, and stocked the shelves with typical school books.

Mt. Gap School, early 1900s image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, July 6, 2019

6. Mt. Gap School, early 1900s

Caption: This photograph is believed to be Miss Warren and her class. All students contributed to the school's operation by completing chores. The boys brought in wood, hauled pails of water, and stoked the iron stove during the winter months. Girls cleaned the lamps and chalk boards.

Mt. Gap School image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, July 6, 2019

7. Mt. Gap School

Mt. Gap School Front image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, July 6, 2019

8. Mt. Gap School Front

Mt. Gap School, Side View image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Craig Swain, July 6, 2019

9. Mt. Gap School, Side View

Credits. This page was last revised on July 18, 2019. It was originally submitted on July 18, 2019, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 347 times since then and 39 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. submitted on July 18, 2019, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.