Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

Collection open for research.

Use Restrictions

Visual materials may require special handling.

Preferred Citation

Waterford Elementary School, 1959-1960 [Grades 2 and 3] (VC 0026), Thomas Balch Library, Leesburg, VA.

Acquisition Information

Margaret N. Larsen, Waterford, VA

Alternative Form Available

None

Accruals

2005.0182

Processing Information

Processed by Donald Cooper, 22 July 2009

Historical Information

In 1871, the Virginia General Assembly passed a bill establishing public schools; prior to 1871, localities had only private schools. Waterford's first private school, the Friends' Meeting School on Loyalty Road, was established in 1805-1806 with a donation by local merchant John Williams.

In 1877, Edwin Atlee sold one and one half acres at Fairfax and High Streets to school trustees of Jefferson District for $350 for construction of a public school. Waterford Academy, built in 1880, was destroyed in February 1909 by a fire started when a custodian cleaning stoves left a bucket of hot coal ashes on the wooden floor. Classes were held in the Baptist church basement until a new school was completed.

The new school, which opened for the 1910-1911 session, was built at a cost of $6000 with funds secured from private donations, insurance, and state literacy fund. The main building was a two-story, three-bay framed structure; an auditorium was added in 1928. School facilities also included horse stables, the stalls of which were leased by parents whose children rode to school. This school served as a public elementary school for first through seventh grades until 1965, when the current facility on Loyalty Road opened.

In 1966, the Waterford Foundation purchased the old Waterford School property from the Loudoun County School Board. Since then, the facility has served as exhibit space, reception hall for weddings, and a space for New Year's celebrations and craft classes. On 25 January 2007, a fire destroyed the auditorium, but left the original 1910 structure unharmed.

Scope and Content

The Waterford Elementary School, 1959-1960 collection consists of three items. One is a sepia-toned 8.5" x 6.5" photograph of individual second and third graders students in 1959-1960. The other items include a list of students' names on this photograph and an undated graduation program, probably from seventh grade graduation in 1965.

Related Material

Lewis/Edwards Architectural Surveys of Loudoun County 1927-2007 (M022), Folder 401-090

Adjunct Descriptive Data

Bibliography

History of Waterford, Virginia: A National Historic Landmark . 15 July 2009 http://www.waterfordhistory.org/history/waterford-schools.htm.

Lewis/Edwards Architectural Surveys of Loudoun County 1927-2007 (M022), Thomas Balch Library, Leesburg, VA Folder 401-090.

Renn, Jane. "Old Waterford School Burns." Loudoun Times Mirror . 31 January 2007, A5.

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Other Finding Aid

Past Perfect catalogue record

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Technical Requirements

None