This month in the year 1757, Loudoun County was created. In honor of this, I'm going to go to my Alma mater, Loudoun County High School, and show you something I think is really cool.
Most of the people who enter County's auditorium do not know the significance of the murals that decorate its walls. I didn't, until I came across a student handbook from around the mid-70's.
In 1957, Loudoun County's 200th anniversary, the Loudoun Sketch Club painted and donated eight large murals to the school that depicted Loudoun County's history. Six were hung in the Auditorium, two in the original school Cafeteria (which is now the Music Hall. The two murals are now hanging in the back of the Auditorium).
In 1957, Loudoun County's 200th anniversary, the Loudoun Sketch Club painted and donated eight large murals to the school that depicted Loudoun County's history. Six were hung in the Auditorium, two in the original school Cafeteria (which is now the Music Hall. The two murals are now hanging in the back of the Auditorium).
Enjoy:
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| July 1757 painting |
July 1757 painting
Artist: Ella Markley O'Donovan (1957)
The county of Loudoun was created this month out of Fairfax county. Loudoun was named after John Campbell, Fourth Earl of Loudoun and current royal governor of the colony of Virginia. This painting shows the county justices, as they take office, swearing allegiance to King George II of England.
The seal at the bottom, which is the Colonial Seal of Virginia, says: "Ilium provinciae nostre virginia in America Sig" "en dat virginia quartam".
Artist: Ella Markley O'Donovan (1957)
The county of Loudoun was created this month out of Fairfax county. Loudoun was named after John Campbell, Fourth Earl of Loudoun and current royal governor of the colony of Virginia. This painting shows the county justices, as they take office, swearing allegiance to King George II of England.
The seal at the bottom, which is the Colonial Seal of Virginia, says: "Ilium provinciae nostre virginia in America Sig" "en dat virginia quartam".
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| September 1774 painting |
September 1774 painting
Artist: Evelyn Marshall (1957)
The county's justice's are dispatching a rider to Williamsburg bearing letters urging the House of Burgesses to send relief to Boston.
Artist: Evelyn Marshall (1957)
The county's justice's are dispatching a rider to Williamsburg bearing letters urging the House of Burgesses to send relief to Boston.
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| August 1814 painting |
Artist: Esther Thomas (1957)
Washington DC is burned to the ground by the British. Important documents from DC (including the Declaration of Independence) and state documents are temporarily hidden in the Leesburg area. Leesburg becomes the temporary Capitol of the United States!
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| August 1825 painting |
August 1825 painting
Artists: Mary Lane Isa??, Katherine Slappey (1957)
Marquis de Lafayette visits Leesburg August 9, 1825 on his grand tour of the United States. This painting's feast takes place at President James Monroe's home at Oak Hill.
Also written nearby the artists' names are "EMJDD" or "E.M.DD".
The bottom center emblem seem to be Lafayette's coat of arms, though the colors are a little off.
Oak Hill is one of Loudoun's hidden secrets. Unlike Monticello and Mount Vernon, Oak Hill is in private residence, so it does not receive that much attention. It is sometimes open for garden tours.
Artists: Mary Lane Isa??, Katherine Slappey (1957)
Marquis de Lafayette visits Leesburg August 9, 1825 on his grand tour of the United States. This painting's feast takes place at President James Monroe's home at Oak Hill.
Also written nearby the artists' names are "EMJDD" or "E.M.DD".
The bottom center emblem seem to be Lafayette's coat of arms, though the colors are a little off.
Oak Hill is one of Loudoun's hidden secrets. Unlike Monticello and Mount Vernon, Oak Hill is in private residence, so it does not receive that much attention. It is sometimes open for garden tours.
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| October 1861 painting |
October 1861 painting
Artist: Edward Chamberlin (1957)
The Battle of Ball's Bluff
Center Bottom Confederate States of America Seal: "1861-1865" "Confederate States of America" "22 February 1862" "Deo Vindice"
Latin Translations:
Deo = God, supreme being
Vindice = Protector, defender
Artist: Edward Chamberlin (1957)
The Battle of Ball's Bluff
Center Bottom Confederate States of America Seal: "1861-1865" "Confederate States of America" "22 February 1862" "Deo Vindice"
Latin Translations:
Deo = God, supreme being
Vindice = Protector, defender
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| 1941 - 1957 painting |
1941 - 1957 painting
Artist: Frances D. Allen (1957)
Featuring Dodona Manor, where George C. Marshall and his family lived from 1941 until his death in 1959. Figures of George Washington and Robert E. Lee symbolize the traditions of the past.
Artist: Frances D. Allen (1957)
Featuring Dodona Manor, where George C. Marshall and his family lived from 1941 until his death in 1959. Figures of George Washington and Robert E. Lee symbolize the traditions of the past.
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| 1960 - 1970 painting |
1960 - 1970 painting
Artist: Dale Hager (approx. 1970, year currently unknown)
Celebrating the newest additions and fun pastimes in Loudoun County during the 60's. For example:
Dulles International Airport (opened 1962)
White's Ferry (one of the few operating ferries in the state (still is))
Westpark Golf Course (Opened 1968)
Housing Growth (Sterling Park opened in 1962)
FAA Control Center (commissioned 1963)
Artist: Dale Hager (approx. 1970, year currently unknown)
Celebrating the newest additions and fun pastimes in Loudoun County during the 60's. For example:
Dulles International Airport (opened 1962)
White's Ferry (one of the few operating ferries in the state (still is))
Westpark Golf Course (Opened 1968)
Housing Growth (Sterling Park opened in 1962)
FAA Control Center (commissioned 1963)
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| 2004 painting |
2004 painting
Artist: Rebecca Funkhouser (2004)
Opened in 1954, Loudoun County High School is the county's oldest operating high school in Loudoun County. This was painted for the school's 50 Anniversary Celebration by a student.
Opened in 1954, Loudoun County High School is the county's oldest operating high school in Loudoun County. This was painted for the school's 50 Anniversary Celebration by a student.
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| Back-wall Painting |
Back-wall Painting 1 (on left side)
Artist: Vinton Liddell Pickens (1957)
These murals were originally located in the Old Cafeteria (now Band/Chorus wing)
The two back-wall murals show the progress of Loudoun County through the years. This one pictures the first white men to enter the County, settlers building homes, construction of Oak Hill, Quakers leaving their meeting, and the ever present sport of fox hunting.
Artist: Vinton Liddell Pickens (1957)
These murals were originally located in the Old Cafeteria (now Band/Chorus wing)
The two back-wall murals show the progress of Loudoun County through the years. This one pictures the first white men to enter the County, settlers building homes, construction of Oak Hill, Quakers leaving their meeting, and the ever present sport of fox hunting.
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| Back-wall Painting |
Back-wall Painting 2 (On right side)
Artist: Vinton Liddell Pickens (1957)
This mural shows the many uses of the Court House lawn, the summer session being termed "Watermelon Court." The central scene is the dedication of the Thomas Balch Library. At the far right, changes in education are represented by the yellow school buses and young 4-H members showing their calves.
Artist: Vinton Liddell Pickens (1957)
This mural shows the many uses of the Court House lawn, the summer session being termed "Watermelon Court." The central scene is the dedication of the Thomas Balch Library. At the far right, changes in education are represented by the yellow school buses and young 4-H members showing their calves.
A bio about Vinton Pickens from this article:
"Vinton Liddell Pickens (1900-1994): Pickens was a nationally-known artist, whose work hung in art museums across the county. Having moved to Loudoun in 1934, Pickens was a political activist who is credited with keeping billboards from taking over the county's roads. During her life she admitted to cutting down many road signs in her efforts to keep Loudoun beautiful. In 1944, she founded the Loudoun County Sketch Club, which still exists today. Her home at Janelia Farm, where she lived until her death, is now the location of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute."
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I am a big fan of these murals. Unfortunately, quite a few murals have been damaged over the years, mostly by water.
I am a big fan of these murals. Unfortunately, quite a few murals have been damaged over the years, mostly by water.
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| Water damage and peeling gold stickers! Mmm Mmm Good! |
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| No water damage here, but can you see that dent? |
Have a great weekend!
Sources:
Oak Hill Wikipedia Page
LCHS Student Handbook (c. 1974)
Here are links to the other LCHS Murals articles:
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