Have you ever gone south of Leesburg down Route 15 and passed a little red schoolhouse? Ever thought, 'That looks cool,' but didn't actually stop by? Well, this summer I decided to finally visit it. It is the Mountain Gap School, a one-room schoolhouse! It is part of the village of Mountain Gap. What, it's not by anything? That's because it is the last building left of the village of Mountain Gap.
Needs a little paint love. Other than that, it's in amazing condition. |
Looking through the windows |
Poor students in the first row, no desk to write on! |
The backside of the school! |
Fun Fact: The remains of a wasp nest are in the front light. |
Mountain Gap was originally painted white, as were most Loudoun County one room schoolhouses. One of its owners after the school closed painted it red, to give it the romanticized American "little red schoolhouse" look.
Mountain Gap is now owned by Oatlands Plantation (right across the road!), where they open the school for school groups for educational tours.
So if you are driving down Route 15 some time in the near future, satiate your curiosity and stop by Mountain Gap.
Sources:
Places Discovered: Mountain Gap School (In the video, you can still see the wasp's nest 0:22)
Oatlands Plantation
"A Brief History of Loudoun County Schools" Loudoun Public Information Office
PS: Mountain Gap had a cameo on the first page in Lord Loudoun 1978
Can you post GPS coordinates, or give more specific directions, like mile marker on Rt 17?
ReplyDeleteAt the intersection of James Monroe Highway (Route 15) and Moss Valley Lane
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