A Year Ago Today... Douglass Demo

   Today marks the anniversary of the start of demolition on Douglass Support Facility, the former 1958 elementary school. It took less than three weeks demolishing the walls, sorting metals, and ripping out the foundations of the old building. Thanks to LCPS's commitment to the environment, about 90% of the school was able to be recycled.

Now, a year later, the new Frederick Douglass Elementary is on its way toward its August opening date. It's amazing how drastically this property has changed so quickly. It used to be full of thick vegetation, almost hiding the small school building from the road. Now, it's all been cleared away, and the new building is very visible. Most of the the old school's footprint is now under the new school. A year ago, a little creek ran through the property. Now, the creek funnels through an underground tunnel until it reaches the end of the property. Hills have been bulldozed and stone walls have been built for extra space on the property. Space is tight, so every square foot is being used to its highest potential.


Last night, I made a quick stop outside the school to get some photos. It's almost ready!

A peek inside the front doors

Looking from the entrance. Past the parking lot is the sports field

I hope this new school will be worthy of its predecessor's name. It's been an exciting project to watch.

Update: The Documentary

   I haven't really explained here what has been happening with the project itself. To give you quick rundown, what I'm helping to work on is a documentary on the history of Loudoun County Public Schools. It's not going to stretch all the way to 1870, when public school started in Loudoun County. Our timeline starts in 1911, when Middleburg School opened. Since Middleburg was turning 100 last year, we wanted to show how we've gotten from Middleburg and one room schoolhouses to today's two story, many-roomed school buildings. The project was supposed to finish up last year, but due to other projects that popped up, we were not able to finish it. That's why I'm back this summer.

   My main job with the documentary is researching the history. This week, we are going to start interviews. During that time, I will be behind the camera, acting as a know-it-all on dates and events for LCPS if the interviewee needs help remembering something or gets a fact wrong. From there, we will start to be able to edit together a rough cut of the story we are trying to tell.

   So that's what's been happening here lately! Even though the researching phase is pretty much over, posts will still come out. There's still plenty to write about. 

   Have a great day!

Best Graduation Venue in Loudoun County

   Where is the best high school graduation in Loudoun County?

   Loudoun County High School, hands down. I am biased, but there is no competition. Many graduations, too big for their own schools, are held at George Mason University's Patriot Center, off their home turf. Those that can be held at their alma maters are held on the less-than-picturesque football field.

Throwing the caps (2012)

   County has a gorgeous setting. The front of the school is a wonderful backdrop for the ceremony. The official ticketed guest seats are closer, but if you prefer to not roast in the sun, you can bring your own chair and sit (or stand) in the shade of the numerous trees on the lawn.

Before the ceremony (2012)

   It's just a great setting. I wish more schools could do this.

   Now, since I went to County, I understand why newer schools might not have sweeping front lawns. Practicality-wise, it's not the best entrance. Because of the front lawn, the bus loop and parking had to be put over to the sides of the school, so most of the students enter the school from the sides, making the main entrance one of the least entered entrances. Newer schools have the bus drop-off right in front of the entrance. It's more practical to have everyone enter and exit through the front door.

After the ceremony (2010)

So, you win some and you lose some. Other schools have better front door usage... County has a better graduation venue.

Throwing the caps (2008)

Loudoun County High School: Little Lord Loudoun

   In the back of LCHS's copy of the Lord Loudoun 1959 yearbook, I found a little paperback booklet. It was called "Little Lord Loudoun."

Little Lord Loudoun can fit snugly inside of your yearbook

   What is a Little Lord Loudoun? It looked like a supplemental/extra yearbook. Hardcover yearbooks have to be fully published by the end of the year. In doing so, they miss big spring events, such as prom, spring sports, and graduation. Little Lord Loudoun, a thin paperback, seemed like their solution to continue the coverage for that entire year.

Graduation in the Auditorium
Little Lord Loudoun 1959

   I have always disliked seeing the previous year's prom or graduation in the next year's yearbook. The people in the pictures are gone and it becomes wasted yearbook space for the current classes.

   Unfortunately, times have moved on, and the Little Lord Loudoun has become an old-time quirk. If you own or have seen a Little Lord Loudoun, I would love to find more of them.

What the future may hold... Hatrick Elementary?

Hatrick Elementary... a future possibility?

I want to focus today not on the past, but on the future, and on the hard-working superintendent our school system has.


It's a job that you have to be passionate about. Here's a great peek into the day-to-day life of Dr. Hatrick:

Apparently, from the documentary, Hatrick gets less than seven hours of sleep. More power to him for getting to work with a smile on his face.


For a long time, school naming committees had a rule about not naming school buildings after people. Since John W. Tolbert Elementary School opened in 2001, there has been an increase in schools named after people again. 

In 1967, Emerick Elementary School opened up, named in honor of retired Superintendent Oscar L. Emerick. Could we see another superintendent school in the future? I can see it now: Hatrick Elementary ... Home of the Magicians! Bad pun...

I'll cover naming schools in a future post.

(Yes, the whole article was for that pun. The Hatrick Elementary School picture is actually a photoshopped under-construction Frederick Douglass Elementary School)

Recent Reads: "We Have Been Waiting Too Long"

Lord Loudoun 1966, LCHS Yearbook

   I don't know why I didn't stumble on this sooner. At Balch Library is a wonderful dissertation by Matthew Exline, a History Major at Patrick Henry College. It's full title is " "We Have Been Waiting Too Long," Civil Rights and the Death of Segregation in Loudoun County, Virginia."

   To rephrase the title, it covers the Civil Rights Movement in Loudoun County from 1917 to 1969.

   Just a forewarning: There are many sources out there already available, and I have not seen everything out there. That being said, I thought it was one of the best. The dissertation is the most complete journey of the county's civil rights movement I have read. With others, I got brief overall. This explained all the twists and turns, giving details on various struggles.

   The segregation of schools was a main part of Loudoun County's segregation. This dissertation devotes two out of its five chapters on the schools. Other chapters go over desegregating Purcellville Public Library, restaurants in Leesburg and Middleburg, and desegregation of recreational places in Leesburg.

   My favorite line: "Such crises usually involved Douglass High School, which was apparently in perpetual need of urgent attention." Poor Douglass!

   It even ends with a message about how "Even though the events may be partly forgotten, that does not mean that all the wounds are healed or all the wrongs have been righted." I think this is true at times. It did say that LCPS was the only branch that has admitted its previous wrongdoings. And LCPS will continue to again in the LCPS History Video we are working on.


   "We Have Been Waiting Too Long" is currently available at Balch Library. Balch is connected to the main Loudoun County Public Library System, so you can reserve the book from your closest library branch as well.

[Update 2020: Matthew Exline has now released this as a book! It is titled "We Have Been Waiting Too Long: The Struggle Against Racial Segregation in Loudoun County, Virginia." You can find copies to purchase here.]