LCHS 70th Celebration Events!

Logo courtesy of LCHS

If you have read many/any of the posts here, you can probably guess I have a huge love for my alma mater Loudoun County High School. Well, this year is the 70th anniversary of school's opening, and the school administration is throwing a year-long party!!

Here is the full lineup of events:

February 3rd - 70th Anniversary Winter Fest [open to students only]

Week of April 8th - Decades Spirit Week [open to staff and students only]

April 12th, 6pm - Concert on the Lawn: This is the main kick-off event of the 70th Anniversary Celebration, taking place on the picturesque front lawn. The concert will include the staff band Staff Infection, current student Sela Campbell, and LCHS 2013 alumna Emma Rowley. Food trucks will also be on-site.

April 13th, 12pm - Afternoon Tea and Tours: Like the late Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee for her 70th year on the thrown, this is the 70th year of LCHS's reign as the crown jewel of LCPS. In that grand tradition, the school is hosting a Jubilee tea, accompanied by historical tours open to alumni and former staff. Archival photographs, artifacts, and stories from the past 70 years will be on display.

April 19th - Prom [open to students only]

May 4th - LCHS Marching Band performs in the Apple Blossom Festival's Grand Feature Parade: The annual festival and parade is located in Winchester, Virginia. Come to support the marching band, stay for all the additional festival fun (and apple blossoms)!

June 18th - 70th Graduation Ceremony (the hands-down best high school graduation venue in Loudoun County) (unless it rains *knock on wood*)

Week of September 16th - Homecoming Spirit Week [open to staff and students only]

September 19th, 6:30pm - Homecoming Parade and Food Trucks: Bringing back a classic tradition, the Homecoming Parade! The parade route will be from the Safeway (437 S King Street) to the LCHS bus loop

September 19th-20th - Additional School Tours!

September 20th - Homecoming Football Game and Tailgate [Tailgate only open to students and staff; football game open to all] Go Captains!

September 21st - Homecoming Dance [open to students only]

There are other ways to get involved. The school's literary magazine The Crow's Nest typically only allows submissions from current students/staff. This year for the 70th, they are also accepting submissions from future and former students/staff!! This is a really exciting opportunity to share art from multiple generations! Learn how you can submit HERE. Last day to submit is March 18th!

Then, there is sponsorship! If you are able to give back to your alma mater, consider doing so! This will honor your time and memories, as well as positively impact future generations of learners! Funds raised will go towards school improvement projects, including (but not limited to) new professional hallway murals, and an update to popular seating areas on the school grounds. For more detailed information on sponsorship, please check out LCHS's 70th Anniversary Sponsorship Page.

Can't wait to see you all at County this year, it'll be a blast!

The Cooper Caper of 2010, aka Driving a Car Into LCHS

Cooper Caper of 2010

This year is the 70th anniversary of the opening of my alma mater, Loudoun County High School. While I don't have plans (yet?) to do anything to celebrate that fact, I thought I would share another one of my favorite stories from my time in high school. It's been shared online before, but I've never written about it here: enjoy The Cooper Caper of 2010!!

During the 2005-2006 school year, English teacher Ms. Toni Rader purchased a Mini Cooper car. She thought it looked small enough to drive right into Loudoun County High School. So on a teacher workday (and after receiving principal approval), she tried to do just that. The car ended up being a smidge too big to fit through the doors, but the attempt was documented in the yearbook.

Picture from LCHS's Lord Loudoun 2006 yearbook
Mini Cooper trying to fit through the school's double doors.
Yearbook caption: "Mrs. Rader trys [sic] to fit her new Mini Cooper into the school on a teacher work day. Unfortunately, her plan to drive through the main hallway back-fired when it didn't fit."

Fast forward four years, I was working on a self-appointed Drama Club project that involved going through every LCHS yearbook to date (some things never change) when I came across the picture. I shared this find on my Facebook wall, tagging Ms. Rader for more information. "Well, if it hadn't been so new, and if I'd pulled in the mirrors, I think it would've fit, [but] I chickened out," recalled Ms. Rader. But now four years later, the car wasn't as new and Ms. Rader was up for a second attempt.

On a drizzly August 13, 2010, the Mini Cooper drove up from the bus loop.

After folding in the side-view mirrors, it was go-time! The car inched through the double doors, but the mirrors still prevented it from proceeding fully into the hallway.

After backing away from the doors, the building engineer removed the Mini Cooper's side-view mirrors.

Ms. Rader driving her car towards the school

This time, the car fit through!

Success!!

Once in the building, the car was turned off so its exhaust wouldn't set off any fire alarms. With the car in neutral and Ms. Rader steering, the group that had assembled helped push the car down the hall. When it reached the foyer, it was time for photos!

Principal Oblas' desk name plate on the car
(He was out of the building at the time)

At one point, the car was repositioned to look like it drove out the front doors!

"Wouldn't it be cool if it could go out the front?!"
(But it couldn't, and didn't)

After a successful caper, we turned the Mini Cooper around, carefully avoiding walls and columns, and pushed it back towards the exit.

POV: taking a photo while also pushing the car down the hall

Driving out the doors

Driving away...

And so the Mini Cooper drove away, into the distant parking lot, never to be seen inside the school again. Yet, some say on rainy days, you still can hear the wet rubber tires rolling down the hall.

Moral of the story: Do that ridiculous thing that makes you happy. And if at first you don't succeed, try to do that ridiculous thing again.

THE END!

Recap: The End of the Loudoun County Raiders

I wanted to write a recap on the aftermath of my post about removing Loudoun County High School's Raider mascot. It has been covered elsewhere, but I wanted to write something here to give closure on this platform.

So, Deirdre & I started the petition to change the mascot on June 19, 2020. This led to a lot of social media conversations and the creation of a counter petition. In all, our petition received 2,369 signatures.

The next thing we did was both speak at the June 23 virtual School Board Meeting in favor of changing the mascot. The meeting went into the night, mainly because the agenda also included discussing the COVID reopening options for the school system. The Board decided to have a vote on the mascot at their next meeting on June 29. This was so the public would be able to have input on the matter. The Board also reviewed their “Proposed Action Plans to Combat Systemic Racism." One of the sections had already included considering renaming the Loudoun County Raider mascot.

On June 29, Deirdre & I spoke again to the School Board. At 1:07am (Another long meeting), the School Board unanimously voted to remove the Raiders as Loudoun County's mascot. The Board would let LCHS pick the new mascot. They also said they would request additional funds from the Loudoun Board of Supervisors to cover the costs of changing the mascot (i.e. sports uniforms, murals, signage, the decal on the gym floor, etc). The cost was estimated to be $1 million. 

Two weeks later, Principal Luttrell announced the school's plan to change the mascot:

72 mascot ideas were submitted. Out of those, the Student Council Association (SCA) and LCHS staff whittled that down to three choices: the Bears, the Captains, or the Colts. Students were asked to vote on their favorite over two weeks in August.

On September 2, in a live broadcast from the front steps of the school, the new mascot was unveiled: 

The Captains!

Screenshot from the mascot announce livestream 9/2/2020
(Loved the uplighting that was added!)

"A captain is the leader of a vessel, navigating their team through both peaceful and tumultuous times. A captain possesses qualities like those embodied by LCHS students: leadership, resourcefulness, pride, charisma, strong character, honor, service, dedication and thoughtfulness. A nod to the LCHS NJROTC program and maritime tradition, Captains take full responsibility for their team and their vessel and commit to being the last one off their ship in dangerous or even fatal circumstances. Captains earn respect by making difficult decisions with the best interest of all in mind."

        - Official LCHS Captain mascot description

Six new logos designs premiered. One featured what a Captain looked like, which received some criticism on its design (Link and link). 

The Raider iconography has been phased out in Athletics, but other instances of it in the school building remain for the time being. Deciding what is done with them will be discussed in future conversations with students. 

I would like to commend the current LCHS students, staff, SCA, and Principal Michelle Luttrell. You all were thrust into action, with pressure from many differing sides, over a summer break, in the midst of a pandemic, and still made it all happen. You all have shown great leadership and professionalism throughout this process. The road ahead still has tough patches to go through. There is still more work to be done. But seeing how you have handled it so far, I know you can do it. You make me very proud to be a Captain.

Thank you to the Loudoun County School Board. You made the right decision. Please continue combatting systemic racism in all forms, big and small.

Thank you to everyone who spoke or wrote in favor of changing the mascot to the School Board. Thank you for being civically engaged and righting a wrong that has lasted too long! Keep doing the good work.

Shout out to LCHS's newly-renamed school paper The County Chronicle for excellent coverage on all the many aspects on changing the mascot!! 

Go Captains!

Front sign redone Summer 2021

A Call to Change the LCHS Mascot

Today, Deirdre Dillon (LCHS Class of 2009) and I (LCHS Class of 2010) have begun a petition to change Loudoun County High School’s mascot. Here is what the petition says:

 

We, the undersigned, call for the Loudoun County High School mascot to be changed.

In 1954, the segregated white Loudoun County High School student body chose Mosby’s Raiders as the school’s mascot. Mosby’s Raiders were the 43^rd Battalion of the Virginia Calvary for the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War. Like confederate monuments, choosing the Raiders as the mascot was a result of the Lost Cause Movement to commemorate the South and rewrite history.

A mascot gives a community an identity, and glorifies its chosen entity. As long as Loudoun County High School’s mascot is known as “Mosby’s Raiders” or simply “The Raiders,” no matter what positive traits come with the association, the school will be promoting slavery, the Confederacy, racism, and white supremacy. These are values we believe future generations of students should not uphold.

We, the undersigned alumni, students, teachers, parents, and concerned citizens, believe that Loudoun County High School can do better. We challenge the current student body and staff to reevaluate the mascot, and change it to better reflect the 21^st century in which we live.

 

Let’s talk about being a Raider.

The Raiders mascot is everywhere in the school. From morning announcements “Good morning, Raiders and Raiderettes!” to murals on the walls. From the names of the athletic teams, to the student spirit section Raider Riot. Raider Rally, Raider Rhapsody, the Marching Raiders, it’s even the name of the student newspaper, The Loudoun Raider. This mascot has joined thousands of students together across decades. There is pride in meeting a stranger and finding out they are a fellow Raider.

As the decades have passed since 1954, Loudoun County has changed. Our schools and movie theaters are integrated. Major suburban growth has brought new people from all different backgrounds to Loudoun County. Yet the oldest high school in operation still proudly cheers on the Confederacy, whether intentional or not.

Today, I take a stand and say no longer. I do not want to celebrate and glorify the Raiders anymore. It is time for a new Loudoun County High School mascot. I call for this in honor of Gene Ashton and Blue Oliver.

This resolution was not an easy one for me to reach. I have identified as a Raider for over a decade now. I’m proud to be a student of Loudoun County High School. I’m passionate about it. I wrote a history of the school for its 60^th anniversary. I somehow inspired the restoration of an original school architectural feature that mysteriously disappeared in the 1970’s. One day, I’m even going to nominate the school to be on the National Register of Historic Places. Its history and layers of tradition mean a lot to me. So for a long time, I hemmed and hawed about the elephant in the room – the mascot, the Raiders. I knew as a student what it was and what it stood for.

But as time has passed, it has become clear to me that my personal feelings are not what matters. In my sentimentality, I have been complicit in letting this mascot define me and future students. No matter how simplified the name is, the original intent was Mosby’s Raiders. It will always be a symbol of slavery, of white supremacy, of racism.

I have been proud to be a Raider. I would be even more proud if we could retire the Raider, and become something with less-racist baggage.

So, I personally challenge the student body of Loudoun County High School: You are the current owners of our spirit and school. You have a deciding voice in this matter. What does it mean to be a Raider? And what does it mean to be a student of Loudoun County High School? Are these two things the same? Or is it time to find a new mascot that better reflects us?

I want to leave you with a quote by my fellow LCHS classmate Christian Williams. She wrote this while attending Harvard Law in 2015 in reference to changing their school’s shield. I feel these views can also apply to the Raider:

“Advocating to change a symbol does not indicate a lack of love for our school. Quite the opposite; we push for change precisely because we do care - because we are invested in the school and desire its best.
It may seem trivial to push for a symbol to be changed. It may even seem overwhelming because so many symbols in our nation glorify terrible things. But to me, there is a simple rationale: “when we know better, we do better”. While the ubiquity of slavery symbols in America is deeply disturbing, it should not be surprising. The repercussions of slavery marred every aspect of American life. Moving to change these symbols now does not deny affection to our school. Rather, it affirms it. In doing so, we refuse to pass on symbols of oppression to our children. We take the time we have been given, and we use it to make things right.”

  

 Disclaimers: 
    - I am a white cis-gendered male. I recognize there are far too many white cis-gendered male voices involved in issues of race. My hope and intent is that by adding my voice to the mix, I help to create a positive change in race equality.
    -This act should not be seen as a be-all, end-all for racial justice reform. Rather, it is but one visible spoke in a wheel. The more spokes we take out, the closer we are to a more just and equal community.

Windows Without Business Integrity - Loudoun County High School

Loudoun County Public Schools' Admin Building, Summer 2011

I have not been just ranting to the internet about the windows. Throughout the summer, I was contacting Loudoun County Public Schools about it too, in a mission to learn more and discuss the changes.

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June 27, 2017:

Dear Dr. Michelle Luttrell, Mr. Tom Marshall, Mrs. Jill Turgeon, Mr. Eric DeKenipp, Mrs. Beth Huck, & Dr. Eric Williams,

Hello, my name is A.J. Jelonek. I was a student at Evergreen Elementary School, J. Lupton Simpson Middle School, and Loudoun County High School. I also wrote the history of LCHS. I now come to you as a concerned citizen. I recently visited LCHS to view its current renovation. I was appalled by the new window design on the front of the building.

The windows in question are on the façade’s extensions past the Georgian style central section. These windows were originally a 1950’s modern style. Although modified in the 70’s, they have mostly stayed the same style. The new windows that are being added match the Georgian section’s style. The front section’s windows will now be all architecturally unified, but they never were supposed to be, nor should they.

Please do not misunderstand: I am all for modern, energy-efficient windows. I know the former windows were terrible at keeping heat in and the cold out. But the new window design chosen does not reflect the original builder’s design. The front of Loudoun County High School is its defining feature. With these windows, the iconic façade of this 62-year-old historic building has been compromised and damaged. This is akin to taking an 18th century building from Williamsburg or Yorktown, and dumbing it down to a Busch Gardens level of historic accuracy.

Was a historical consultant hired for this project? That should be a given when any of your older school buildings undergo a renovation.

As a product of LCPS, I have seen the incredible work that can be accomplished by its teachers and staff. I have seen renovations and construction projects that keep historic integrity while modernizing (LCHS’s 2005 renovation, and the exhibit at the new Frederick Douglass ES). I do hold LCPS to a higher level – because I know you can reach it and do your best while doing so.

I would love to now open a dialogue and hear your thoughts regarding the window update.

Thank you for your time,
A.J. Jelonek

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My note was forwarded on to LCPS's Department of Support Services. I was told an official response would take some time, understandably, as summer was their busiest time with school renovations.

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August 21, 2017:

A.J.
Thank you for your interest in our facility renovations. Please know that we are very proud of our facilities and are constantly active in maintaining our buildings and grounds in a manner in which facilitates the best educational opportunities for all our students. We have an extensive inventory of campuses and have a long history of modernizing our facilities with respect to student enrollment, programmatic offerings and code compliance. The most recent window replacement project is part of a history of renovations to the Loudoun County High School Facility. I have provided an attachment illustrating the numerous projects that have occurred in the past several decades that not only improved the service of the building to the citizens of Loudoun County but also significantly changed the building’s function and appearance. This can be said of almost all of our older facilities. Another attachment is a presentation provided to the public in our recent renovation, demolition and expansion of the facility in 2006 which includes numerous significant aesthetic and structural changes to the building. This particular window project is an example of providing improved energy conservation as well taking the opportunity to architecturally unify the whole elevation by providing a consistent style of windows throughout the façade. This is also consistent with the architectural style of this and other school structures as evidenced in the other attached exhibits.

Again, thanks for your interest in our school modernization program.

Kevin L. Lewis, PE

CONFIDENTIALITY WARNING:
This message is intended only for the use of the individual or entity to which it is addressed and may contain information that is privileged, confidential and exempt from disclosure under applicable law. Likewise, this message may contain Federal and state governmental documents which are confidential, and the information contained therein may not be disclosed pursuant to applicable Federal and state law. If it is necessary to save this message it should only be saved to a server hard drive and not to any portable saving devices (i.e. laptop, flash drive, disks, etc.). If the reader of the message is not the intended recipient or the employee or agent responsible for delivering the message to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately by telephone and forward this original message to us at the sending address.

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The attachments were:

• A LCHS facilities history report, circa 2014. This was to emphasize that the building had changed from its original design, and that change happens. The list had varying degrees of detail, and left off numerous renovations.
• A powerpoint presentation "2008 Exhibition of School Planning and Architecture: Loudoun County High School" on the 2005/06 school renovation. The powerpoint was meant to show again how extensive changes had already happened at the school, like the entire original back section being demolished, the Sky Bridge, or converting the original gym into the library. Thoughts:
• This is the same powerpoint I quoted in Windows Without Historic Integrity. It's interesting this document was chosen, because it has many slides on how many original design features were painstakingly restored, replicated, and integrated into the end product. 
• There is a clear difference in importance between the front of the school and the back of the school. The front of the school -- the front door, the "wow" factor. The back of the school -- technical shop classrooms, looks like most of the rest of the school. Change is inevitable, change can be good (i.e. the Sky Bridge), but at the same time we maintain key important aspects that make a place special. The front of the school is definitely something that should be maintained. 
• 4 pictures of schools with Georgian architecture taken from the internet, to show what Georgian buildings look like. Which are not relevant to the discussion, because LCHS was designed with two different architecture styles present. But if you knew that in the first place, you wouldn't have decided to put Georgian windows on the end sections.

To be frank, the response and attachments made it very clear they had only glanced at what I had written and put together their response from that. Points they brought up had already been addressed in my original correspondence, while other things were completely ignored. It was difficult to write a response that was not a cut-and-paste of my original letter. 

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August 28, 2017:

Dear Kevin Lewis (and others),

Thank you for your response, as well as the attachments. I downloaded the 2008 LCHS presentation back when it was still available on your website, it's a great resource.

I apologize if I was not clear in my original message. As I did state, I am all for energy-efficient windows, and I know how badly those classrooms needed them. I would like to know why the new windows' designs do not mimic the design of the front facade windows that originally were placed in those openings in 1954?

In regards to the 2008 presentation you sent, could you please respond to why in this 2017 renovation there was not the same push for preservation and replication of original front-facing design features as was present in the 2005/2006 renovation (as evidenced on pages 4 and 17)?

Can you please respond to my statement from my original message regarding how the front facade was never intended to be architecturally unified? Unlike the pictures of Georgian buildings you sent, LCHS's front facade was originally designed and built to have two distinct architectural styles, Georgian and 1950's Modern. It actually tells a subtle narrative, which I have written about here.

Can you please respond to my question from my original message asking if a historic consultant was hired to be a part of this renovation project?

If you would like to reread my original message I sent, since I make much reference to it, I have copied my letter below for your ease.

Again, I appreciate your time and effort towards responding,

- A.J. Jelonek

PS: I know you have a lot of schools to keep track of, but I noticed your LCHS Facility History List PDF is missing the 2009 roof molding/gutter renovation, the 2010 cupola renovation, the recent addition of the access ramps to the front of the school, the 1976 window/cupola renovation, the c. 1990's adding A/C to the main building, and the addition of the elevator to the 1966 2-story business wing section, among others.

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I received no response from this. A few weeks later, I send a follow-up asking if this would be responded to.

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September 19, 2017:

A.J.
A quick note to follow up. I appreciate your interest in the project and please know that I assigned a number of staff members and asked consultants to contribute to the response to your initial inquiry. As such, we believe we have addressed you questions. Again, thank you for your interest in our capital program.
Kevin

CONFIDENTIALITY WARNING:
This message is intended only for the use of the individual or entity to which it is addressed and may contain information that is privileged, confidential and exempt from disclosure under applicable law. Likewise, this message may contain Federal and state governmental documents which are confidential, and the information contained therein may not be disclosed pursuant to applicable Federal and state law. If it is necessary to save this message it should only be saved to a server hard drive and not to any portable saving devices (i.e. laptop, flash drive, disks, etc.). If the reader of the message is not the intended recipient or the employee or agent responsible for delivering the message to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately by telephone and forward this original message to us at the sending address.

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September 21, 2017:

I am disappointed.

-A.J.

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There was a lot I was disappointed about, but I didn't feel like airing all that out would do anything. They also wanted to be done with the conversation anyway.

Things learned from the whole conversation: They didn't hire a historic consultant. They chose the windows design to architecturally unify the front of the school.

And that is where this section of the saga ends. Is it the final end? No. 

LCHS Windows Saga:
Windows Without Historic Integrity - Loudoun County High School
Windows Without Narrative Integrity - Loudoun County High School
Windows Without Visual Integrity - Loudoun County High School

Enjoy other LCHS Articles from the same author:

Loudoun County High School: A History

Loudoun County High School: Flag Controversy

Loudoun County High School: Decorative Wooden Urns
Obama at LCHS Recap
LCHS: Columns
LCHS: Murals

Windows Without Visual Integrity - Loudoun County High School

Introducing the new 2017 Loudoun County High School look.
(Also note missing snowbirds)

As of August 24, school is back in session at Loudoun County High School. The windows renovation has been completed, and the front of the school is back open. It's time to look at how all the new windows look together on the front facade.

By making the windows similar to the Georgian section's, you can now pick out a lot more detail and differences between the windows.

New 2017 (left), and Old (2005/2006 replication of 1954
windows). 

The width difference was always apparent between the two style windows. With these similar-looking Georgian windows, you can also see there was also a height difference. The Georgian section's windows were longer than the 1950's section. Having two differently-styled windows masked that.

There's also a difference of width of brick space between each window. In the Georgian Section, there's a brick width of almost 3 bricks. In the 1950's section, the brick width is two bricks.

Even the window sill is a different height in each section (Georgian: 2 bricks high; 1950's: 1 1/2 bricks high). If the Georgian and 1950's sections were originally supposed to have the same windows, shouldn't their dimensions have matched?

Dimensions aside, the new window muntins (the white grid) are of a different scale and rate from the Georgian section's. The Georgian section's are rectangular, tall and thin, while the new windows are perfectly square. If one more vertical muntin could have been added to the new windows, it might fit in better with the Georgian section's windows.

Picture from early August 2017

What really bothers me is how blocky these new windows look. You know when you stack four Lego windows together to make a mega-window in the house you're creating? That is exactly what these windows are doing. They are four separate windows grouped together. Because they are each separate window entities, they have their own frames, which creates the thick white "plus" symbol in each mega-window. It gives each window this light cartoony look.

1950's section c. 2010. The vents along the bottom row are
on the windows third from the left and second from the right. 

A feature I did not notice before in the 1950's section windows were the periodic vent openings. These vents were not original to the building (the original vent openings are in-between and below the window lines). These vent openings had been placed on the covered-over window section, so they did not stand out on the former windows.

Is it winking, or does it have a lazy eye?

With the 2017 windows, the vent openings were left exactly where they were. Because the windows are now full height, these vents take out some of the window and stick out like a sore thumb. It ruins the line of the windows. You look down the line, and then you stop and wonder why the pattern was briefly disrupted. Why can't those vent openings be routed somewhere else?? The vent opening was put in those locations because, I theorize, there was no window there at the time and it would have been cheaper than going through brick. Now that the windows are at full height, this feature should have been reconsidered. If you are trying to architecturally unify a facade, you don't want to disrupt your main pattern. These vent openings should have been moved.

The windows can open!

One design feature I do like is that these windows can still be opened. That caught me by surprise. These windows didn't have a screen on them, so they didn't look like they were made to be opened. But this also points out yet another difference in window designs. These windows angle outwards to open, while the Georgian section windows move up and down.


As my first post said, there was so much work and effort that went into replicating the look of the original Georgian windows when they were replaced in 2005/2006. It is baffling to me that the same energy did not go into trying to match these new windows with the older ones. It doesn't look cohesive. It achieves its goal the same way that red delicious and granny smith apples are similar -- they're still apples.

What this all boils down to is that these new windows did not succeed in architecturally unifying the facade. They only seem to help highlight all the differences. There are still two different window designs on the front of this building.


LCHS Windows Saga:
Windows Without Historic Integrity - Loudoun County High School
Windows Without Narrative Integrity - Loudoun County High School
Windows Without Business Integrity - Loudoun County High School

Enjoy other LCHS Articles from the same author:

Loudoun County High School: A History

Loudoun County High School: Flag Controversy

Loudoun County High School: Decorative Wooden Urns
Obama at LCHS Recap
LCHS: Columns
LCHS: Murals

Windows Without Narrative Integrity - Loudoun County High School

Loudoun County High School, c.Fall 2008

Loudoun County High School having two different types of windows on its front facade was a deliberate choice by the architect. I don't know why it was chosen, but I do know that it helps to tell a visual narrative they created for the building.

Architects sometimes like to manufacture storied pasts into their 100% newly-created buildings. These moments are more commonly found in the top-tier theme parks, but it sometimes enters the real world.

Take LCHS. With countless renovations and expansions, it has layer upon layer of actual architectural narratives. But on the original 1954 layer, the front facade had its own story to tell. It's short and sweet: A Georgian-style building was built in the 18th century. Then in the 1950's, extensions were added on the sides. There you go!

Of course, if you really pay attention, you can see this is not its real history. No 18th century building is going to have a concrete foundation. The bricks' color and age in the Georgian section match the 1950's wings. And where are the chimneys, how would this building stay warm in the winter?! The facade is playing a gag on us. It knows what it truly is, we know what it truly is, but it's still going to put on the masquerade.

So how can you find this narrative?
The Roof & Molding
Building Jutting Out
Cornerstone Placement
The Windows


Roof & Molding

Pretty straight-forward. The 18th century section has a gable roof and exterior molding, very common for that time period. The 1950's sections have flat roofs and metal plating capping the exterior. When viewing the school off-center, the ends of the gable roof make that section stand out as a separate entity from the extensions.

Roof dichotomy on LCHS

Building Jutting Out

On a typical square building built in one go, the facade would all be uniform. When an expansion occurs, new and old sections don't always line up perfectly. To support LCHS's story, the Georgian section's facade is pulled a foot forward from the 1950's-style wings. This gives prominence to the Georgian section and a small visual clue that the sides were most likely added later.

Georgian section jutting forward
(Missing waterspout section because molding
was under renovation, c. 2009/2010)

Cornerstone Placement

Where does the cornerstone go? Like its name suggests, on the corner. Where is Loudoun County's cornerstone? On the corner of the Georgian section, where the wall juts out a foot. This places it in the middle of the front facade, far away from the actual corner of the building, but exactly where it should be in the story concocted.

Cornerstone on LCHS - 1953 is the year construction started
on the building.

The Windows

Ah, back to the windows. As I've previously stated, each window matches the section it is in. The Georgian section has colonial-inspired window design. The 1950's windows were all modern windows.

Window differences! From Lord Loudoun 1962 yearbook

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This original story has now been compromised by the new windows just installed. Here's the new narrative created:

A Georgian-style building was built in the 18th century. Then in the 1950's, extensions were added on the sides. The windows on the extensions matched the older style, albeit wider, but the rest of details didn't try to blend in with the original section. 

This story is no longer short nor sweet. It's kind of confusing. You can't carefully look at the facade and discover this story anymore. The story worked because everything you needed to know was right there in front of you and nothing contradicted it. Now, you have to have the information that the windows were changed to understand the facade's original narrative. It's very muddled. The new windows have nullified the narrative.

In order for this narrative to return, the windows have to be replaced with ones matching the 1950's design.


LCHS Windows Saga:
Windows Without Historic Integrity - Loudoun County High School
Windows Without Visual Integrity - Loudoun County High School
Windows Without Business Integrity - Loudoun County High School

Enjoy other LCHS Articles from the same author:

Loudoun County High School: A History

Loudoun County High School: Flag Controversy

Loudoun County High School: Decorative Wooden Urns
Obama at LCHS Recap
LCHS: Columns
LCHS: Murals

Windows Without Historic Integrity - Loudoun County High School

Loudoun County High under renovation
(Yes, as predicted, that bunting is still up in the half-circle window)

I heard that Loudoun County High School was getting a renovation of various areas. I decided to go by and look at how things were going.

NJROTC/Former LCHS Bus Annex Building renovating to
make the space better equipped for classroom usage

I noticed the front section of the building was getting new windows. That's all dandy. Then I saw what the windows were going to look like:

Boarded-over window holes, and new windows.

I left fuming. Those are the windows they chose??

Let me rewind and give a lot of background: In 1954, the school's front facade was built with a Georgian-style center section. Extending from the ends were these 1950's-Modern-style classroom wings (That is how the original building was built, I'm not exactly sure why, but at this point I just chalk it up to a bygone-era's character and charm). The windows in each section reflect their section's chosen style.

Lord Loudoun 1959 yearbook

Lord Loudoun 1962 yearbook
Each window pane unit could open separately!

In 1976, the windows on the end sections were replaced. The top third of the windows were now covered. The bottom 2/3's of the windows matched the previous design. Covering the tops of tall windows in old school buildings was a common practice at the time. You can still see traces of this practice at many other older schools (i.e. Catoctin ES, Hillsboro ES, Leesburg High School before its Senior Center renovation, etc). I didn't like these windows either, but at least 2/3's of them kept the original style.

Lord Loudoun 1977 yearbook

In 2005, Loudoun County HS received its last major renovation. One of the mandates of the renovation was that the front facade would not be aesthetically altered. "Great care was taken to restore the classic central façade, down to the detail of replicating the original wood windows and preserving the original cupola and slate roof," reads a LCHS renovation overview powerpoint from 2008. The 1976 window style remained (to my knowledge, only the central Georgian windows were replaced)

New 2017 window (left) next to 1976 window (right)

Which brings us to today. On one hand, the full window space will be a window once again. That's a positive, I'm really happy about that. We now have the window technology to have huge windows again! On the other hand, the windows are imitating the Georgian section's windows. That is not okay. It takes away the power of the 1950's architecture and revises the building's visual narrative. It's taking away the building's historic integrity. This could have been an opportunity to fix a wrong from the 70's, but instead it's been mishandled and now the building will be stuck with these windows for the next 40+ years.

Is this really a big deal?

I can hear you saying, 'Oh, they're just windows. Wait until the project is over, I bet they will make the front look aesthetically cohesive and pleasing.' 1) Mount Vernon does not have a symmetrical window arrangement. Are you going to move those windows around to make it aesthetically cohesive and pleasing? Of course not, you don't mess with its historic integrity. 2) The new windows don't even match the Georgian windows that well. Didn't I say those windows were just replaced in 2005/2006? And no one can find matching ones? I'm calling a lack of caring.

This is the iconic, picture-perfect entrance. This front entry has been the background for picnics, prom pictures, graduations, and one 2012 presidential campaign rally. The flagship school of Loudoun County Public Schools, the 7th oldest school in the county still operating as a school, a school over 62 years old... and these new windows tell me they didn't hire a historic consultant for this project. That is a huge mishandling of an important LCPS asset, and more evidence of a lack of caring.

While I'm at it... This is not the only thing on the front facade that's gone downhill recently. Many of the snowbirds on one side of the Georgian section's gable roof are missing. It's been like that for over a year now.

Missing snowbirds on one side

No missing snowbirds on the other side

One of the original c.1954 lamp posts had to be replaced. At night, this new lamp is incredibly bright. It bleeds so much more light than any of the other lamp posts, and casts a terrible yellow/orange light on the school. I'm all for greater security and intentional uplighting (This school would look great with a modern lighting package), but this is unintentional and caused from a lack of attention to detail.

New Lamp Post (old base to the left)

Example of one of the original lamp posts
(still operating)

Shot at 1/60 second (so not over-exposed)
1954 light (L), 2016 light (R)

Shot at 1/60 second (so not over-exposed)
1954 light (L), 2016 light (R)

And here's a night shot example from 9/2015, before the
new lamp post (not the best comparison, but it's what I got)

I could rattle off a couple more observations....

Should the foundation be doing that...?
This is at the corner of the building, in plain sight.

... But I'll save those for another time. Maintenance and care is always going to be an issue with older schools. But by doing things right the first time, with care and with respect to the past, it will always cost less than doing it wrong and having to fix it again.

I am frustrated at the lack of historical understanding when LCPS has blueprints and photographs of the school at their disposal. I am angry there aren't protections in place for older school buildings like Loudoun County HS. I am regretful for the missed opportunity, and that my favorite school is stuck with incorrect windows for the next few decades. I am disappointed in LCPS.


"No doubt about it, the Loudoun County High School will be one of the finest school buildings in the state when it is completed next fall. ... the building is designed to give high school students the best physical facilities that can be provided. There is no reason why it shouldn't. After all, Loudoun is one of the wealthiest counties in Virginia. We can afford the best for our school children."
- The Loudoun Times-Mirror, [Editor Commentary Section], January 14, 1954

“Take pride in the way our school looks, especially to others. The cooperation of everyone is needed to keep our school building and grounds in excellent order.”
-LCHS SCA Student Handbook circa. 1974

Sources Used:
Countless Lord Loudoun Yearbooks
"2008 Exhibition of School Planning and Architecture: Loudoun County High School" for CEFPI ESPA, used to be found on the LCPS website

LCHS Windows Saga:
Windows Without Narrative Integrity - Loudoun County High School
Windows Without Visual Integrity - Loudoun County High School
Windows Without Business Integrity - Loudoun County High School

Enjoy other LCHS Articles from the same author:

Loudoun County High School: A History

Loudoun County High School: Flag Controversy

Loudoun County High School: Decorative Wooden Urns
Obama at LCHS Recap
LCHS: Columns
LCHS: Murals

Couldn't fit in what I was writing, but wanted to include as well:
Am I against everything that has changed the front of the school? No way! The 2016 accessibility ramps added to the front portico are lovely. They were wonderfully integrated into the landscape and they make the front of the school accessible for all. These were a necessity and they minimally changed the front appearance. Unlike the new windows.

One accessibility ramp to LCHS's front portico. There is
another one on the other side, mirroring this one.