Mt. Meridian Schoolhouse
Why it's listed
Built soon after the school trustees bought a one-acre tract in October 1885, this small frame schoolhouse at Mt. Meridian follows the familiar one-room plan common in Augusta County in the late nineteenth century. It rests on a stone foundation and has a gable-end entrance, two-bay side walls with 6/6 sash windows, a central stove flue and a metal roof. By 1890 a second room had been added at the east end, but that addition was later removed, returning the building to its original form. Inside, horizontal board sheathing, Greek architrave door and window frames and later board partitions survive, and no plumbing was ever installed; a cistern remains outside. The school closed in 1908 and was sold in 1909, then rented as a dwelling in the 1930s and 1940s. It is valued as the only school in its thematic group that keeps its original one-room form, in its original setting.
Significance in brief: It is described as one of the best preserved of the many one-room frame schoolhouses built across Augusta County in the late 19th century. After its later addition was removed, it became the only nominated schoolhouse in the county thematic group to keep its original one-room rectangular form. Its original location, setting and largely intact interior show the vernacular character of these utilitarian public schools.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 85000390, listed February 27, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | VA 865, Mt. Meridian |
|---|---|
| County | Augusta County |
| Listed | February 27, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85000390 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Vernacular |
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Education, Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as vacant and in fair condition; it was rented as a dwelling in the 1930s and 1940s and has never been modernized. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 38.25967, -78.86063 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 85000390.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14712926
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.