Matthew Fontaine Maury School
Also known as: Maury Elementary School; Frederick High School; James Monroe High School
Why it's listed
Maury School is a three-story, L-shaped brick school building at 900 Barton Street in Fredericksburg, paired with a 1935 concrete stadium whose bleachers face the main entry. It opened in 1920 as Fredericksburg High School, the city's first purpose-built public high school. An auditorium and gymnasium were added in 1930, and an elementary school wing followed in 1937, joined by an arcaded hyphen. Architect Philip Nathaniel Stern designed it in the Colonial Revival style, with Flemish-bond brick, Doric porticos, and a wood cornice. Inside, glazed brick wainscoting, maple floors, and the original gymnasium and auditorium survive. The site lies beside Liberty Town, an African-American neighborhood, and was once a potter's field and cemetery. The stadium hosted football games, concerts, and the annual Dog Mart. The school closed in 1980 and has since stood largely vacant, while the stadium remains in use. The property was recognized for its role in local education and community life and for its architecture.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues for Criterion A because it was Fredericksburg's first purpose-built public high school, served as a public school for sixty years, and its stadium was a major community gathering place, including for the annual Dog Mart. Under Criterion C it is a classic early-twentieth-century public school designed by architect Philip Nathaniel Stern, with a high degree of exterior and interior integrity.
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 07000133, listed March 7, 2007. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 900 Barton School, Fredericksburg (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Fredericksburg |
| Listed | March 7, 2007 |
| Reference number | 07000133 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1919-1920 to 1952 |
| Architect / builder | Philip Nathaniel Stern (1878-1960) |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revival: Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Education, Entertainment/Recreation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as vacant and not in use, with the building empty for about 25 years; the stadium remains in use. Plans call for rehabilitating the school as apartments using historic tax credits. |
| Acreage | 7.4 |
| Coordinates | 38.30260, -77.46464 (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 07000133.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6790515
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.