Konnarock Training School
Also known as: Konnarock Lutheran Girls School; DHR site no. 86-0027
Why it's listed
Set beneath White Top Mountain and Mount Rogers, this former mission school near Konnarock, Virginia, was founded in 1924 by the Woman's Missionary Society of the United Lutheran Church in America. It served as a boarding school and public day school, focusing on girls from mountain families. The main building, completed in December 1925, combined classrooms and dormitory rooms with an attached chapel. Its walls are covered in chestnut bark shingles, an unusual choice that helps the Rustic-style building blend with its surroundings. A Craftsman-style Health Center was added in 1936, built with local labor and materials. Ruins of a garage, grape arbor and dairy farm complex recall the school's agricultural teaching and self-sufficiency. Students studied home economics, agriculture and religion. The property was recognized for its educational role and its distinctive architecture, with a period of significance from 1925 to 1947. The site retains a high level of historic integrity despite alterations such as modern paneling, replaced windows and the loss of the chapel's stained glass.
Significance in brief: The school is significant under Criterion A for education, as an early-twentieth-century mission school reflecting the Lutheran Church's educational work in the southern Appalachians. Under Criterion C it is a notable example of Rustic-style design, notable for its use of chestnut bark siding to harmonize with the mountain setting. Its significance is at the state level.
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 97000483, listed June 5, 1997. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Jct. of VA 603 and VA 600, Konnarock |
|---|---|
| County | Smyth County |
| Listed | June 5, 1997 |
| Reference number | 97000483 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1925-1947 |
| Architect / builder | MESSERSCHMIDT, HENRY CARL; SMITH, R. E. L. |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century American Movements: Other: Rustic; Bungalow/Craftsman |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Education, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Current functions listed as vacant/not in use; the Health Center presently serves as a single-family dwelling. The garage roof collapsed around 1990 and the chapel has moisture damage to its floor structure. |
| Acreage | 18 |
| Coordinates | 36.67064, -81.61087 (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.
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 97000483.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q15239444
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.