Douglas School
Also known as: Douglas Community Learning Center; 138-5002
Why it's listed
Douglas School is a brick Colonial Revival school on North Kent Street in Winchester, Virginia. Completed in 1927 to a design by state architect R. V. Long, it follows a central auditorium plan developed by the Virginia Department of Education. A four-column portico, nine-over-nine wood windows and a transomed double doorway mark the exterior. Funding came partly from the bequest of Judge John Handley, with a state literary fund loan. For nearly four decades it was the city's only school for Black students, closing in 1966 when Winchester integrated its schools. It grew from grades one through nine to a full twelve-year program, and drew students from Frederick, Warren and Shenandoah counties under tuition agreements. Additions were made in 1940, 1951 and 1962. The school also hosted recreation programs and children of seasonal orchard workers. Today the building serves as a community learning center, houses a police sub-station and hosts neighborhood groups.
Significance in brief: It served as the only Black school in Winchester from 1927 until integration in 1966, and also educated Black students from surrounding counties. It is also an excellent example of Colonial Revival architecture using a central auditorium plan developed by the Virginia Department of Education. It was built partly with funds from the John Handley bequest.
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 00000558, listed May 26, 2000. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 598 N. Kent St., Winchester (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Winchester |
| Listed | May 26, 2000 |
| Reference number | 00000558 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1927-1949 |
| Architect / builder | R. V. Long, architect; Gardner & Newcome of Stephens City, VA, contractors |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Education, Black, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Now used as the Douglas Community Learning Center, with a police sub-station and neighborhood groups meeting in the building. |
| Acreage | 9.5 |
| Coordinates | 39.19408, -78.15630 (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 00000558.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16962514
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.