Lucasville School (1885-1926)

To arrange a tour, please call 703-365-7895.

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Lucasville School is a reconstructed one-room school dedicated to interpreting post-Civil War African-American education in Prince William County Virginia. Lucasville School is Prince William County's only extant one-room school built for African-American children. It is preserved so visitors may discover the people who once learned and taught in this small but significant building. It reminds us of earlier County citizens' efforts to challenge racism and create an effective and lasting public education system. 

 

African Americans emerged from slavery with a strong desire for literacy. Freedmen admired those who had learned to read and write during slavery and viewed literate African Americans as social and moral leaders. Education could help them achieve political and economic independence and determine their own future.  

 

 

 

In 1870 Virginia's Legislature established a statewide system of free public schools for all citizens. The Manassas District School Board authorized an elementary school for the Lucasville neighborhood in November 1883. In November 1884 the School Board hired H.W. Lloyd to build the school a job Lloyd finished by March 1885. Lucasville School closed in 1926. The building was moved in the1930s and remained intact until it was dismantled in 2005. By then the structure had deteriorated. However the reconstructed school contains a few of the original boards.

 

Students and Teachers

Lucasville School’s students ranged from grades one through six. Each student's lessons were suited to his or her grade level. Children studied mathematics geography penmanship reading and history. Most children who attended County 'Colored' schools studied Black History in February during Abraham Lincoln's birthday week.

 

At least seventeen men and women taught at Lucasville School. Some were certified teachers while others were hired on the condition that they complete further training. Some Lucasville School teachers may have trained at Jennie Dean's Manassas Industrial School for Colored Youth which opened in 1894.               

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Reconstructing Lucasville School

Between December 2005 and February 2008 Lucasville School was dismantled and reconstructed through the efforts of citizens County officials and Pulte Homes Inc.

 

Visiting Lucasville School  

Lucasville School is open by appointment and for special events and programs. The school is open every weekend in February with special programs in recognition of Black History Month.  It is located at: 

10516 Godwin Drive
Manassas Virginia 20110

 

For programming information contact:

Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre
12229 Bristow Road
Bristow Virginia 20136
703-365-7895 or 703-792-4754