Laurel Grove School
0
Votes

Laurel Grove School

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Laurel Grove School

photo

Photo by Renée Ruggles

The Laurel Grove School was built on land deeded from William and Georgiana Jasper. William Jasper was a former slave who contributed the land so that his children and others like them could receive an education. The families worked together to build the school for their children to attend.

photo

Photo by Renée Ruggles

The Laurel Grove School is located at 6840 Beulah St. in Alexandria. Visits to the school for can be arranged by teachers and parents who homeschool. It will be open to the public on March 16.

photo

Photo by Renée Ruggles

A photo of Nancy Burgess, one of the Laurel Grove teachers, is displayed in the school. The parents hired the teachers for the one-room schoolhouse. They also provided books and school supplies.

photo

Photo by Renée Ruggles

Phyllis Walker Ford is the president of the Laurel Grove School Association. The land for the school came from her family. Several family members attended the Laurel Grove School, including three of her aunts and an uncle who all went on to become teachers.

photo

Photograph by Renée Ruggles

The parents of the Laurel Grove students had to provide desks for their children. The desks were a mismatched assortment of furniture. Six former students visited the restored school house and provided information about the original desks used.

Gum Springs Museum

photo

Renee Ruggles

Ronald Chase serves as president of the Gum Springs Historical Society. He grew up in the neighborhood and attended the Gum Spring School.

photo

Renee Ruggles

An image of West Ford, the freedman who was founder of the Gum Springs Community. He is buried at Mount Vernon, near George Washington.

photo

Renee Ruggles

The museum houses a group of chairs original to Bethlehem Baptist Church. The chairs were salvaged and put on display.

photo

Renee Ruggles

The Drew Smith Elementary School, built in 1955. The school was segregated and was established to serve the Gum Springs community.

Mount Vernon Estate

Gunston Hall

photo

Renee Ruggles

Gunston Hall, the estate of George Mason who authored the Virginia Declaration of Rights. The home was once surrounded by a 5,500 tobacco and wheat plantation. Most of the people living on the property were enslaved.

More like this story