New London Academy (Virginia)

In the early stages of the academy, the trustees at the academy hosted local lotteries in order to fund operations due to the lack of state funding. The Literature Lottery was an important source for many schools during this time period.[4] New London Academy held its first in 1797-1798 to collect funds for additional buildings and running the school. The lotteries allowed locals to be involved in helping the school. After 1818, the Academy was funded by the Literacy Fund, which was a State fund.[3]

Throughout the years of operation, New London Academy's focus on education has changed:

• 1795-1870: New London Academy serves as a classical school for boys.
• 1870-1910: New London converts into a public school.
• 1910-1964: New London Academy becomes an agricultural high school.
• 1964–present day: New London Academy serves as an elementary school.

The original campus of 1795 consisted of a roomy academy building, president's house, a large enclosed brick church well, and the kitchen. Later in 1839, the original academy building was replaced by a two-story, brick building with a hipped roof, interior end chimneys, and enlarged windows. The structure was built in Greek Revival style.[4] It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. The historic building originally had a square frame that would later be updated with a brick structure. It also used to have a porch in the front that had white square columns that were original to the structure.[5]

Also on the property is a contributing frame kitchen building. The separate kitchen structure came into existence in 1797 because there was a danger of fire in having a kitchen connected to a bigger building. The original use, of course, was for the purpose of cooking so there is a central chimney that has two openings and hearths on either side of both rooms. Because of the nature of the large fireplaces being useful for cooking, the struggle was to actually heat the building, the fireplaces were much too large to accomplish that need. The kitchen structure has had many different uses. A few uses were as a storage shed and offices for the faculty staff at the academy. In 1890, the structure was used as a music studio.[3]

Thomas Hall was built as a boys dormitory in 1916–17, and was named for Principal O. A. Thomas. While the original plans for the dorm indicated that it would be a separate structure, the loan required that the money for construction had "...to be a renovation of, or an addition to, an existing building, not a new, freestanding structure."[6] The principal at the time, Robert Q. Lowry, was disappointed in this because of his personal vision for the campus of New London Academy. The structure was eventually demolished in 1970 though the building it was attached to still stands.[7]

Evans Hall was built in 1873 as a replacement for the Principal's House, which burned to the ground in 1867. It was named after Miss Martha Evans, the dorm matron and a teacher, who left the school to teach in Concord, Virginia. While the approval for the new building was confirmed in 1869, construction did not occur until 1872, after the short stint New London Academy had in the new public school system.[8] During the time between the destruction of the original Principal's House and the construction of Evans Hall, it is unknown where the principals lived. Upon the construction of Evans Hall, which was built by J. W. Mays for $1,095.[9] Evans Hall, though initially a residence for the principal, served other purposes in the latter years of the Academy. In the 1880s, a primary school was operated by the principal's wife. In the 20th Century, the principal's residence would be moved to Thomas Hall, and Evans Hall would be used first as a boys dormitory and later as storage and utility.[10] In the 1960s, New London Academy was going through renovations and several buildings were demolished. Despite growing preservation efforts during the 1960s, Evans Hall was destroyed in 1964.[10]