Stuart Hall School
Stuart Hall School is a Staunton, Virginia, co-educational school for students from pre-kindergarten to Grade 12, and it offers a boarding program from Grades 8 to 12. Stuart Hall was founded by the Episcopal Church as the Virginia Female Institute in 1844. It was renamed in 1907 in honor of its most famous headmistress, Flora Cooke Stuart, the widow of Confederate cavalry leader Maj. Gen. J. E. B. Stuart.
| Stuart Hall School | |
|---|---|
_Staunton_VA.JPG) | |
| Address | |
235 W. Frederick St. , 24401 United States | |
| Information | |
| Type | Independent Secondary, Boarding |
| Established | 1844 |
| Head of school | Michael E. Robinson |
| Grades | PK–12 |
| Average class size | 15 |
| Campus | Urban, 8 Acres |
| Color(s) | Red & White |
| Nickname | Dragons, Stu |
| Accreditation | Virginia Association of Independent Schools |
| Affiliation | National Association of Independent Schools |
| Website | Stuart Hall School |
Old Main | |
   | |
| Location | 235 W. Frederick St., Staunton, Virginia |
| Coordinates | 38°9′1″N 79°4′36″W |
| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1865 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 74002246[1] |
| VLR No. | 132-0011 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | August 13, 1974 |
| Designated VLR | February 21, 1974[2] |
History
Stuart Hall has its origins in Mrs. Sheffey's 1831 school, which held classes in her Staunton home.
During the American Civil War, the school's building was used to house the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind while the latter's building was being used as a hospital. Students then attended classes in a nearby home in Staunton.
Old Main is a three-story, five bay, brick Greek Revival style building completed in 1844. It features an impressive two-story, three bay, Doric order portico with a simple heavy frieze supported by four paneled piers.[3] It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.[1] "Old Main" is a common nickname for Stuart Hall.[4][5] It is located in the Newtown Historic District.
Under the direction of Flora Cooke Stuart from 1880-1899, the school persevered through the economic and social times after the Civil War. Mrs. Stuart revised the curriculum and raised the standards of scholarship.
From 1899 to 1915, the principal was Miss Maria Pendleton Duval,[6] Mrs. Stuart's cousin, and the first faculty advisor to ELA, the student group that founded the library in 1882. Under her leadership, the school was renamed to "Stuart Hall" in 1907 and was expanded to include kindergarten to Grade 12, with boys being admitted to the Lower School. In 1940, the Lower School was discontinued.
In 1992, the Middle School was opened, serving male and female day students in Grades 6 to 8. In 1999, boys were accepted as day students into the Upper School. In 2007, Stuart Hall School merged with Hunter McGuire School in Verona, VA and again became a K-12 independent school. A prekindergarten class was added in 2008.
Current operations
Stuart Hall is a private boarding and day school. It provides co-educational boarding (Grades 8 to 12) and day schooling (prekindergarten to Grade 12). In 2003, Stuart Hall School became a member of the Church Schools of the Diocese of Virginia.
Stuart Hall boarding students come from all over the United States. Stuart Hall (known by the students as STU), also boards international students who come from several countries and continents outside the US, including Canada, Africa, Korea, China and Mexico. Stuart Hall is located near Mary Baldwin College, at 235 W. Frederick Street in Staunton. Because of the proximity, students in 11th and 12th grades have the opportunity to participate in classes at the College.
The students and staff participate in traditions that existed since the school first opened. Most of the traditions, such as Ring Banquet (giving of the class rings), Junior-Senior Banquet, Loving Cup, and even graduation, are planned by students and faculty members. The school also holds the Red and White competition, which is a friendly competition between students and faculty.
Notable alumni
- Marijane Meaker, novelist, best known as an author of YA books under the pseudonym M.E. Kerr
- Anne McCaffrey, science fiction author
- Juliette Gordon Low, founder of the Girl Scouts of the USA
- Nancy Massie Meadows, First lady of West Virginia, 1949-1953
- Nell Zink, novelist, author of "The Wallcreeper", and "Mislaid"
- Abby Kasonik, artist
- Bunny Williams, Interior Designer, Author
Notable employees
Its principal from 1847 to 1848 was Benjamin Blake Minor (1818–1905). Henry Scharf (1822–1887) was Instructor of Elocution in early February 1872. Patrick F. Bassett, who later became the President of the National Association of Independent Schools, was Head of School from 1980-1989.[7]
References
- "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
- "Virginia Landmarks Register". Virginia Department of Historic Resources. Retrieved March 19, 2013.
- Virginia Historic Landmarks Commission Staff (January 1974). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Old Main" (PDF). Virginia Department of Historic Resources. and Accompanying photo
- "History - Stuart Hall School". www.stuarthallschool.org. Retrieved February 17, 2018.
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on September 29, 2013. Retrieved September 29, 2013.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- "Stuart Hall". The Independent. July 6, 1914. Retrieved August 1, 2012.
- Winston, Charles Henry; Powell, D. Lee; Smith, Richard M.; Strother, John Meredith; Harris, H. H.; McGuire, John Patrick; (F.), Harry Fishburne Estill; Massie, Rodes; Buchanan, John Lee; Fox, William Fayette; Farr, Richard Ratcliffe; Pace, George R. (February 17, 1872). "The Educational Journal of Virginia". Educational Publishing House. Retrieved February 17, 2018 – via Google Books.
