The Navy School - Sources
Fairfax County Land Records
Liber G-5, Folio 477: This Deed, made this 28th day of February, 1888 between George F. Harrison of the County of Fairfax, State of Virginia, and his wife Ida D. Harrison of the first part, and Thomas E. Carper, Alfred Leigh, and J. H. Edmonds, Trustees of the Public Schools of Dranesville District, in said County and State, of the second part; Witnesseth, that in consideration of the sum of $10.00 to them duly paid, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the said parties of the first part have bargained and sold, and by these presents do grant and convey to the said parties of the second part, and their successors in office, forever, with general warranty, a certain parcel of land containing One acre lying and being in the District of Dranesville, Fairfax County, Virginia, the courses and distances of said land being as follows: Commencing on the Ox Road, thirty feet southeast of a corner of the land sold by the said George F. Harrison to J. T. Ross, thence with the center of the said road South 22 degrees East 12 poles, 15 links to a stake, thence South 68 degrees West 12 poles, 17 links to a stake, thence North 22 degrees West 12 poles, 15 links, thence North 68 degrees East, 12 poles, 17 links to the place of beginning. In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hand and seal, this 28th day of February, 1888. Signed George F. Harrison and Ida D. Harrison. Acknowledged and admitted to record on February 28, 1888.
Liber Z-8, Folio 82: Blanket Deed from the School Trustees of Dranesville District to the Fairfax County School Board for the Navy School lot, same as described above. Recorded August 30, 1922.
Liber N-11, Folio 529: June 28, 1934, The County School Board of Fairfax County, Virginia, a Body Corporate, party of the first part, to Jether Dove, party of the second part… Whereas, the party of the first part, pursuant to said order authorizing the said sale, received a private offer of $150.00 cash, from the party of the second part for the hereinafter described real estate and deemed said private offer more than could be obtained for said land by a sale at public auction… the said land being described as the Navy School Lot, having been heretofore abandoned for school operation by the party of the first part. Same metes and bounds as above. Received, authenticated, and admitted to record in the Clerk’s Office of the Circuit Court of Fairfax County, Virginia, on July 10, 1934.
Dranesville District School Board Minutes
From 1888 to 1922, the Navy School was administered by the School Trustees of Dranesville District. Prior to 1900, the Navy School went by the name Ox Road School in the district records. The meeting minutes of the Dranesville District School Board are incomplete. Below are a few surviving references to the Navy School. Unless otherwise noted, grammar, spelling, and punctuation are presented as they appear in the original documents.
Minute Book 1 (1886-1897)
Page 10, November 5, 1887: M. D. Renny was contracted with to build a schoolhouse by Ox Road at $365.00, his being the lowest bidder.
Page 14, March 3, 1888: J. P. Machen was paid $3.00 for laying out land and writing deed (Ox Road School).
Page 15, April 7, 1888: F. W. Richardson was paid $2.25 for recording the deed from Harrison (Ox Road School).
Page 73, November 2, 1895: L. E. Thompson submitted a bid of $1.50 per month to supply firewood for Ox Road School No. 10.
Page 86, September 12, 1896: The following teachers were appointed and contracted with: Ox Road No. 10, Lillian Millan, $22.00 per month.
Minute Book 2 (1911-1922)
Page 1, Wood Contracts for 1911-12: Navy School, Lewis Thompson, $15.00.
Pages 40-41, September 18, 1912: The following teachers was contracted with on September the 18th 1912: School No. 10, Lillian W. Millan, Navy, $35.00 per month.
Page 47, September 29, 1913: After the election of Officers the appointing of a teacher for the school at Navy was then considered, Miss Mamie Fox being present and an applicant for the position and holding a Third Grade certificate was appointed at a salary of $30.00 per month for a term of seven months, the term beginning September 30th 1913. [During the early 20th century, levels of teacher certification included Collegiate Professional, Collegiate, Normal Professional, First Grade, Second Grade, and Third Grade. The term “grade” in these instances refers to a type of teaching certificate, not to a school-related grade level.]
Page 50, Undated: [The meeting took place between Dec. 30, 1913 and July 21, 1914] At a called meeting, the Dranesville District School Board met at the Navy Schoolhouse. Mr. M. D. Hall, William H. Fox, W. M. McNair, and Arthur F. Burgess being present. The purpose of this meeting was to hear complaints which had been made by some patrons of that school about the methods of the teaching and the conduct of the children during school hours. There being no one present, the teacher was instructed to try to improve the appearance of the children and to improve the condition of the school building both on the inside and on the outside. The Board agreeing to defray any expense which would be necessary in doing this and the teacher was also instructed to visit the parents of the children and solicit their cooperation in doing this work. Respectfully submitted, Arthur F. Burgess, Clerk.
Page 54, December 23, 1915: At a called meeting the Dranesville District School Board met at the Navy School. Superintendent M. D. Hall, William H. Fox, Warren M. McNair, and Arthur F. Burgess a full Board present, Dec. 23rd 1915 time of meeting. The purpose of the meeting was to consult with the teacher Miss Mary Riely about the disorder about the disorder in the school and adopt means for better control of the school. After a thorough discussion of the situation Mr. Hall suggested that the teacher continue as teacher of the school, and to demand a strict obedience on the part of the scholars. Respectfully submitted, Arthur F. Burgess, Clerk.
Page 77, May 5, 1919: Mr. W. H. Fox was appointed a committee to confer with the teacher at Navy and ascertain if a legal school is maintained and if not to notify the teacher to close. [During the 19th and early 20th centuries, public schools in Virginia were legally required to maintain a specific average daily attendance number. If the number of pupils fell below that average, a school might be closed for the remainder of the school term, for several years, or permanently.]
Page 114, May 6, 1922: Warrant No. 90 – Audrey Thompson was paid $11.25 for janitor work at the Navy School for the term 1921-22.
Fairfax County School Board Minutes
In 1922, the district school boards were abolished and the combined Fairfax County School Board, much as it exists today, was formed. The following selected records cover the period of 1922 to 1934.
December 5, 1922, Meeting 9: Mr. W. H. Ellmore, the newly appointed trustee for Dranesville District, now sitting with the Board for the first time, presented the following bills for payment, which were considered, approved and ordered paid out of the Dranesville District School Fund: C. M. Dudding was paid $5.40 for supplies for the Navy School.
February 5, 1923, Meeting 11: Dranesville District, bills listed for payment and with the approval of Mr. Ellmore, were considered, approved and ordered paid out of the Dranesville District School Fund, as follows: Alfred Kitchen was paid $33.75 for providing firewood for Navy School and Vale School, as per contract.
March 5, 1923, Meeting 12: On request from Mr. Cummings to use the Navy school house for Sunday School purposes, the following resolution was passed: “That on recommendation of the Trustee for Dranesville District the Navy school house be granted to Mr. Cummings for S. S. purposes, he to be held responsible for the care of the house.”
April 17, 1923, Meeting 15: On motion, the business of the day was taken up - that of consolidating certain schools for the term of 1923-24, and the selecting of teachers for all schools of the County. After much discussion and figuring on the estimated savings in the consolidations for the several districts, it was found that a possible saving of $6,170.00 could be made, therefore the following resolution was unanimously passed… Dranesville District: Close Navy and transport to Floris.
July 30, 1923, Meeting 2: The matter of re-opening Navy school had been so urgently brought to bear upon Mr. Ellmore that he presented same to the Board, recommending that in view of the constantly bad roads in winter, the promises of the patrons to keep their children regularly in school at Navy if re-opened, the matter re-considered; whereupon the following resolution was unanimously passed: Resolved. In view of the sentiment in community and on account of roads, that the action taken by this Board, closing Navy school, be rescinded and the Navy school be re-opened.
July 6, 1925, Meeting 1: It was reported by Mr. Ellmore, that the patrons of the Navy School were asking that their children be transported to the Floris School. The following motion was offered and carried: That teachers as recommended by the Division Superintendent, with the exception of Navy and Dranesville, be approved, and that a committee of three be appointed to investigate the feasibility of transporting the Navy children to Floris.
September 8, 1925, Meeting 5: The Superintendent reported on the Committee serving at Navy, Dranesville and Woodburn, with recommendations that the Navy school be re-opened as last year, since transportation over the dirt roads was out of the question – which recommendation was approved.
February 22, 1927, Meeting 12: A communication from Mrs. Hosea Curtis opposing the idea of closing the Navy School was read. No action was taken toward closing this school.
May 26, 1927, Meeting 18: Tentative teacher appointments for the 1927-1928 school term: Miss Aline Allison at the Navy School at a salary of $75.00 per month.
June 5, 1930, Meeting 20: The question of closing and consolidating certain schools was next taken up. Mr. Murphy moved that Navy School be closed and the pupils transported to Floris. Motion seconded and carried.
January 6, 1931, Meeting 9: County School Fund Bills Payable. Warrant No. 95. Aubrey Cook was paid ½ of the amount of his firewood contract for Navy School in the amount of $14.00.
May 25, 1932, Meeting 21: Mr. Murphy stated that he had been offered a private bid of $150.00 for the Navy school property for the sale of which the Board had not asked the Court’s permission. The Clerk was directed to ask the advice of the Commonwealth’s Attorney in this matter and if deemed necessary by him request that he ask the permission of the Court for this sale.
May 5, 1933, Meeting 16: It was moved, seconded and carried that the Commonwealth’s Attorney for Fairfax County be requested to secure a Court Order for the sale of the Navy School property in Dranesville District and that Mr. J. W. Murphy and the Clerk of this Board be authorized to proceed with the advertisement and public auction of this property when the Court order shall have been secured.
May 1, 1934, Meeting 18: The Clerk presented the list of school properties insured with the Independent Mutual Insurance Company and rates as submitted by Mr. Greene, Secretary of that Company as follows. The following rates were accepted by the School Board for a one year term: Navy School, $200.00 for the building at a rate of $1.00 and premium of $2.00.
June 6, 1934, Meeting 20: Mr. Jether Dove’s offer of $150.00 for the Navy School property was accepted and the Clerk and Chairman were authorized to secure through the proper channels the approval of the court and execute a deed when prepared and money has been received.
Essays and Reports
Historically Speaking by Edward Wagstaff
HOW WAS NAVY NAMED
The little hamlet of Navy is one of the high spots in Fairfax County. The very highest spot in the county is less than a mile away. It overlooks, at a safe distance, the new Dulles Airport, on Ox Road, route 608, the oldest road in upper Fairfax. According to some geologists the Navy-Pender ridge was once a mountain range as high as the present day Alleghenies and may have been the first land in North America to rise above the ancient seas. The ancient seas had nothing, however, to do with its nautical name. That came on August 8, 1892. A new post office was about to be set up at the location long known as Thompson’s Corner or Thompson’s Cross Roads. The citizens like the name and wanted the post office called by that name, but, unfortunately a post office had been established in Louisa County, Virginia back in December 1833 with exactly that name. The Post Office Department would not allow Thompson to be used again. The prospective patrons submitted other names but they were turned down for the same reason. Disgusted, the citizens asked, “What names will you permit us to use?” The Post Office Department obligingly sent a list of permissible names. All of the names on the list were very short. Many contained only two or three letters. Navy was one of the very few four letter names. At a meeting of prospective patrons, and after debate, a name was chosen by voting. Because it was a comparatively long name, Navy was the winner. The only other name to get any votes at all was “Ono” with a very few. Strange as it may seem a village near Norfolk later selected Ono for its post office and the residents lived happily with the name for many years. After the name was chosen the Navy post office was set up in James T. Robey’s store and Robey served as postmaster for many years. His term of office was interrupted briefly when Edward S. Dey took the office. Mr. Dey was the son of a man who had fought against the South in the War Between the States and who came to this area to hold political jobs after the war. Dey was in office a short time and Robey again took over. Navy was discontinued as a post office on August 17, 1905. The name is still in use. But – the name of the voting precinct has never been changed – It is still Thompson’s Precinct today.
Memo to Principals, 1966
Fairfax County Schools, Office of School-Community Relations memo to principals, April 12, 1966: “We are presently establishing a file for our office… with information concerning all Fairfax County schools. A photo file of front views of all county schools is being made, with photos to be made available to principals upon request. This photo project will be completed by the end of this school year. Listed below are classifications of information we would like to have you furnish.” [The following response was provided by Navy Elementary School Principal Louise Rinker Harrison.]
- F. Historical reference to school name: During the latter half of the 19th century, most every settlement with a crossroad wanted a post office. It was requested by the people of this community that “Thompson” be used as the name for the area. Since there was another community in Virginia using this name, a different one had to be chosen. The Post Office Department sent a list of names as suggestions to the citizens. From this list the residents chose “Navy” for the name of their community. The Navy Post Office was located in Dove’s store. It was later discontinued when Rural Free Delivery was established. The first Navy School was built about the time of the Civil War at the point where Vale Road, Waples Mill Road, and Ox Road meet. This school burnt in 1888, but another was built the same year and was used until 1932 when many schools were being consolidated. This one-room school, later converted to a dwelling, is located next to the present school site. The children were transported to the old Floris School until the new nine room school was completed in 1956. Two years later, six rooms were added to the new building, making a total of 15 classrooms. [The Civil War era schoolhouse to which she refers was known interchangeably as the Ox Hill School and the Ox Road Junction School. Dranesville District School Trustee minutes don’t provide the exact date of the fire, but it took place sometime after the year 1892, at least four years after the opening of the school at Navy].
- G. Historical reference to school site or area: Navy School is located on West Ox Road which was used by oxen in carrying copper ore from a mine in the Floris community to boats on Occoquan Creek. This ore was then transported to England. The mine was operated by “King Carter’s” son, Robert, who owned much of the land in this area during these early days. Since Carter was unable to obtain permission from the Lees, who owned most of the land on this side of the Potomac, to cross their land to get to the river with his ore, he followed an old Indian trail to Occoquan Creek. This road is now known as Ox Road and follows practically the same route the oxen used to get to Occoquan.
Newspaper Articles
Annandale Globe
August 20, 1970: One Room Schools Had Versatile Teachers. By Lee Powell, Special Writer. Take one room, add 23 lively youngsters, primmer through seventh grade, blend temperately and you will have the markings of a one room school. The one room school in question still stands adjacent to the Navy School on West Ox Road, however, since it is now a residence, it has lost its schoolhouse look. When the building was being used as a school, there was a steeple with a bell that was used to notify the area that school was in session. The inside was rather bare, with long double desks, and a very long stove fired by wood, that if one sat too close he roasted and if too far away he froze. It was the duty of the teacher to secure the wood and see that the fire was built each morning. The only other ornament in the room was one map hanging on the wall. The pupils were fortunate enough to have a teacher who painted the walls and made curtains for the windows, giving the room a more friendly atmosphere. There were rural conveniences, and water had to be carried from several houses down the road. There was the bucket and dipper for drinking water, and one tin wash basin. The room was divided according to grades, with one, two, or three pupils in each grade. The teacher’s day was divided so that she might spend the same amount of time with each grade. Since there were no extra chairs, there could be no other grouping of students except by seating arrangements. Books were brought by the students, and the teacher had her supply. No other books were available as there was no such thing as a library. However, since teaching was done on a page to page basis, one book would last two to three years. Subjects taught were reading, writing, spelling, arithmetic, science, geography, history, and in the seventh grade, civics. If a child was more advanced than his grade in a subject, he was taught with the next group above him. Some students had slates, others paper and pencil. School began at nine and ended at four, with an hour for lunch and a morning and afternoon recess. Since there was no such thing as a cafeteria, each student brought his lunch in a tin pail. Pie socials were held at the school in order to raise money for the improvement of school facilities. In case you don’t know what a pie social is, it’s when a young lady makes a pie to be sold to a young man, so they may eat it together. Among other things, an unabridged dictionary and a basketball set were purchased with these funds. Thus we have the one room school. Perhaps it wasn’t so bad after all, as today’s schools are practicing team teaching and the mixing of all ages in some classes.