School House on a Hill in the Mountains
What a joy to find this Old School House. This is the Old Stratford Academy. The first time I was there, the whole hill was covered in tall grass and you could only see the top half of the school. The second time someone had mowed the brush and I didn’t even recognize it because so much more of the weathered wood was showing.
I’ve read that the school was built by Monroe Estep around 1900. He was a Alleghany Carpenter and Builder.
Alleghany County, North Carolina is known for the Blue Ridge Mountains, the New River (one of the world’s oldest rivers), and Christmas Tree farms. I love exploring these rural areas. There’s so much history and things haven’t changed so drastically as the place where I grew up. Also, rural areas are diverse, you never know what you’re going to see. When is the last time you went to another State and just drove around on the back roads? You learn so much observing the old houses and the lay of the land. You can roll down your window and smell the fresh air, leave your worries at home. What a treat to visit a new place and see how other people live, but my favorite part is being on those country roads and feeling like I’m traveling back in time. Would you rather travel alone or with a friend?
What a perfectly charming mountain home this could be!! ðŸ«
You’re right! I didn’t even think of that. That would be wonderful!
I wish someone would restore this gorgeous old home.
I do too! Wouldn’t that be wonderful!
Love this old wooden schoolhouse in North Carolina. I can picture the children walking from a long distance, listening to all the wildlife along the way. I like to look at the windows up close. Sometimes it looks as though someone is looking back at me.
Yes, they had to walk a long way and then climb the hill. I’m sure they were healthy and happy.
Old Stratford academy in the Blue Ridge mountains is a wonderful place. I love the shot you got from a distance by the old fence that is barely still standing. I imagine what the schoolbell would have sounded like. The children were probably playing jump rope, hopscotch, hide and seek or tag. I would love to play those games again. I do have fond memories of waiting for the bell to ring before school. The boys would be playing marbles and the girls would be playing Jack’s.