About Us

We are working toward the preservation and restoration of the Morgantown School.

Our Mission

To stabilize the at-risk building and grounds of the Morgantown School on Free State Rd. This small school served Morgantown's African American Community for over 70 years. Repairing and replacing its damaged wooden support structures is necessary to support a new roof and bell tower. These are initial steps to secure its stability, integrity, and safety.



To seize this opportunity, we ask for the community’s help to save this historic structure in this historic district.

What We’ve Achieved

Preserving History, Building Futures: The Morgantown School Project celebrates over two decades of dedicated efforts to restore the historic Morgantown School, safeguard its legacies, and foster community engagement.

  • In July 2001, Dr. Shelia Johnson donated to the Afro-American Historical Association of Fauquier County, the near one-acre property of the Morgantown School located at 4706 Free State Road in Marshall Va.

  • In 2004, Morgantown was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. The school is in this historic district.

  • Current funding requests are made under the project title, The Morgantown School Project: “A Moment in Time, not (to be) Forgotten.” · Our website is live, www.morgantownschool.org and information added often

  • Funding to support Phase I Start-up received from the PATH Foundation, Catesby Foundation, the Virginia Outdoors Foundation

  • We have engaged project leads

  • Project builder donated and placed a much-needed tarp to protect the remains of the wood structure

  • The property was re-surveyed by Roots Surveys. The company donated the cost of the survey to the Project.

  • The Virginia Department of Health approved the site for well 
and septic

  • We continue to build a student roster that is now over 200

  • Biographies of our teachers are being prepared

  • December 2022 –Project received an Invitation from Mountainside Montessori School Adolescent Program for a round roundtable discussion regarding experiences of growing up in Morgantown and attending its School

  • In April 2023 was busy – Former students and Mountainside students removed day lilies, daffodils and yucca from the school ground and replanted them off site for safe keeping until they can be returned to Morgantown.

  • Students and staff removed over 400 artifacts from the school’s crawlspace. Artifacts are currently stored for future displays

  • May 2023, National Preservation Month, Mountainside students, former Morgantown students, and Mountainside teachers presented the work accomplished in April and students shared their experiences with the audience

  • The Fauquier County Board of Supervisors approved the Special Permit for the project on October 12, allowing us to move forward with submission of our Site Plan application. We will be meeting with Zoning staff soon to discuss application requirements and any plan revisions needed before submission.

Letters Of Support

Community Voices: Uniting in Support

Our Gallery

Click each image to see the full photo. Check back for our ever-growing gallery of historic images. Please reach out if you have some to contribute.

Donate Now!

Join Our Mission: Your support is the cornerstone of our ability to preserve and share the rich history of the Morgantown School. Every donation, big or small, fuels our restoration efforts, educational programs, and the safeguarding of invaluable artifacts.

By contributing, you become a vital part of our community's effort to honor the past, engage the present, and inspire future generations. Help us keep the legacy of the Morgantown School alive for years to come. Donate today and make a lasting impact!