The Howland Chapel School is a historic

school A school is an educational institution designed to provide learning spaces and learning environments for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is sometimes compuls ...

building for African-American students located near Heathsville,

Northumberland County, Virginia Northumberland County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. At the 2020 census, the population was 11,839. Its county seat is Heathsville. The county is located on the Northern Neck and is part of the Northern Neck George Washin ...

. It was built in 1867, and is a one-story, gable fronted frame building measuring approximately 26 feet by 40 feet. It features

board-and-batten A batten is most commonly a strip of solid material, historically wood but can also be of plastic, metal, or fiberglass. Battens are variously used in construction, sailing, and other fields. In the lighting industry, battens refer to linea ...

siding and distinctive

bargeboard Bargeboard (probably from Medieval Latin ''bargus'', or ''barcus'', a scaffold, and not from the now obsolete synonym "vergeboard") or rake fascia is a board fastened to each projecting gable of a roof to give it strength and protection, and to ...

s with dentil soffits. The interior has a single room divided by a later central partition formed by sliding, removable doors. The building is a rare, little-altered Reconstruction-era schoolhouse built to serve the children of former slaves. Its construction was funded by New York educator, reformer and philanthropist

Emily Howland Emily Howland (November 20, 1827 – June 29, 1929) was a philanthropist and educator. Especially known for her activities and interest in the education of African-Americans, she was also a strong supporter of women's rights and the temperan ...

(1827-1929), for whom the building is named. It was used as a schoolhouse until 1958, and serves as a museum, community center and adult-education facility. an
''Accompanying photo''
/ref> It was listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...

in 1991.

References

School buildings on the National Register of Historic Places in Virginia Carpenter Gothic architecture in Virginia School buildings completed in 1867 Buildings and structures in Northumberland County, Virginia National Register of Historic Places in Northumberland County, Virginia {{NorthumberlandCountyVA-NRHP-stub