Midway between Lacey Spring and Harrisonburg, on Route 11, is Melrose. Leading off Route 11 toward the east on Road # 724 just 1/10 of a mile is where the Melrose School lot was located.

On July 30, 1875 was recorded a deed for one acre of land, more or less, for a school. The school was a two-story building with one classroom on the first floor and a second classroom on the second floor. There was an enclosed stairway that led from the first floor to the second floor. This building was used until it was replaced by a new school.

On July 26, 1921 more land was bought and a new school was built. The school lot was composed of three tracts of land, the last deed given was for land bought from John W. Bazzle and wife.

A new weather-boarded, one story building was built, composed of two classrooms. The building was painted white. The new school was opened to students in the school term of 1921-1922.

The building was used as a school until the year 1939 when Melrose School was closed and the students transported to Lacey Spring and Linville-Edom.

The Rockingham County School Board sold the school and lot to Mr. C. D. Lantz on March 27, 1941 and he in turn sold the property to Mr. James S. Miller and his wife Georgia C. Miller. They converted the building into a home. Since that time the property has been sold several times but is still used as a private dwelling.

For most of its existence as a school, the school was a two-teacher school, one primary and one upper level. Some years, however, the school could only maintain a population sufficient for one teacher.

Teachers known to have taught at Melrose were:

1906-07 Mrs. H. C. O. Martz
1907-08 Mrs. H. C. O. Martz
1908-09 Mrs. H. C. O. Martz, Ruby Martz
1909-12 (three sessions) Mrs. H. C. O. Martz, Ruby Martz
1912-13 Mrs. H. C. O. Martz
1913-16 (three sessions) Ira Long
1916-17 Mrs. H. C. O. Martz, Ira Long
1917-18 David R. Chapman, Lena Cole
1918-19 Ruby Martz, Evelyn M. Witt
1919-20 Catherine Gover, Mary J. Walters
1920-22 (two sessions Ira Long, Madeline Wenger
1922-23 Ora I. Painter, Christine A. Summers
1923-24 Ruby Martz, Nina Hillyard
1924-25 Ruby Martz, Mary C. Hollen
1925-26 Christine Bolton, Mary C. Hollen
1926-27 Christine Bolton, Mrs. T. C. Simms
1927-28 Kate Turner, Mrs. T. C. Simms
1928-29 Kate Turner, Grace V. Dove
1929-32 (three sessions) Nora Branum, Robena E. Newman
1932-34 (two sessions) Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Long, Robena E. Newman
1934-37 (three sessions) Mrs. W. E. Long, Jr., Robena E. Newman
1937-38 Ella May Layman, Robena E. Newman
1938-39 Mrs. Ellamae Layman White

The school closed in 1939

Most of the material from this book came from "History of Lacey Spring School, Forest Grove School and Melrose School" by Lida V. Armentrout, self-published, 1975.


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