The original Zirkle's School probably predates the public school system and the original building burned in 1879. The school was located on the road leading from the Valley Pike to Fairview Church in northern Rockingham County. It is shown as school #5 on Lake's 1885 Atlas of Rockingham County. When the school burned in 1879, school was held in a private home until 1881 when a new school was built. Michael Roller, who was a trustee of the school, was paid $150 for lumber and construction of the school. Other trustees listed are Dewit West and S. J. Yates who, along with Michael Roller, were appointed on September 24, 1881. After the new school was built the school became commonly known, and referred to on school records, as the Roller or Fairview School.

Teachers known to have taught at the Zirkle's (Roller) school:

1879-80 Erasmus Harrison
1881-82 J. Erasmus Salyards
1882-87 (five sessions) D. M. Glick
1887-89 (two sessions) Clyde Brown
1889-92 (three sessions) John Hollingsworth
1892-93 J. Samuel Roller
1893-94 Maud S. Lemley
1894-95 J. K. Andes
1895-96 (unknown)
1896-97 (unknown)
1897-98 (unknown)
1898-99 Bayard Hedrick
1899-00 (unknown)
1900-01 (unknown)
1901-02 Mary V. Moore

The exact date of closing of the Zirkle's (Roller) School is unknown but records indicate that it was probably closed after the 1901-02 school session.

(Much of the information for this report comes from Shadowed By The Massanutten, William Algernon Good, self published, (1992)



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