Bluemont’s First Schoolhouse Gets New Start

From Blueridge Leader and Loudoun Today

Bluemont Village is now home to a newly recognized historic site: the Snickersville Academy. Originally constructed in 1825, the Academy served as a schoolhouse, church, and community meeting space for the village. In 2010, the 185-year-old building was generously donated to the Friends of Bluemont, a local citizens association dedicated to preserving the community’s history, by Tom and Betty Hatcher, alongside Walter and Joyce Hatcher. Although the Hatchers now reside in Florida, they have strong ties to Western Loudoun County. As children in the 1950s, Tom and his brother Walter spent their summers in Bluemont, staying with their parents, Sam and Catalina (Kitty) Hatcher, in the Stone Cabin nestled in the woods, just above what is now the Boulder Crest Retreat for veterans and military wellness.

The Hatcher family made this generous gift in memory of Catalina Hatcher, who was a beloved and strong-minded figure in the Bluemont community. Kitty spent summers in the log cabin through the 1990s and was known for her unique character and deep love for the mountain above Bluemont. Long-time residents of Bluemont often share stories about her spirit and affection for the land. While staying at the Snickersville Academy, she maintained a deep connection to the beauty of the surroundings and found joy in the wild creatures that roamed the area. Tom Hatcher recalls his mother’s love for the cabin and the surrounding woods, describing the sense of “serenity” she felt there. He remembers one evening when, while she rested on the porch, a bear wandered past the cabin and into the village. “The bear didn’t bother her, and she didn’t bother the bear,” Hatcher says. Kitty would occasionally leave the Academy to spend the night at the nearby home of Betty and Sonny Colbert.

Friends of Bluemont, a preservation organization founded in 2003, has long been committed to preserving the Snickersville Academy. The effort to save the historic building began in 1999, when Evelyn Johnson, founder of Friends of Bluemont and a Loudoun schoolteacher, organized a fundraiser picnic to raise awareness. Originally called “Snickersville,” the village adopted the more refined name “Bluemont” in 1900, following the arrival of the railroad and an influx of upscale vacationers seeking relief from the summer heat of the Capital Area.

“The historic Snickersville Academy has stood for over 185 years,” said Susan Freis Falknor, president of Friends of Bluemont. “Now, with tremendous community support, it can continue to stand for centuries to come.” She added, “We aim to make the Snickersville Academy a place where visitors can learn about the village’s early history and experience the charm of a bygone era.”

The restored Snickersville Academy

Before the restoration