2026 SPECIAL SESSION I
ENROLLED
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 2082
Commending New London Academy.
Agreed to by the House of Delegates, June 22, 2026
WHEREAS, New London Academy in Bedford County celebrates its 230th anniversary in 2026, marking more than two centuries as one of the Commonwealth's most historic and enduring educational institutions; and
WHEREAS, chartered by the General Assembly of Virginia on December 1, 1795, New London Academy is one of the oldest continuously operating schools in the Commonwealth and among the oldest in the southern United States; it is notably the only public elementary school in Virginia that operates under a charter granted directly by the General Assembly of Virginia; and
WHEREAS, New London Academy was founded as a classical school for boys and enjoyed the early support of Thomas Jefferson, whose grandson attended the institution, reflecting the Commonwealth's longstanding commitment to expanding educational opportunities; and
WHEREAS, New London Academy's original frame building was replaced between 1837 and 1839 with the distinguished brick Greek Revival structure that still stands today, a landmark of the Commonwealth's architectural and educational heritage; and
WHEREAS, New London Academy's campus also includes an original kitchen outbuilding, now preserved as a museum, offering students and visitors a tangible connection to the school's early history; and
WHEREAS, over the course of its remarkable history, New London Academy has evolved to meet the needs of its community, becoming coeducational in 1879, joining the public school system in the late 19th century, and later serving as an agricultural high school before transitioning to its current role as an elementary school; and