Just like nothing (else) on earth: the Goose Creek Friends Oakdale School

By Tim Jon

I don’t think about ol’ Pythagoras very often, but I would probably need some of that legendary mathematician’s insight if I were to make an attempt at calculating the number of times I’ve driven by this place. In this case, ‘driven by’ means coming to within a few mere feet (okay, yards maybe) of the actual structure. Bear with me here: at the time of this writing, I’ve been the regular mail carrier for … good Lord, going on 10 years (at five or six days a week, 52 weeks a year) on the rural route into which this location falls. All I know is – that’s a lotta passes. 

But I’d bet that just about every one of the former ‘customers’ at this quaint little facility would have been able to help us out with the addition and multiplication; see, for several decades, the Goose Creek Friends Oakdale School taught readin’, writin’ and ‘rithmatic to offspring of the Quakers living in and around Lincoln, Virginia. 

The Village was actually called Goose Creek back when the school was built, in 1815 (the residents took on the name of Lincoln around 1860 – meaning, to me, at least – they weren’t afraid to flex a little political muscle when they felt like it), and the location remained in official educational use – so I’m told – for around 90 years. All that history makes this familiar site – reportedly – the oldest one-room brick schoolhouse in Loudoun County. 

It wouldn’t surprise me if it was also one of the smallest. Taking my first-ever walk around the structure one recent morning, I felt as if I could just about pick up the whole building, wedge it into a jacket pocket, and take it home for further study. Well, maybe not quite. 

Now, here is where – I’m guessing – some of us may chime in with, “Well, I’ve been to Lincoln before, and I never saw this little School you’re talking about!” And that may very well be, due to the size of the building and the tucked-away nature of its location. I’d been driving by the place for years before my curiosity got the better of me and I just had to find out more. 

See, the Oakdale School sits just off the crossroads of Foundry and Sands Roads (which don’t see a great deal of traffic), a couple of yards away from Lincoln Road as it passes through the historic community. Right across the Road you’ll probably notice the much larger Friends Meeting House, and the nearby Goose Creek Burying Ground, also across the Road, at about ninety degrees. There I go again, showing off my higher math. 

And, yes, I’m old, but – no, I didn’t attend the historic Quaker School. But, it’s taught me a few things, just the same. I’ve driven by this place in every possible kind of weather, at various times of day, year ‘round for roughly 10 years. I’ve probably vented moments of extreme frustration, anxiety, anticipation, glee (yes, even in mail delivery), terror (ever driven one of our trucks on glare ice?) and even (however rare) mild relaxation.

The old Oakdale School puts on pretty much the same face, no matter what. This place doesn’t seem to get overly excited about things. I’ve come to figure, over the last decade or so, that just maybe – that’s not such a bad way to be. 

I get worn out in flying off the handle about every little thing. Maybe I’ll be able to weather the storms (internal and external) in better fashion if I just kind of let things be, and live through whatever events I encounter. Not to say I plan to bury my head in the sand: like this little Quaker School, I’ve still got my eye on things, and like the level-headed folks I’ve come to know in Lincoln, I can ‘get political’ if and when I feel it’s really needed. 

So, if you’re on the south side of the Historic Village of Lincoln (just a couple miles south of Purcellville on Lincoln Road), remember to notice the small, but iconic one-room, brick schoolhouse just off the corner of Foundry and Sands Roads. There won’t be much traffic, and you won’t be interrupting anything. 

Oh, and don’t forget to stop at the very memorable Lincoln Post Office, within a stone’s throw, just on the other side of the Friends Meeting House. You may learn a few lessons yourself. The community’s got almost three hundred years of experience from which to draw.