Provided by Save Bennett School
Manassas City Councilmember Theresa Coates Ellis and Old Town Manassas resident Colin Turner are encouraging a thoughtful evaluation of preservation alternatives for the historic Old Bennett School as planning advances for the Prince William County Judicial Campus expansion.
Constructed in 1909, the Old Bennett School represents an important part of the region’s educational and civic history. The building has been determined eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places by the Virginia Department of Historic Resources. Historic records from Prince William Historic Preservation during the construction of the school said that two graves were discovered. They are referenced as soldiers during the 1908-1909 era of excavation. The school was erected without moving the burials.
Early design concepts for the judicial campus expansion currently assume demolition of the building as part of future development. The expansion is in a Prince William County “donut of land” where the courts and jail operate and is surrounded by the City of Manassas. An agreement was drawn up decades ago. The three jurisdictions of the shared service agreement for this area include Prince William County, Manassas City, and Manassas Park. The next government meeting for the three localities to discuss Old Bennett School will be in early May.
Councilmember Coates Ellis said, “The growing community interest in the Historic Old Bennett School, an important building echoing life-impacting stories from the people who live, work or are from Prince William County, City of Manassas, Manassas Park and surrounding regions, highlights the importance of evaluating preservation options for local historic resources.”
Turner recently launched a community petition supporting preservation of the building and a transparent evaluation of alternatives that could integrate the structure into future campus plans.
A petition is gathering signatures daily from residents, businesses, and community members across the region and beyond to take action to save Historic Old Bennett School. The stories cannot be forgotten.
Signatures have been collected online and in-person outreach at local events, including First Friday in Old Town Manassas and the Manassas Farmers Market, where Turner, volunteers, and family members have shared the building’s history and invited residents to add their names. Future events for Prince William County, Manassas City, Manassas Park and surrounding area community members are scheduled for continued outreach.
“Historic buildings like the Old Bennett School should be treated as assets in planning, not obstacles,” said Turner. “As discussions about the future of the judicial campus continue, preservation alternatives deserve thoughtful consideration, and the community should have a meaningful voice in the process.”
The response from residents and community members has been overwhelmingly supportive. Many people are already familiar with the building and history, while others have expressed surprise that demolition was being considered.
During recent outreach events, residents who attended Bennett School in earlier decades stopped to share memories, while others said they had long wondered what the future of the building might be.
In a moment that reflected the building’s long community connection, two separate pairs of former classmates unexpectedly ran into each other while signing the petition and began sharing stories from their elementary school years.
The effort has also drawn support from local leaders plus businesses, service organizations, volunteer groups, and historic, preservation boards, committees, and commissions in the area.
If you are interested in learning more, visit saveoldbennettschool.com
