Commute from Winchester to Bristow, VA

[South Jersey Styx]

Originally Posted by LynchburgLover

OP -- the rich Pennsylvanian refers to Judge John Handley who died about 100 years ago but left an endowment to the City of Winchester high school. It's named after him and there is tremendous loyalty to the school in the city.

Originally Posted by stpickrell

How many other schools have valuable works of art stacked up in a closet somewhere?

I swear, WPS could make a few hundred grand just letting the Handley Bowl (football stadium) and/or building get used by movie crews over the summers/breaks.

... as well as the grand Handley Library. I think Normie posted a pic on her walking tour of Winchester. The library is pretty awesome. Sometimes I overhear the librarians talk about "the ghost of John Handley" every time a book "mysteriously" drops from a shelf or there's some "strange" noises in the back.

Evidently, Handley fought for the Union during the Civil War and endowed monies to the City of Winchester after the war ended. I think the city was occupied/exchanged hands (Union to Confederate and back) several dozen times.

I didn't know there was artwork at Handley H.S. either? I haven't been inside but it is magnificent on the outside. They're renovating around the streets too. There's a vintage diner across the street under renovation. Evidently, the original/main part is being kept and they're adding a back portion. I can't wait to try it out!

Good idea stpickrell about a film crew! There are some great places in Winchester for a movie -- especially a scary (ooooooooooooh) movie. I was in Mount Hebron Cemetery the other day --really old graves (1700s) and architecture. And there are some local haunts in town (pubs, etc.)

[stpickrell]

Yep, there was priceless works of art thrown in a closet at John Handley.

Winchester's Secret - Homes (washingtonian.com)

Said priceless works of art were stored between 1941 and 1944.

In the 60s and 70s (and I didn't know this), it was a bomb shelter for Winchester city government.

[South Jersey Styx]

Originally Posted by stpickrell

Yep, there was priceless works of art thrown in a closet at John Handley.

Winchester's Secret - Homes (washingtonian.com)

Said priceless works of art were stored between 1941 and 1944.

In the 60s and 70s (and I didn't know this), it was a bomb shelter for Winchester city government.

stpickrell - can't open the link but I'm suspecting this had something to do with WWII and protecting works of art.

It happened during the war of 1812. Works of art were taken out of Washington, DC and transported to homes in Leesburg and other parts of VA to be protected.

[stpickrell]

Originally Posted by South Jersey Styx

stpickrell - can't open the link but I'm suspecting this had something to do with WWII and protecting works of art.

It happened during the war of 1812. Works of art were taken out of Washington, DC and transported to homes in Leesburg and other parts of VA to be protected.

Yep, the Corcoran Gallery stored some of its artwork @ Handley during WW2.

[LynchburgLover]

That's a really interesting article, stpickrell! (SouthJersey, if you right click your mouse, then hit "open link", it should work -- at least it did for me) I knew about the bunkers at The Greenbrier but had not heard this about Handley HS. It's fun to read this forum and learn so much interesting things -- except the reference to Garfinkles really made me feel old . . . . all the "Old Washington" institutions are fading away.

And, regarding the library -- it is an incredible architectural delight!

They've done fabulous work restoring both the high school and the library.