Renovations completed in 2003

Lemon Road ES 1954 to 2003		Lemon Road ES 2003

History of Lemon Road

Lemon Road Elementary School is located in a part of Fairfax County which is rich in historical importance, dating back to the early colonies. The nearest major highway, Leesburg Pike or Route 7, may be the oldest highway in North America. Starting as a buffalo path, it served as an Indian trail and later huge wooden barrels or hogheads filled with about 300 lbs. of tobacco would be rolled down the road from Leesburg to the docks in Alexandria. The school is located about 300 yards from this historic turnpike.

The land where Lemon Road Elementary now stands was once pasture and forest. The 150 acre estate was owned by Reverend Nicholas Lemen, a minister and farmer. He and his wife Catherine Minor Lemen, and their children resided in their home, Montpelier during the mid 1800s. During that time, a road adjacent to the Lemen property was constructed. It separated the land of the Lemens from the land belonging to Craven Ashford. The narrow gravel road was named Lemen Road. Later the spelling was changed to Lemon.

Lemon Road Elementary School was built in 1955 and opened its doors to students and staff in January of 1956. It had a student body of 400. The road in front of the school, Lemon Road, was later changed to Idylwood Road. Today Lemon Road Elementary is one on the smallest schools (240 students) in Fairfax County. Its uniqueness goes beyond its size and history, as the student body represents a snapshot of the world. Approximately 30 countries are represented within the Lemon Road student body.

Last Update: 7/31/2009
Curator: Sally Bryan