Sited along the west side of the Smith River, the imposing John D. Bassett High School stands at the entrance to the factory town of Bassett. The school was a vital part of this Henry County community throughout the second half of the 20th century. Constructed between 1947-48 in a Georgian Revival style, the building exemplifies progressive school design in Virginia in the period just after World War II. The building features detailing that includes: a hip roof with slate shingles, gabled dormers and octagonal cupolas; Flemish-bond variant brickwork with corner quoins and a water table; three-bay composite-order porticos with arched entrances; and, overall symmetry in massing and fenestration. Later the Bassett Middle School, it was closed in 2004 after Henry County consolidated its schools into fewer and newer facilities. The John D. Bassett High School was then rehabilitated for use by a private business.