ROWLESBURG HIGH SCHOOL

to become

RHS Community Center

 

Old photo taken probably in the 1920's.

RHS Project Report

The flood of 1985 saw water on the first two floors of Rowlesburg High School and alleged damage was done to the NE corner of the foundation so the Preston County school board decided the building was unsafe or would be too costly to repair. It was at this time that the board decided to consolidate all county high schools into one central school in Kingwood. So the RHS building was sold.
 
Among our plans for renovation and utilization of RHS are:
  • An outside elevator will be installed with entry into this room. Since the design of the entries and number of stairs do not allow for ramps to be installed, an outside elevator is the best option for ADA requirements. Because this is a historic building, an inside elevator would compromise the historic integrity of the school.
  • Four other rooms on this floor will house WV Arts and Crafts, an antique shop, gift shop, and coffee shop. Another option is to convert one room into two smaller efficiency type hotel rooms, each with its own bath.
  • Since these large rooms are approximately 25' X 30', the WV Arts and Crafts room will be divided into cubicles where local artisans will display and sell their products. Likewise, the antique shop will be divided into consignment areas.
  • In order to pay for maintenance of the building, a small fee will be charged.
  • For the next few years, Appalachian Wildwater will lease back the major portion of the upper floor; excluding the north end of the building, i.e. Mr. Anderson's, Mr. Galusky's, Miss Carrico's, and the typing room.
  • In the future, some classrooms will be utilized for instruction in parenting, child care, computer technology, art, crafts, music, and other continuing education subjects of interest and value to members of the community.
  • We plan to make the gym available to the community youth for sports activities, exercise, games, socializing, and education. They will be free to use the facility during specified hours after school, weekends and summers with adult supervision and instruction. This will be accomplished through cooperation with the school system, the town park commission, state and local agencies, and funding from grant providers.
  • The gymnasium will also be used for holding benefit concerts, other fund raising activities, theater productions, and as an indoor walking arena during cold, winter months.
We will not be deterred from acquiring that building to return it once again to the residents of Rowlesburg as the heart and soul of the town.
 
The acquisition of the school will have tremendous benefit to the entire community of Rowlesburg. Throughout its history, the school served as the center of community life bringing together parents, grandparents, friends and students to attend and participate in athletic events, band concerts, theater performances, proms and dances, dinners and alumni functions.
As a bonus, opening the school to the people will bring together all segments of the community into one community center and the old school will, once again, be the hub of activity for young and old.
 
The school, built in 1912 served grades one through twelve and graduated 74 classes over those seventy six years. The building contains 25,000 sq. ft. of space and includes a gymnasium/ auditorium complete with a stage for the performing arts.
  • The lower level or basement has seen some changes over the years, including additional walls for fire protection and boarded-up lower window panes to protect against another flood. Ha!!
  • Consequently, it is quite dark down there.
  • The kitchen is now situated next to the gym and the furnace (Old Bessie) has been walled off.
  • Plans for this level have not been formulated yet.

Historic Designation

In October of 2005, a historic district designation was awarded to the town of Rowlesburg by the state of West Virginia and the National Register of Historic Places awarded the designation in November, 2005. The Rowlesburg school is located in the district and conforms to the criteria established for historic designation, therefore, any renovations or repairs to the building will be done in keeping with its historic design and will maintain its historic integrity.

The Gothic Collegiate Revival architecture with its pointed arches that grace the front entry and some windows has been , in most cases, preserved; original maple hardwood floors are in excellent condition; hand-crafted ornate mouldings around doors and windows have been maintained; and the gym/auditorium with handsome wood dentil moulding surrounding the raised stage remains as a grand hall for even the most sophisticated functions. Thus, a visit to the Welcome Center will provide the visitor with an enhanced appreciation for the cultural and historic value of the building.

Future plans for unused space include services and programs for the community to further honor the Rowlesburg Revitalization Committee's designation as a "charitable and educational" non-profit corporation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

I didn't attend elementary school in Rowlesburg so I don't know about the grade school teachers - I've heard stories about Miss Beryl, Miss Beatrice, Miss Macomber, Miss Susan, etc.

Would anyone like to share your memories of grade school or high school?

Let me know. Also, let me know of mistakes, broken links, and omissions.

Katie

 How good was your schooling
in Rowlesburg?
The teachers were excellent and took special interest in the future success of their students.
In addition to "readin', writin', and 'rithmatic", we were given a well rounded education which included music, art, literature, drama, home economics, civics, PE, and most major sports.
  • We learned classical, broadway, folk, and contemporary music from Miss Schrock, Mrs. Ayersman, and Mr. Michael.
  • Mrs. Jamison and Miss Wolfe introduced us to Shakespeare (Macbeth), Henry W. Longfellow (Evangeline), Edgar Allen Poe (Annabel Lee, The Raven), Washington Irving (Headless Horseman), Sir Walter Scott (Ivanhoe), Joyce Kilmer (Trees), Robert Frost (The Road Not Taken), Walt Whitman (Leaves of Grass), Robert Burns (Auld Lang Syne, My Heart's In The Highlands), John Keats (Ode on a Grecian Urn), Nathaniel Hawthorn (House of Seven Gables), Emily Brontë (Wuthering Heights), Mark Twain (Huckleberry Finn), James Fennimore Cooper (Last of the Mohicans),etc. And, of course, Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys. I have to stop this - the list goes on and on!!!
  • Algebra and Geometry (Arrgghh) were taught by Mr. Goodwin, who was a friend to his students.
  • Mr. Galusky dutifully and effectively taught Biology and Chemistry; Mrs. Galusky was a class act who taught us cooking and sewing, as well as table settings, etiquette, and hygiene.
  • History and geography were the realm of Miss Carrico.
  • And, of course, there was the legendary Coach Ayersman who made men out of little boys.
  • Mr. Lipscomb made us tow the line or he reported us to our parents who sided with him and the teachers.
  • Then Mr. George Dewitt taught us everything else.