Would you like to help save First Ward School? Contact Logan Smith at:   firstward@c-hopewv.org

LINK: First Ward School In Former Days LINK: First Ward School Current Interior

HISTORY AND SIGNIFICANCE First Ward School is one of the last of its kind. A model for all West Virginia schools in the early 20th Century, it was a building of local significance for the history of Elkins. The school, located on South Davis Avenue, was built in 1909. It is designed in the Georgian- Revival style by Fairmont architect Andrew C. Lyons and was constructed of locally available building materials such as hand-cut sandstone, brick, and native hardwoods. The eight room schoolhouse design was very modern for its day. It featured a modified “H” floor plan, rows of large double-hung windows, large open rooms with cloakrooms, twin sets of staircases, wide halls, indoor plumbing, washrooms, kitchen, electric lights, and central heat.

 In 1910, the school’s architecture was highlighted in a publication by what was then called the “West Virginia Department of Free Schools.” First Ward’s design was described as one that should be emulated in cities across the state.

First Ward served as a school until 1976, when it was converted into a warehouse for the school district. Fortunately, changes then were minor, but little maintenance has been done since. The only major alteration to the exterior came in the 1980’s, when the original front portico was replaced with an overhead garage-type door to facilitate the loading of quantities of books into the building.

C-Hope (Citizens for Historical Opportunity, Preservation and Education in Randolph County) has been working to save other Elkins landmarks like the Darden Mill. Now, C-Hope needs your help with the Old First Ward School.

With the support of the County Board of Education, we are developing a reuse plan for the school. We want to make it over into a self-sustaining asset to our community. So far, we have:

• obtained support from the Board of Education, City of Elkins, and the Elkins Historic Landmarks Commission

• submitted the building to the West Virginia State Historic and Preservation Office for nomination to the National Register

• applied for a Development Grant

But that’s not all. We are currently seeking help to stabilize the roof and weatherize the exterior envelope to prevent any further damage to the structure.

STATE OF THE BUILDING TODAY

Today, despite the lack of maintenance, the school is still a gem with wide open rooms, grand staircases, beautiful maple flooring and oak wainscoting. With your help—with ideas, participation, or other contribution—the First Ward School stands ready to be adaptively reused.

For further details, read more about the First Ward School in the latest issue of  the
C-HOPE NEWSLETTER.

FIRST WARD SCHOOL ON 2009 ENDANGERED LIST

First Ward School has been selected by Preservation Alliance of West Virginia for the 2009 Endangered List. This designation will help to highlight the need to save the building, raise public awareness, and provide technical assistance to help with planning and preservation.

First Ward School building was closed as a school in the 1970s and was used as a storage facility for a number of years thereafter. It is essentially abandoned now, with an increasingly serious roof leak. It sits next to the old Elkins High School, which is not as old but is in much worse condition, and is slated for demolition as soon as funding can be found.

C-HOPE and Elkins Historic Landmarks Commission funded an initial study of the building, working to persuade the school board that the building should be saved and adaptively reused, instead of being torn down with the High School. C-HOPE is seeking support letters for grant funding to repair the roof. Anyone interested in helping on behalf of the building, please contact C-HOPE for more information.