Lost City School (1894 - 1966)

PRIVATELY OWNED COMMUNITY BUILDING. ACCESS TO DRIVEWAY. DO NOT TRAVERSE PROPERTY.

There were two lost city schools between 1894 - 1966, both two-room, wood-framed structures. In addition to instructing students through 8th grade for six to eight months each year, the school served as a community hub, as it does today. The Lost City School is now the Lost City Community Clothing Bank (which is temporarily closed) and provides needed essentials to the community.

This is a Mountain Heritage Trails project made possible through the support of the Hardy County Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area AmeriCorps program, and the West Virginia University Fulcrum Project.

Heritage Trail Project Coordinator: Shefa Nola Benoit

Researcher: Shefa Nola Benoit

There were two Lost City School buildings on Upper Cove Road. Both were two-room, wood-framed structures. The first one built in 1894 and became a residence. The second school was built in 1925, just further down the road from the first one about 1/2 mile.

School days at Lost City School were consistent with those of other schools at that time. Each day began with the pledge, hymns, and devotions before embarking on standard studies which included English, history, math, science and more. Students brought their own lunches and had recess daily for both physical activity and socialization. Water was collected from a nearby stream. Depending upon funding, the school year could be anywhere from six to eight months and began at 9:00 AM and ended by 4:00 PM and only went to the 8th grade.

The Moorefield Examiner has regular announcements about the Lost City School spelling bees which occurred with regularity. In approximately 1935, the students of received bus transportation to and from school. Before then, like all early school houses, students walked to school.

The school also served the community beyond the education of their children. It hosted a variety of social meetings and boxed suppers. Even after it closed in 1966, the structure remained in service to the community by first becoming a voting precinct, community action branch center and now, a community clothing bank. Some traditions die hard!

Whitson, Suzanne. Remembering Early Hardy County, WV Schools: The 1976 Bicentennial Project. Moorefield, West Virginia: Hardy County Board of Education, 1976.