Wardensville Graded School #2 (1936 - 1950)

PUBLIC BUILDING. ACCESS THROUGH DRIVEWAY.

Now serving as the Wardensville Visitor’s Center, this relocated building once served as a temporary schoolhouse while a new structure underwent construction. The one story, two room school served Wardensville students (grades 1 to 8) from 1936 until 1950.

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

Researchers: Channing Carr & Shefa Nola Benoit

Before 1910, there were six schools within four miles of Wardensville. Sugar Grove, Waites Run, North Mountain, Crest Hill, Moriah School, and Slate Rock schools all served their individual communities before consolidating into Wardensville.

Consolidation was a contentious topic during the time. Former school Board President L.B. McNiell voiced his opposition to consolidating schools in an opinion piece in the Moorefield Examiner. He expressed the desire to put funds towards more one-room school buildings instead of large school houses in Wardensville, Mathias and Moorefield. It was his belief that this would be better for students, teachers and schools. His opposition was felt by many during the 1900’s as one and two room schools slowly closed down. Many saw the schools as a source of community and culture and were afraid of losing identity without them.

While construction took place for a new graded school building, the Board of Education of the Capon District ordered this building be built to serve as a temporary placement until the new schools completion. The building housed students until it was moved to its current location by RC Hott. It now serves as the Wardensville Visitors Center. The Visitor Center helps tell the story of Wardensville and offers recommendations on destinations while in town. The Visitors Center also hosts Art and History exhibits. Their hours are Wednesday - Saturday 11am - 4 pm and Sunday 12 - 4 pm. Visitors can find information about tourism-related businesses and maps to fine their way around the County and across the State.

“Ex-Head of School Board Takes Stand Against Bond Plan.” Moorefield Examiner

[Moorefield,WV], 2 Febuary 1938, wvnewspapers.advantage-preservation.com/viewer/?t=37738,37739&i=t&d=01011837-1

2312021&e=opposing

passage&m=between&ord=e1&fn=the_moorefield_examiner_usa_west_virginia_mooref

ield_19380202_english_8&df=1&dt=1. 5/1/2022.

“Visitors Center and Town Hall | Visit Wardensville, West Virginia.” n.d. Wardensville Main St.

https://www.visitwardensville.com/visitors-center-and-town-hall.

West Virginia. State Dept. of Education, Thomas C. Miller, and Cornell University Library.

1904. History of Education in West Virginia. Internet Archive. Charleston, The Tribune

Printing Company. https://archive.org/details/cu31924009348313/page/n223/mode/1up?q=hardy.