Huntington Times

A historic schoolhouse in Cabell County, West Virginia, has been added to the National Schoolhouse Register. Originally built around 1888, this one-room schoolhouse served as an educational hub for the rural community near Glenwood. It was relocated to Marshall University's Huntington campus in 1995 and is now recognized by the Country School Association of America (CSAA) National Schoolhouse Registry Program. This program acknowledges school buildings that contribute positively to understanding the country school experience and their architectural and historical significance.

The recognition stems from efforts initiated in 1989 by Dr. Paul Lutz, Professor Emeritus of History at Marshall University. He began a research project focused on one-room schoolhouses in West Virginia. Reflecting on his work, Lutz shared an anecdote: “One student asked if she could interview her neighbor in lieu of a traditional research paper topic,” adding that the student explained, “‘When I told her I was majoring in Elementary Education, all she wanted to talk about was her years as a one-room schoolteacher’.”

Dr. Teresa Eagle, dean of the College of Education and Professional Development at Marshall University, expressed her interest in early education's legacy: “My mother attended a one-room school, the same school her mother had taught in several years before,” she said. “I’ve always been intrigued by the legacy of early education. We can still learn from their practices and values.”

Marshall’s College of Education and Professional Development oversees the structure, which houses the Ovie and Jesse Cline Museum. The museum archive was donated by alumnus Phil Cline in memory of his parents who were involved with one-room schools.

A plaque honoring this historic schoolhouse will be installed during a ceremony scheduled for June.