Historically Speaking – History of Doddridge County’s High Schools

   The local news train is traveling full steam ahead, carrying the grim news of the possible tear down of the crumbling former Doddridge County High School building in the town of West Union.  Such news has caused for me to have been asked by numerous local citizens, as well as received phone calls from past citizens of this county, about the history of the old Doddridge County High School, as well as the West Union High School which preceded the one of current discussion.

   Most of us have heard stories and read histories regarding the old West Union High School and its transition into the Doddridge County High School. Yet, there seems more exciting bits of information that reveals itself each time we readdress it.

   Originally Doddridge County had two high schools, Carr High School which was located near the Center Point Area and West Union High School located in the town of West Union.  In 1933, the two high schools combined to create the Doddridge County High School when the County Unit Plan went into effect.  

   You might be surprised to know that the West Union Independent School District was created back in the 1870s.  

   Rev. Francis J. Ashburn, who became the first Superintendent of Schools, and Dr. William Strickling were among the first teachers followed by John D. McReynolds, Virgil Allen, C. C. Freeman (Grandfather of Fred and Hugh Freeman).  Other teachers and principals were George W. Bland, E. F. Garrett, Ida Faisser, Elizabeth Ingle, Annie Neely, Geneva Bee, Stella Johnson, U. G. Summers, Bruce, Summers, O. A. Ashburn, James W. Strickling, Judge Marion H. Willis, C. C. Showalter, and Hugh Hammond. I know that some names have regrettably been omitted. (Should you know of any unmentioned teachers and/or principals, please contact us at [email protected], or message us on Facebook, or you can call me at 304 873-1540.)

   Some of you probably already know, but it’s worth repeating that the site of the former Doddridge County High School that many of us attended during the building’s lifespan and the old brick West Union High School were part of a 120-acre tract which belonged to Dr. John Jacob Ingle. On December 13, 1889, Mrs. Mary A. Stuart (together with the heirs of Judge Chapman J Stuart) deeded 4 ½ acres of that land to the West Union Independent School.  The deed can be found in Deed Book 18 at page 391.  Interestingly, Nathan Davis deeded lot No. 4, which is on the corner opposite the front of the Methodist Church and formerly the residence of Mrs. Lucy Dotson for the purpose of the West Union Academy.

   According to an article written in the West Union Herald in 1957: “One of the earliest schoolrooms to be used was on the site of what used to be Michaels Restaurant. After the fire of 1858, which destroyed most of the buildings on either side of Main Street, the West Union Public School occupied a building where Casto Funeral Home is now (was then) located.  The building was divided into the upper rooms for the older and more advanced students and the lower rooms for the younger pupils.

   The red brick school building shown in the above photograph, and which served for a number of years for both high school and grade pupils was built in 1891.

   About 1910 or 1911, the Board of Education added an auditorium upstairs, two rooms downstairs and a complete basement with a central heating system.  Before that time, outside toilets were used.  Water was obtained for drinking purposes from the old pump which was located just east of where the coal shed stood.  Several years elapsed, though, before the town of West Union put in a filtration system, making the city water fit for drinking purposes.”

List of Principals

   Among the earlier principals of West Union High School were: Luther Sutton, Amos Brissey, U. I. Jenkins, Bruce Borrus, Florence Charter, F. E. Strickling, Earl Drummond, French A. Yoke, Edgar B. Simms, and Theodore Holden.

   The principals of West Union High School, according to Kyle McCormick, director of the WV Archives and History, are as follows:

The Former Doddridge County High School

   “For several years there was much talk about the need of a new school building, but little actually was done.  In 1935-36, a first attempt was made and failed to pass by the necessary 60% vote majority.  A year or two later another attempt was made.  After an intensive campaign on the part of the people interested in education in this county, the bond issue passed.  The present (former) High School was the result.  The cost was approximately $225,000, paid for entirely by the taxpayers of Doddridge County. The county was entitled to receive P.W.A. funds on the matching basis, but these funds were never allocated for some reason.

   The faculty and student body moved into the new building at the beginning of the second semester of the 1940-1941 school term on January 13, except Mr. Hurst, who taught science.  He was forced to stay in the old building because the new building had no science laboratory at that time.

   Seven members of the faculty who moved into the new building are still teaching there (were still teaching in 1957).  They are (were) Hugh Hurst, Earnest Smith, Robert Murphy, Maurcie K Wilcox, Murray Davis, Earl Strickling and Mrs. Helen Cox.”

   The former “new” Doddridge County High School boasted 22 classrooms, 4 teacher’s lounges, a principal’s office and waiting room, medical room, and well lighted corridors.  Two large rooms were provided and equipped for industrial arts and an instructor was added which created a good deal of interest throughout the county.

   In 1961, a new modern gymnasium was built for the Doddridge County High School.  It was 140 ft. long and 94 ft. wide and contained 5,000 sq. ft. of maple flooring was used in the playing floor.  There were large, laminated wood arches between 5 spans, or bays, to give the roof firm support.     The building contained dressing rooms for both visiting and home teams, separate dressing rooms for boys and girls physical education classes, a coach’s quarters, and public toilets. Concession space ran nearly the full width of the building at the left of the entrance behind the ticket window.     There were 17,560 concrete blocks used in the building.  The gymnasium opened for the public’s inspection on February 3, 1961.

   The new Doddridge County High School was completed in 2017.  It was funded with a $9 million school bond and $9 million from the state School Building Authority.  It is located approximately 2 miles west of West Union on U.S. 50.  Local citizens said that while they were pleased with the new high school, they wished it had been built back at the original location.  They were concerned with it being so close to the four-lane highway.   Former students say they will miss the old school, but the current inaugural students knew they were making history as they began their second half of the school year in the brand-new high school on that February 2017 day.  

Forever humble, God Bless.
Patricia Harris
D.C. Historical Society