Abandoned school in WV, now demolished
Old Ravenswood School, Ravenswood West Virginia
The 1887 School in Ravenswood, located on Henry Street and dominating the skyline of the neighborhood in which it is located, is a local example of late 19th Century Eclectic architecture in this area of the state. Unlike most public schools in West Virginia, this one was built by the town of Ravenswood, rather than by the county school board.
The town of Ravenswood, situated on the left bank of the Ohio River thirty-five miles below Parkersburg, stands on lands once owned by George Washington. The town itself was first settled in 1810, and, though the first school began operation in 1837, Ravenswood did not get a post office until 1846. By the 1880 Ravenswood had become a thriving community of around 1,000 souls, rivaling the Jackson County seat of Ripley. Although several schools had been built in the town, the growing population of young people, had by the mid-1880s, outgrown the capacity of the existing educational facilities, with a total enrollment in 1887 of 125. That same year the Ravenswood Independent School District bowed to the demands of necessity and decided upon the erection of a new school building. The School Board was already in the position of owning a choice piece of land on Henry Street, deeded to them in 1883 by Henrietta F. Barre, a locally prominent citizen. In June of 1887 the members of the Ravenswood Independent School Board traveled upriver to Parkersburg, West Virginia, and Marietta, Ohio to look at public schools of those towns in an attempt to determine what type of school design they needed for their community. No apparent decision was reached, but the members came back to Ravenswood convinced that a large and imposing structure was needed for their growing town.
On August 17, 1887 the Board gave notice that it was accepting bids for the construction of a new school house. Ten bids were received and, on September 14, 1887 the Board announced it was awarding the contract to H. O'Blennes of Marietta, Ohio because "the plan and specifications call for a splendid building, and from Mr. O'Blennes' reputation as a builder, we will surely get it." Construction began almost immediately, as the housing situation among the students was becoming critical. By October the foundation was laid and, though construction halted during the hard winter of 1887-88, the new Ravenswood School was dedicated with much fanfare in August 1888. It had been erected in less than a year, at a cost of around $16,000.00.
This imposing two-story masonry structure, surmounted by a large tower and belfry was, at the time of its dedication, the dominant architectural work of the town. The Ravenswood School served the community for 80 years, as generations of children passed through its doors, many of whom went on to local and state prominence. The school was closed in 1968 and has since served as a storage house for the Jackson County Board of Education, which took over operation of the school in 1933. Locally significant as a good example of 19th Century Eclectic Architecture in a public building, it continues to serve the community as a point of interest. The Jackson County Board of Education has announced its intention to rehabilitate the old school and put it to adaptive use. In this way, the Ravenswood School will continue to serve the community.
Unfortunately, those plans failed, and the school was demolished in the early 1980s.
Building Description
The Old Ravenswood School was constructed in 1887-88 by the prominent Marietta, Ohio builder H. O'Blennes for the Ravenswood Independent School District. Facing on Henry Street in the midst of Ravenswood's quiet residential section, and flanked on either side by rectangular playgrounds which give it a sense of balance, the structure easily dominates the area.
The Old Ravenswood School is a significant local example of late 19th century Eclectic architecture. The structure is two stories high, of brick masonry construction. The building is symmetrical, and has an irregular hipped roof with a truncated tower that, until 1971, supported a belfry. There is a definite emphasis on the vertical front elevation. The main hip roof is dominated at each corner by a hipped pavilion. Enriched brickwork in the cornice and frieze of the Old Ravenswood School is a feature that characterizes, Victorian ornamentation. The front-elevation of the tower face is pedimented and embellished with so-called "Dog Tooth" brickwork. Of special note, in terms of detail, is the millwork of the north and south recessed porches.
Structurally the building is sound. The hardwood floors are sound, there is no masonry cracking, and the foundations are dry and solid.
The interior of the two-story building is not in as good a condition as the exterior, having suffered decades of neglect. Yet it too appears solid. Each floor consists of four large high-ceilinged classrooms. A unique feature to the interior design of the building is the direct access stairway to the second floor that begins from the front arched entrance. This staircase provides access to a landing at mid-level, which allows continued direct access to all classrooms on the second floor. The side entrances, north, and south, provide access only to the first floor.
The double-hung windows have been boarded up during the period of its vacancy in order to give stability to interior features.
(1979)
(1979)
