Teacher, Ellett C. Smith is standing to the far left with his students at the West Union School in 1907. The one room school building was the first one built in this community and was located across from the West Union Church on the branch of Stony Creek 3.6 miles northwest of Marlinton, West Virginia. Back Row, standing: Teacher E. C. Smith, Lanie Beverage, May VanReenen, Mamie VanReenen, Ida Beverage, Clarence Kellison, Sterl Dilley, Albert VanReenen, Clawson Beverage, Neal Beverage, Roy Kellison, Roy VanReenen, Bernard VanReenen. The known names of those seated on the Front Row: Daisy Beverage, Bertie Beverage, Susie Kellison, Grace VanReenen, Lee Beverage, Gilbert VanReenen, Porter VanReenen, Rossie Sharp, Forest VanReenen, Lonnie VanReenen.
A new school was built on Duncan’s Lane in 1912. Among those teaching in this school were: Bertha Baxter Grogg, Brady Hopkins, Myrtle Blanche Hill, Elsie Gilmore VanReenen, Nellie Hefner Williams, Grace Shearer, Dameron Barlow Sharp, Margaret VanReenen Barlow, Annas Cole Row, Jane VanReenen Dilley, Elsie Adkison, Rebecca Jackson, Glenna Barnes Hayes, Ruby Gum, and Lila Orndorff. West Union School was closed in 1952. (Courtesy of Dorothy Johnson; ID: PHP000001)
“Preserving Pocahontas” is a private non-profit organization that digitizes and preserves historical records and photographs relating to the history of Pocahontas County. Selected items in our On-line Digital Library may be found at pocahontaspreservation.org/omeka or preservingpocahontas.org and are freely available to the public for research, education, and personal enjoyment.
If you have photographs or documents to be scanned for the Historical Archive contact Preservation Officer B. J. Gudmundsson at 304-799-3989 or email [email protected] High resolution prints and digital images are also available.
