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Completed in 1912, Clendenin Middle School was
originally known as the Big Sandy District High School. This building
attests to the early twentieth century growth of public education in the
state. The town of Clendenin was the first community in West Virginia to
take advantage of a new law allowing Boards of Education to sell bonds for
school construction. For the sum of $35,000, the Board of Education built a
marvelous Neo-Classical Revival building that represented the aspirations of
a growing community. In 1996, the school was listed on the National Register
as part of the Clendenin Historic District. In 2002, the school closed its
doors and remained vacant and for sale until August 2004, when the school
board donated it to a local economic development group, “25045—A New
Clendenin,” formed in 2003 to revitalize the historic town. The majestic old
school building will be incorporated as an integral part of their effort.
Copyright © 2005 Preservation Alliance of
West Virginia
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