Preserve WV AmeriCorps member Helps Preserve Fairmont's Dunbar School

By Brooke Thomson

The Dunbar School has a lot of history and meaning to the city of Fairmont.  During my service, I chose to help clean up and paint the first level hallway of the school.  The Dunbar School opened in 1929 and was the only school for black children in Fairmont, WV and the only African-American high school in Marion County. It was home to grades one through twelve. The Dunbar School officially closed in 1955 due to the federally mandated end of segregated public education. The school was then put on the National Register of Historic Places in 2015.  I luckily had the help of some great volunteers to complete this project including: Nikki Lewis, Sandra Scaffidi, John Pitman, Robin Gomez, and Houston Richardson. 
 
This building has some great potential and just needs a little love and paint.  Hopefully one day this building will serve the community of Fairmont just like it did back in the day.  Community member, John Pittman stated “I’m so thankful for the efforts of PAWV AmeriCorps and volunteers who, through their efforts, showed how important this structure is.  Not only are we preserving a significant building, but we are creating a community gathering space for a new generation”.  As John stated this building would be a great place for a new generation to use, whether it be used for the school system, sports, or child care.  Through PAWV AmeriCorps and the community members of Fairmont, this goal can be accomplished. 
 
This is just one foot in the right direction of saving this building.  With the help of the city, county, and volunteers the hope is for this building to be restored and put back to use by Marion County community members.