Dignitaries ceremoniously take turns knocking bricks out of the corner of the Best Furniture Company Thursday afternoon to mark the beginning of demolition, and construction for the Renaissance Teacher’s Village. Chunks of brick fly as Bob Brown Project Manager for Reconnecting McDowell takes a swing at the building.
WELCH, W.Va. — Officials knocked bricks out of the old Best Furniture building Thursday afternoon to mark the start of the Renaissance Teacher’s Village project.
Reconnecting McDowell Board Chairman Gayle Manchin attended the ceremonial demolition event.
“Today is a very positive day in an initiative that began four years ago with Reconnecting McDowell,” Manchin said. “With Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, and myself realizing that we had a big project that needed to be addressed.”
Manchin said over time the initiative gained over 125 partners. “Each partner fits a very vital part, whether you’re a public or private entity, federal state or local, whether you’re faith community, a teacher, a student, a parent,” Manchin said. “Everyone has to have a belief and a commitment that raising the education opportunities in McDowell County are not only possible, they are absolutely critical…
