FAIRMONT, W.Va. — Laura Ingalls Wilder and Fairmont State University students may have something in common in the fall as the one-room schoolhouse reopens its doors for classes.
Fairmont State and Pierpont Community & Technical College have teamed up to provide needed repairs to the one-room schoolhouse near the entrance of the university, according to Fairmont State construction manager Stephanie Slaubaugh.
According to a Fairmont State press release, the schoolhouse’s original location was in Rymer, about 8 miles from Mannington.
The press release said the original log building was constructed by William Snodgrass in 1840 to serve as a church and school.
In 1871, the building was replaced by the white frame schoolhouse that now stands on Fairmont State’s campus.
The press release said it served as both a free subscription school and later a public school with the Mannington District before ceasing operations before 1950.
Slaubaugh said the move had caused nail holes to widen and the building to structurally lean…