Information Needed on
former
Coalwood, Berwind and War High Schools
Robert Bonar wrote:
I have been searching for some information on the schools that
consolidated to form Big Creek, and I wondered if you could help. I am
currently working on a project (in my spare time, it's a hobby) that deals
with high schools in the state that have been consolidated or closed.
Although Wahama claims to be, I believe that Big Creek is the first true
consolidated high school in the state. My questions actually concern the
former high schools at Berwind, Coalwood, and War (both the white and
black schools). If you can provide answers to any of the following
questions, or know someone who can, I would be very appreciative. I have
come up empty in my attempts to find this information in the State
Archives.
1. Do the old high school buildings at Coalwood and War (both the white
school and Excelsior) still exist? I have already learned from a former
Berwind resident that the high school building there burned. I plan on
coming to McDowell County in August or September and take pictures of the
old buildings, but I wasn't sure if they were still there.
2. Does any information survive on what Berwind, Coalwood, and War's
mascot and school colors were? I have learned that Berwind Elementary was
the Broncos/Red and Black, Coalwood Junior High was the Robins/Maroon and
white (in the 1950s) and War is the Warriors/Blue and White. However,
nothing I have read or talked to anyone about can confirm that these were
adopted from the old high schools, though it seems likely.
I really would appreciate any information you might have on the subject or
any leads you can give me. There probably aren't many alumni of those
three schools left, and I know I haven't found much documented information
on this subject, so I am beginning to worry that this has been lost
forever. Thank you very much for your time, and also thanks for the
fantastic Coalwood website. It was a pleasure to look through the
pictures, and I'll definitely have to come down and see the town for
myself now!
Thanks again!
Robert Bonar,
Harrisville, WV
If anyone has any information
they'd like to share with Robert, please e-mail him directly at
cobcom78@yahoo.com
