Located in a quiet valley in southeastern Braxton County, it was built in
1889 by a local builder. It measures 24 feet wide by 28 feet long and has
side walls with 3 broad windows in each. The transom lighted dront door is
sheltered beneath a small porch. The lone room, with pump shed attached, is
very much as it was when the last classes were held there in 1963. Various
size desks, a table with small, cane-bottomed chairs, a blackboard, and
framed pictures, remain in the school. The pot-bellied stove is in the
center of the room. Two frame, slant-roof toilets stand in the rear corners
of the yard. The historical group wa formed in late 1995 and have made
numerous repairs and restorations. A new split rail fence rurrounds the
regularly mowed yard and the newly pointe school was leveled and stabilized
and the roof replaced in 1925. The small picnic shelter now has electric.
A new, usable toilet was built, and some drainage installed. Constumed
guides conduct hands on tours for school groups and take displays to school
and civic events. Memorabilia for display has been collected, community
events sponsored, a picture of the first teacher and his class was hung
inside the school Public & private tours are available by appointment.
The Windy Run School was judged worthy of being listed on the National
Register of Historic Places and a placque was recently placed on the door of
the building. The Windy Run Historical School won the West Virginia Culture
& History Award in 1998. The annual Labor Day Sunday Homecomihg which was
started in 1948 has been revitalized and attendance has increased
tremendously.
The School receives no government funding but relies on active fund-raising
and a large group of caring volunteers who believe this little piece of
living history is worth saving. Further restorations and repairs will be
made as time and donations allow.
For more information contact: Windy Run Historical Association, 175 Little Birch Road, Sutton, West Virginia, 26601 or phone one of the following numbers:1-304-765-2747, 765-5164, 364-4679