The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-06-10
NORMAL. School
NONLOCATED'IN
new BUILDINGS
institution Here an 0utgroWtF1
of orfnal School at Mar
shall College.

The present Fairmont State Nor
nal School was originally the our.
growth OF the Normal School at
Marshall College, Hunting ton- by
acts Of theELegislature OF 1857,
the Normal School was established
at Marshall College and board OF
regents created. DR.. William Il.
White Of Fairmont, at that time
state superintendent or free
schools, sand previously to his cleo
Stionsto that department head Of an
the idea OF asking for a branch OF
TIE schootSto be established in this
CITY. communicating the idea to
8f1is friends; among whom was for
n1er Governor A B. Fleming, he
received their hearty support, and
4 ter was speedily obtained un
der the title Of THE Regency OF
West Virginia Normal School,
was made by the LegiE-
iatureG for appropriating $4,000 to
stthesregency to be applied in estab-
Fishing a normal school.
Byspower granted by the Leg1s-
fature In 1868, the state superin-
;tendent5 OF schools was authorized
purchase from the regency OF
the West Virginia Normal School,
sfts5property%at not more than 81
900 an ditiona1 appropriation OF
So 00 to be made for the schoo!
after the purchase:
s;r,1r.anteds in $50, the independent
school district of Fairmont was
authorized to place. part of the
pupils OF the district under the di-
srection of teachers in the Norm al
school as model school. to be
taught in the Normal Building. At
that time the Normal School was
In abuilding on the cor
sner where the Watson Hotel now
stands.
Dr. Z. r. White was the first
principal, holding office until the
fall Off 1870, when he was succeed
ed by Prof. j. C. Gilchrist. who
after serving year was followed
sby@D DR.. =. g.. Blair of Parlsersburg.
Her at the head of the in
8stitution until his death in 1878.
THE Normal literary society was
formed during the year of 1872.
sAnother society, the Philemateau
Wa organized in 1873. It was
eliminated at Sthe end of the year.
The alumni Sassociation was formed
sat the end of the term in the spring
of q 873. ass
Miss =. Dickey was in charge
from the time of the death Of DIR
Blair until 1882 when she resigned
Col: R. E. Fleming. The
sschoo1swas charge Of U. S. Elem
singsduring the term of 1882. and the
snextyear Prof. Conrad a. Sipe took
schaTg
During a period in the history of
the Normal; School the work was
the present home Of
The West SVfrginian.
81 In 18s9 Mr.. Sipe resigned. and
Miss Cameron took his place. In
1880 she resigned to marry George
Morrow, and Prof. John Roemer OF
wheeling was elected to take her
place He served but one year, J.
Walter Barnes taking his place
sss On March 8, 1891. tho Legisla.
states Interest in the old building
for $4,000 and $4,000 more was
for new Normal
School Building. The school moved
into SitsSnew home in Fairmont ave
nueain 1893. Professor Barnes re
manned Z at the head Of the school
until 1901, when he was followed by
Marcus NJ. Ross. Mr.. Ross was
taken Ill in the fall of 1902 and died
ina few months The next princi-
nal was Prof. w. L. MCGOWAN. o.
SEFIeming took charge in the fall
OF 905 Following q. S. Fleming
came sDr.#C. y. c. Bennett who
served until 1910, when Prof. o. T.
,Wood1ey Of New JERSEY was elect
ed head Sof the institution.
He served until 1915 when he wa
followed by Joseph Roster. who is
stilIsinS charge and has made a fine
record. During his time. the new
Normal School buildings. far out
Locust avenue have been complet
ed. and the school moved from the
old home in Fairmont avenue. A
new girls dormitory is Just about
One Of the best tea CHI
arss colleges In the country Is the
next aim Of the Normal School.