Help Me Save the Schoolhouse

Hello, my name is Robert Williams and I am trying to save the historic Rominger Schoolhouse. The land it is on was just sold out of the family, and the new owners want to build on the site. I explained the historic community value and family value of the school, and they decided to allow me to have the school to preserve it, provided that I can move it. It would have simply been torn down otherwise. I am currently taking it apart board by board and moving the entire building to my adjacent land. My goal is to put it all back together and restore it so that it will last for future generations as a museum of a one-room schoolhouse. I also want to put it in usable condition again, so that it could be a place where family reunions of people in the community could take place. I also have a vision that of it being used for instructional purposes again, maybe teaching music lessons, carpentry skills, etc. The School was built in 1888 and operated until 1953. Students from grades 1-7 were taught by one teacher in this beautiful setting in a mountain farm community. As many as 40 students at a time attended here, and some are still living. I just recently received a call from a 100 -year- old woman who attended in 1928 who was excited that I am trying to save the school. Many students raved about the quality of education and values they received at the Rominger School and how it changed their lives. Several members of my family who attended, including my mother, uncle and aunt, went on to careers in education. My brother and I have continued the tradition of careers in education. The school was built on land provided by my Great Grandfather with wood that was cut on the property, including hemlock, chestnut, and poplar. My Grandfather purchased it back from the county at a sealed bid auction in 1953. He used it to hang tobacco in.My grandfather valued learning so much that he continued attending the school up until the age of 21. It was the only educational opportunity really available for him. Many people from the community have visited the school over the years, and children of my generation worked with my grandfather there and camped out in it even. Students at the school would bring lunch consisting of cornbread crumbled up in a mason jar of milk. They would sit it in the windows or in the nearby spring, shared by cattle and sheep, until lunchtime. This building is a remarkable remnant of our community and family history. People from the community over the years have written notes on the walls about their grandmother or relative attending the school from 1935-38, or similar memories. I have carefully numbered each board of the walls after removing them one by one, so it can be put back together like a puzzle. This building holds 135 years of memories for the community and our family. A building can often be a special place that holds some of the texture of our families and communities. When we lose all the old places, we lose the memories of our history and culture, and how the lives of our previous generations were shaped. All of the older members of our family are gone now, my Aunt was the last family owner of the school and she passed within the last year. I find myself now as one of the older generation. I have wondered what can I do to help hold and strengthen family and community for the next generations. Saving the school is one of the clear answers.

Along with the help of some community volunteers and sometimes 1 or 2 hired friends, we mostly have the building moved to my land, and most of the boards are now under tarps in my field. I have currently spent all of my own available funds on this process.

To rebuild and restore the school for future generations, it will need a new modern foundation. It formerly sat on rocks and logs. It will need a new roof and some roof structure. My grandfather last put a tin roof on the school in 1953, and it has leaked badly in recent years. As a result of the damages of time, it needs many new ceiling and floor boards. One wall will need to be basically rebuilt. It will need all new windows. Some siding will need to be replaced. I have some carpentry skills, but am no expert. I teach music online for a university, and perform as a professional saxophonist. With some hired help and lots of volunteer help I think the school can be saved and restored. it will require some funds be raised for this to happen. My best estimate is that will take between 59,000-65,000 to put the school back together and restore it to a usable state so that future generations can have the benefits of this historic and beautiful place. It is a 1200 square foot building with a roof as high as 35 feet. It is a large undertaking. With lots of hard work and faith we have nearly completed phase one. There were times while I was on a ladder removing one board at a time from these 13 feet tall walls, I was unsure we would get this far with it. Now I am having faith, that this project is possible for a 62-year-old music teacher and a community to achieve. I have never tried raising funds for anything before, but this is a project I believe in deeply, and it cannot happen without help in funding it. Thanks for reading this story and considering donating.