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Residents urge Harrison County to clarify plans for Quiet Dale School, cite historic value
Summary
Community members told commissioners they fear Quiet Dale School — home to West Virginia Heritage Crafts and a CCC museum — may be sold or demolished and asked the county and school board to commit to preservation or partnership.
Community members urged the Harrison County Commission on Wednesday to publicly clarify whether the Quiet Dale School building is destined for sale or demolition and to commit to preserving the site’s historic and economic uses.
Mickey Petito opened public comment expressing alarm about “rumors about the Quiet Dale School being possibly sold and demolished” and noting the site’s link to a Civilian Conservation Corps camp and museum. Joyce Barlow, treasurer and 25‑year member of West Virginia Heritage Crafts, said the group has operated its teaching and retail space in the building since 1991 and stressed the site’s tourism value: “We are asking both the Board of Education and the Harrison County Commission do not sell us into oblivion. Partner with us.”
Speakers described incoming visitors from multiple states, classes and small‑business sales that support local stores and hotels, and the presence of an on‑site museum that draws long‑distance visitors. Barlow said the building needs repairs — including a new roof — and said attempts to get county repair crews to finish ceiling and leak repairs had been unsatisfactory.
Commissioners acknowledged the public concern and several raised procedural questions about who contacted the Harrison County Board of Education and how an appraisal and a county letter about the property reached the school board’s attention. Commissioner Henkel said the school board reported it had not received formal contact from the county about a sale and asked that any correspondence be made part of the county record. County staff said an appraisal had been ordered as part of a larger property‑valuation effort and that a letter addressed to the commission president was routed to the grants office.
No formal action to transfer or alter the status of the Quiet Dale School was taken at the meeting. Commissioners asked staff to provide copies of the letter(s) and related appraisals and to add those documents to the commission’s record for review at a future meeting.
