Relocated to Marshall University’s Huntington campus in 1995, the schoolhouse now holds a distinguished place in the Country School Association of America (CSAA) National Schoolhouse Registry Program. This honor recognizes school buildings that contribute in some positive way to the appreciation and understanding of the country school experience and their unique architectural and historical heritage.
The recognition is the result of efforts dating back to 1989 when Professor Emeritus of History Dr. Paul Lutz launched a research project on one-room schoolhouses in West Virginia.
“One student asked if she could interview her neighbor in lieu of a traditional research paper topic,” Lutz said when writing about the project several years ago. “The student explained that, ‘When I told her I was majoring in Elementary Education, all she wanted to talk about was her years as a one-room schoolteacher’.”
Lutz’s dedication ultimately led to the relocation of the Union School to Marshall’s campus, where it continues to stand as a symbol of the university’s enduring commitment to teacher education.
“My mother attended a one-room school, the same school her mother had taught in several years before,” said Dr. Teresa Eagle, dean of the College of Education and Professional Development. “I’ve always been intrigued by the legacy of early education. We can still learn from their practices and values.”
Marshall’s College of Education and Professional Development maintains responsibility for the structure, which houses the Ovie and Jesse Cline Museum. The archive was gifted to the university by alumnus Phil Cline in memory of his parents who attended and taught in a one-room school.
A plaque honoring the one-room schoolhouse will be installed during a special ceremony in June.