Historic Bramwell School

With the closing of both Bramwell grade and high schools a group of Bramwell citizens recently met at the school with the Superintendent of Schools to discuss what would happen with the trophies and unique school relics, once the school was closed. After hearing from the group and discussions with the Mercer County Board of Education it was agreed that the Bramwell citizens should have the items. The town representatives assured the Board of Education at that time that the purpose would be to put the items on display for the general public to enjoy.

This past December (2004) the school buildings were put up for auction, and just a few days prior to that approval was given to retrieve the school items as requested. This included the trophies, pictures, uniforms, and other items which were felt pertained to the history of the school. Those items were placed in various places in the town of Bramwell until the town could find a place to display them. The town has in place at the Bramwell Train Depot a tobacco car...there are only 3 in the nation. It was suggested to the Town Council at this month's meeting, that the tobacco car would make a wonderful "Millionaire Express" where the town could display the cherished school items. They gave approval for that.

There remains one problem... funding is needed to install lighting, to replace the heavy doors on the tobacco car, and to build a ramp (HDA) from the walkway of the Depot. It is hoped that Bramwell Alumni will come forward to assist in this project by mailing their donations to: Betty Harman Goins, PO Box 52, Bramwell, WV 24715 (304) 248-8381. It is anticipated that once the doors are installed to the tobacco car the town will be able to expedite the work and have the items on display. At any rate, repairs on many of the trophies are needed, and as many folks may guess, items that YOU remembered when YOU were in school, have been removed years ago. School representatives have tried to get all of items of historic nature, however, a lot of items may have also been previously removed. The purpose is to make what remains available for ALL to enjoy. It will take time to find a home for the items so they are in safe keeping.

The information use here was extracted from correspondence from Betty Harmon Goins, BHS Class '64. Betty is spearheading the effort to acquire funding for renovation of the historic tobacco car so it can be used as a home for the school material.The Historic Bramwell Site is not connected with this project. The material provided here is at the request of Betty Harmon Goins.