Photo provided by Jeff and Christy Little Shown in this 1890s photo are pupils of the second Franklin School to be built at the corner of Ninth and Juliana streets in Parkersburg. The previous school on that site was the first public school erected by the Wood County Board of Education. That one-story, three room, frame structure was used until 1876.

An old landmark

The old high school building now being removed by contractor Sam Keenan was built in 1865, and was, we understand, the first building erected for school purposes after this state was created, and was one of the largest in the state at that time.  It is now giving way to one of the most magnificent edifices ever erected in the state for educational purposes.

Mr. Keenan had a photograph taken of the old building before the work of demolition began and has also had a photograph of the new building as far as completed. Not a vestige of the old building will be found on the old site by Saturday, but the material will be used in the construction of another building to be used for high school purposes until the new building is completed.

The Parkersburg Weekly Sentinel

July 12, 1890

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A sad demise

Detective D.W. Heaton this morning swore out a warrant for S.S. Cook, owner of the old Franklin School building, on the west side of Ann Street, below Tenth Street, for maintaining a nuisance. The cellars under the house, it is reported, stand full of stagnant water and several cases of sickness have developed in the property near it.

(Note: This would be the original, 1865 Franklin School referred to in the item above.)

The Parkersburg Daily State Journal

March 10, 1898

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The new school

The only opposition that we have yet heard to the proposed loan for the purpose of erecting a building in place of the old shell now used as the Franklin School building, comes from Democratic sources, and if people are not on the alert it will be voted down. The present school house is a disgrace to our city, and it is but little better than infanticide to send our little ones to school there. It is one of the most important schools in the city and the building ought to be large, airy, substantial and healthy. Let every friend of our public schools see the “For Loan” is printed upon his ticket.

The Parkersburg Weekly Sentinel

Aug. 5, 1875

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The pupils of the Franklin School, this city, are studying phrenology and headology from a very interesting and historic skull. It is the cranium of the murderer Schafer, who was hanged here years ago, after having taken the lives of a half-dozen or more of his fellow citizens in this vicinity.

The Parkersburg Daily State Journal

Dec. 30, 1886

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The Wood County Historical Society works to preserve yesterday for tomorrow. For more information, contact P.O. Box 565, Parkersburg, WV 26102