UHS History
In 1903, the second Union Academy, located on Elmwood Street in Union, West Virginia, served as the high school. The Union Academy closed in 1910 and the new Union High School was organized.
The picture below was taken in the early 1900′s showing students on the front porch of the Academy.
Union High School was destroyed by a tornado in May of 1921.
The school was rebuilt in 1921 and the Union High School was in the upper level and the Union Elementary was in the lower level.
In 1939, a new Union High School was erected. The Monroe County Board of Education purchased land from the Davidson heirs (Mary Davidson) in April of 1939. Additional parcels of property were purchased from Albert S. and Izzie Johnston, Henry and Fannie Wikel and James and Emma Roles. These properties comprised the land on which the high school and playing fields were situated from 1939 until its closure in June of 1994. The new Union High School consisted of grades 7 thru 12. The old building remained as the Union Elementary School.
In the 1940’s, a cafeteria-vocational building addition pictured below was constructed behind the main facility. This was a two-story structure which was destroyed by fire in the fall of 1948.
After the fire, classes were held on the stage in the main building. Then an additional wing was added to the back of the original building, adding a library to the facility. Other additions were made in the following years.
This facility served as Union High School until it closed in 1994.
The Last Year – 1994
A Farewell To Union High School
The Alumni of Union High School will always cherish the memories of our school days at UHS for over fifty years. The “End of the Road” came for Union High School in 1994, when the doors were closed forever!
The Building was razed in 1997.
Union High School Demolished
“The Winds of Change”
Submitted by the Monroe Watchman (the pictures and most of the text).
Union High School was erected in 1939, by the Administration of Public Works during the presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt. On Saturday, May 24, 1997, a torch was applied to the Vo-Ag building at the Union High School Complex. The contractor responsible for the demolition of the building had, in an effort to minimize both time and cost, decided to burn as much of the structure as possible before dismantling the remainder. The main portion of the High School was soon razed as well, to make room for the construction of the new middle school.
The controlled burn was accomplished by the combined efforts of the fire departments of Union, Alderson, Lindside, Ballard, Ronceverte and Fairlea. The job was completed without mishap, with the exception of the fact that a shower of ashes rained down upon the town. The picture below shows the gloom and sadness of the remains of our school building after it had been burned.
For those who count themselves among the alumni of Union High School, the memory of the passing of this institution will remain ever so slightly bitter.
The Union High School Cornerstone
The cornerstone for Union High School built in 1939 was located on the wall, at the entrance door, on the left side of the building. The cornerstone contained the following inscription.
UNION HIGH SCHOOL
Erected — 1939
by the
Board of Education
in the
County of Monroe
West Virginia
Board of Education
R. D. Nickell, President
W. O. Raines
E. I. Terry
A. S. Thompson
W.B. Fullen
Guy H. Biggs, Superintendent
Walter F. Martens, Architect
E. H. and E. M. Couch, Contractors
Union High and Elementary School Cornerstone
Union Elementary was built in 1874 and in 1910 the High School extension was added. However, in May 1921, a tornado destroyed this building. In 1921, a new building was erected for Union High School and Union Elementary. The cornerstone contained the following inscription.
UNION DISTRICT
HIGH AND GRADED SCHOOL
Erected 1921 by J. W. Fisher
Board of Education
A. S. Johnston, President – W. D. Givens
H. L. Crawford, Secretary – J. C. Parker