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Ashwood school to host archaeological dig
BY CHARLES GARRATT + STAFF WRITER
 | | Young people will have a chance to add to these bits and pieces of the past found in the old Ashwood school next week if they take part in the 4-H Archaeology day next Friday. (Recorder photo by Charles Garratt) |
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ASHWOOD - Young people will have an opportunity to explore the history of the nearly 100--year-old Ashwood school and learn about archaeology next Friday at a field day sponsored by 4-H.
The archaeology field day will continue the explorations and discoveries made by Pat Broyles and Dean Humphries. The couple has been renovating the structure and cleaning up the grounds of the Old Ashwood school over the past three years since they purchased the property.
Mike Wilke of Mill Gap, certified archaeological technician, and Dr. Mike Barber, state archaeologist for Virginia, will conduct the hands-on activities. They will teach participants techniques for digging and uncovering old school materials and artifacts.
Broyles and Humphries have already made many discoveries during renovation. They have found marbles from within the walls, plus pocket knives, locks, broken dishes, jars, books and papers.
 | | A mix of toys from the olden school days littered Humphries and Broyles' table cloth in their make shift home inside the old school building as they began to renovate. All were dug up in the backyard, and have been carefully washed, said Broyles. (Recorder file photo) |
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"The marbles we found in the school - half a gallon or more - were behind the walls," Broyles said. "When we took the floors up, they'd just fall down into the next room, and we found them in the dump site (outside)."
In addition to having a lot of fun, young people participating will learn the value of old materials and what those materials can tell people today about the those who attended the school when it was in operation.
Broyles and Humphries originally thought the school building was built in 1919. They recently discovered the building has an elite pedigree, and was actually built in 1908.
"The Ashwood school architect was Charles M. Robinson," said Broyles. From an Internet search, they learned Robinson designed the school - listed in the 28 pages of Virginia buildings designed by Robinson is the Ashwood School and the year 1908.
Robinson began his firm in 1889 and focused mainly on designing normal schools, according to his Web site. A normal school is a school or college for training teachers.
In addition to the Ashwood school, Robinson designed buildings at Mary Washington College in Fredericksburg, Radford University in Radford, Bridgewater College in Bridgewater, Virginia State College in Petersburg, among others.
Broyles found out about Robinson by doing a search for "C.R. Patterson" along with the words "carpenter" and "Ashwood school" she said. Twenty-eight pages of information came up on the computer screen, including the reference to Robinson and the date the Ashwood school was built.
From the information she has collected, Broyles located and contacted Robinson's great-grandson. The two are exchanging information about the school and its famous architect.
Broyles and Humphries live in one of the large classrooms on the main floor. Renovation work continues on the main floor and on the two rooms on the second floor.
"We had to replace the roof," Humphries said, as he thought back to the beginning of the project. While neither he nor Broyles express any regrets over the massive project, they both say it has kept them busy.
The building has two 2,500-square-foot floors and a full basement. When renovations are complete, the large downstairs hallway will be used for a museum.
Broyles and Humphries will continue to live in the building after renovations. In addition to their residence, the first floor will house an antique shop.
Humphries points to the original slate chalkboards he has reinstalled in one of the downstairs classrooms during a recent walk through of the first floor. Along with the chalkboards, he says the old water fountain will be put back in the hall and the entire original stage returned to the auditorium room.
One of the more interesting and visible parts of the school will also be restored, says Humphries. The large metal structure on the south side of the building is often mistaken for a chimney or furnace.
It is neither, says Humphries. It's the fire escape. The round metal housing encloses a spiral slide used as an escape from the second floor.
Ashwood school closed in 1969. The building was used as a high school from 1908 until 1927. It was a grade school from 1927 until it closed when Valley Elementary opened.
Broyles' and Humphries' hopes for the future are "a nice home to live in and that everyone will be able to appreciate and visit the building and take pride in what we're trying to save. You see so much destruction of landmarks; it's a shame. It's so wasteful, because we love the history of everything."
The deadline to register for the archaeological field day is Friday, June 22 and space is limited. Call the Bath County extension office at 540-839- 7261 to register or for more information.
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