In a few years, a historic building in the West Marion community, where Black students attended school during the time of segregation, could become a community center where McDowell County residents can come together.
Paula Swepson, executive director with West Marion Inc., stands before the old Mountain View School building. She and other activists plan to turn it into the Alphonzo Hardy Resilience Hub.
This is the west side of the former Mountain View School building on Hudgins Street in the West Marion community. The school’s gymnasium once stood in this vacant spot.
The former school stand vacant after use as an industrial site.
MIKE CONLEY, MCDOWELL NEWS
This is one empty section of the former Mountain View School building. Paula Swepson with West Marion Inc. said the building is in good shape despite being left vacant for so long.
MIKE CONLEY, MCDOWELL NEWS
This is another section of the former Mountain View School building in West Marion.
MIKE CONLEY, MCDOWELL NEWS
The former school building covers 20,000 square feet and sits on 3.15 acres in West Marion community.
MIKE CONLEY, MCDOWELL NEWS
After being used for industrial purposes for many years, the former Mountain View School building and land was donated in April to the nonprofit West Marion Inc. by McDowell County Millwork, LLC. At the donation were Alan Phillips of McDowell County Millwork/Mount Mitchell Flooring; Paula Swepson of West Marion Inc. and Alphonzo Hardy, community leader and namesake for the new center.
FILE PHOTO
The building was originally Hudgins High and the later Mountain View School, the school for African Americans which opened in 1956 in West Marion.
Paula Swepson, executive director with West Marion Inc., stands before the old Mountain View School building. She and other activists plan to turn it into the Alphonzo Hardy Resilience Hub.
This is the west side of the former Mountain View School building on Hudgins Street in the West Marion community. The school’s gymnasium once stood in this vacant spot.
This is one empty section of the former Mountain View School building. Paula Swepson with West Marion Inc. said the building is in good shape despite being left vacant for so long.
After being used for industrial purposes for many years, the former Mountain View School building and land was donated in April to the nonprofit West Marion Inc. by McDowell County Millwork, LLC. At the donation were Alan Phillips of McDowell County Millwork/Mount Mitchell Flooring; Paula Swepson of West Marion Inc. and Alphonzo Hardy, community leader and namesake for the new center.