Hinton, WV Fire Destroys School, Jan 1940

FIRE DESTROYS HINTON SCHOOL.

DAMAGE IS SAID $50,000; NEW LOCATION SOUGHT FOR 400 PUPILS.

Hinton, Jan. 24. -- (AP) -- Fire which broke out in the basement of the Central school building at 5 o'clock this afternoon destroyed the 14-room brick structure.
The origin was not determined.
MRS. MARGARET NICELY LEIDIG, Summers county school superintendent, said the building was a "total loss." She declined to estimate the damage, but said it was "partly covered" by insurance.
Unofficial estimates placed the loss at about $50,000.
MRS. LEIDIG announced she would confer with officials tomorrow on a new location for the 400 students deprived of classrooms.
The Hinton high school, located nearby and which was threatened by the flames, was dismissed for the remainder of the week.
The Central building was essentially an elementary school, although part of the high school work was carried on there. Also, it was said to contain a quantity of county school records.
Erected in 1895 with a later addition, Central served as the high school building until a new one was constructed in 1925.
There are three other elementary schools in the community.

Charleston Gazette West Virginia 1940-01-25
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Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!