subscriber servicessubscribecontact usabout ussite mapBuy a Classified
Thu, Nov 26 2009 

Published: November 28, 2008 02:39 am    print this story  

Folklife Center work moves along well

‘Barn raising’ planned to finish FSU project

By Katie Wilson
Times West Virginian

FAIRMONT Work on the Fairmont State University Frank and Jane Gabor West Virginia Folklife Center is moving along well.

Construction began this fall to renovate the historic property on the west side of campus formerly known as The Colonial Apartments (circa 1941) and The Kennedy Barn (circa 1903) on the original site of the Michael Kennedy Dairy Farm. After its renovation, the building will become the home of the Frank and Jane Gabor West Virginia Folklife Center.

Jim Decker, FSU associate vice president for facilities and capital projects, said the first part of the renovation is nearing completion.

“We’ve refinished the envelope of the building to keep moisture from further deteriorating the building,” Decker said.

That means the structure is now sporting a new roof, windows, doors, columns and beams on the first floor to help support the second floor. Also, utility lines have been “roughed in” so they will be ready to connect.

Getting the building’s structure in order means it will be easier to continue working on the structure through the winter.

Another part of the barn’s renovation is the fundraising.

The gift of $250,000 from alumni Frank and Jane Gabor of Baltimore got the project rolling. They are acting as honorary chairs of the $2 million campaign. To date, over $970,000 has been pledged toward the project.

“We are having a ‘barn raising’ to finish the center. Traditionally, barn raisings are a call to action, a call for help from the community. Barn raisings follow seasons, so now is the time to act,” said Dr. Judy P. Byers, director of the Folklife Center and Abelina Suarez Professor of English and Folklore.

“We Appalachians are proud, independent people who know how to survive and value helping others. The community always comes forth to bring help.”

“This center is a gift to the university, to the community, to West Virginia and to our entire Appalachian culture,” Byers said. “This center will stand the test of time and will be housed in an adaptive reuse historical facility that is on the National Register of Historic Places.”

Besides its historical significance as part of the Michael Kennedy Dairy Farm, the building has a special historical tie to the study of folklore and folklife.

Dr. Ruth Ann Musick, the primary female folklore scholar to preserve and perpetuate the cultural heritage of West Virginia mainly through the recording of supernatural legends, lived at Colonial Apartments from 1946 to her death in 1974.

Musick, who taught at Fairmont State College from 1946 to 1967, helped to revive the West Virginia Folklore Society in 1950 along with Dr. Walter Barnes of Fairmont State and Dr. Patrick Gainer of West Virginia University.

Since Musick’s death in 1974, Byers has served as executrix of Musick’s folklore estate, comprised of Musick’s own unpublished collections and the archives of the West Virginia Folklore Society.

“It was Dr. Musick’s wish that the collection be housed at Fairmont State and be used for programming and that someday a center or folklore study emphasis would be created,” Byers said.

To become a Barn Raising Campaign contributor, contact the Fairmont State Foundation, Inc. at (304) 367-4009 or toll-free at (866) 372-2586.

For more information on the Folklife Center, call Byers at (304) 367-4286 or Noel W. Tenney, Cultural Specialist, at (304) 367-4403.

E-mail Katie Wilson at kwilson@timeswv.com.

print this story  



autoconx
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Premium Jobs

Sales Consultant
Sales Consultant
Due to expansion, Bath Fitter is looking for a sales consultant in the Morgantown/Fairmont/Clarksb
...>MORE

Mountain State Physical Therapy
PHYSICAL THERAPIST Mountain State Physical Therapy is now accepting applications for a Full Time Staff Physical Therapis...>MORE

Customer Service Professionals
Customer Service Professionals
Receive in-bound
calls only!

Nothing is sweeter than a great career,
...>MORE

Patient Account Rep
Customer Service
 
 Patient Account Rep
On site at a Hospital-Morgantown WV area. Full time & part time p
...>MORE

DRIVER OPPORTUNITY
WE’RE SUCCESS DRIVEN

DRIVER OPPORTUNITY

Guttman Oil Company is seeking applicants for a Tankwagon
...>MORE

Account Representative – Patient Financial Services
Fairmont General Hospital
 
Account Representative – Patient Financial Services

Full-time position
...>MORE

Sales Persons
Urse Honda, West Virginia’s largest Honda dealer has immediate openings for sale people. Up to three positions are avail...>MORE

Training Specialist/ Clinical Associate
CENTER FOR
EXCELLENCE IN
DISABILITIES (CED)
ROBERT C. BYRD HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER

The Traini
...>MORE

full time
AFTER HOURS
HOSPICE NURSE
A full time After Hours RN position is available for Marion County to make visits to
...>MORE

J. F. Allen Company
J. F. Allen Company, Buckhannon, WV, is seeking a Staff Accountant for the corporate office. A four year degree required...>MORE

See all ads


 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2009. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index