Marsh Fork
1937 – Submitted by Ted Lacy, Marshfork High School
A memorial poem by a Marsh Fork alumni:
Marshfork (sic.)
The day was warm and bright,
And we sat in the light
On the wall in front
Of Marsh Fork High School
The world seemed young,
And we did too…
We never imagined a day this blue—
Heads filled mostly with thoughts of each other,
And not with thoughts of Algebra Two.
Marsh Fork was Our school,
The key to the tools
To unlock our future.
That warm, bright day has passed.
A future so wide and vast
Belongs now to another cast.
Our school is gone…
Only remembered as an old, sweet song
Of possibilities on a day warm and bright
As we sat in the light, on the wall
In front of our Marsh Fork High School.
…………..By Charles T. Bradford
Marsh Fork High School Memorial Park
The history of Marsh Fork High School Memorial Park began, as many things in Raleigh County history, with coal mining. In the early 20th century, rich coal deposits along the Coal River drew miners and their families to settle in the area around present-day Whitesville, Montcoal, Stickney, and Naoma, among other communities. Many Southern West Virginia communities were founded and owned as company towns, such as nearby Eunice, WV that was owned and operated by Princess Dorothy Coal Company until 1954.196 The coal industry caused a population boom in Southern West Virginia, catapulting the population from 93,000 to more than 445,000 between 1880 and 1920.197 Because of the rapidly expanding population, communities began to form, bringing shops, churches, and schools with them.
Montcoal was no different, beginning as a town to support Colcord Coal Company miners in 1918.198 In 1945, ownership of the mines shifted to Armco Steel and again to Peabody Coal Company in 1984. Coal continued to be Montcoal’s primary industry until 2013, when the mines were finally closed by Alpha Natural Resources following the Upper Big Branch Mine explosion of 2010. Following the tragedy, former resident Bill Bartlett mourned this new perception of Montcoal, saying “Suddenly, the state, the nation, and the world heard of Montcoal, W. Va. They did not hear of it as a town, but a geographical location in southern West Virginia where men died in a most hazardous occupation—coal mining.”
It’s important to remember that Montcoal was a thriving community for generations of miners and their families. When reflecting on his childhood Bartlett noted, “We had a store, a restaurant, a post office, a barbershop, a family doctor, tennis courts, shuffleboard, scout troops, and a men’s baseball team… What a unique and wonderful experience to have grown up on Big Coal River in Montcoal.”199
Marsh Fork High School was founded under the name Montcoal High School and opened its doors in 1925 as a two-room school.200 In 1928, Montcoal grew to six rooms, and further to nine rooms by 1930. Montcoal High School saw its first seven students graduate the same year. As a retrospective in the 1950 edition of Marsh Fork’s yearbook wrote, “we salute the old grads of this school who had a desire to receive an education despite the fact there were no paved roads, bus facilities, and other modern conveniences… We feel they helped to blaze the trail and lay the foundation.”201
1930 also saw the establishment of the school’s football team, and the addition of a school library and gymnasium. The school also adopted its mascot, the Bulldog, in honor of football coach C.D. Munson’s own beloved pet. Today, Marsh Fork Elementary School retains the bulldog as its mascot and the High School’s school colors–orange and black. In 1932, Montcoal finally became Marsh Fork High School when it merged with neighboring Mount View High School. The additional rooms needed to house students were lovingly referred to as ‘the Dog House’, a nod to Marsh Fork’s mascot.
In 1943, the original school building that housed Marsh Fork High School burned down and in 1944 a new building opened its doors to students. This new Marsh Fork was lauded as “one of the most modern educational plants in the state,” with twelve classrooms, a gymnasium, and auditorium. The new Marsh Fork was designed by prominent West Virginia architect Walter F. Martens, whose other projects included the West Virginia Governor’s Mansion and the United Carbon Building in Charleston, which is now on the National Register for Historic Places. This building remained in use until Marsh Fork closed its doors for good following the 2002-2003 academic year. This closure was contested by the local community, but Marsh Fork was consolidated into Glen Daniel’s Liberty High School.
In 2005, the former high school building was set on fire in the early hours of December 18th. The arson caused damage to much of the remaining structure, and the land remained largely vacant and forgotten until 2011 when the Marsh Fork Alumni Association began to discuss purchasing the land from the Raleigh County Board of Education. They were interested in developing a park on the site of Marsh Fork High School. The Alumni Association met with the Board of Education in early 2012, and came to an agreement: If the Alumni Association could establish a board of trustees, develop appropriate bylaws, establish a fundraising committee, and become qualified as a 501(c)(3) charity, the Raleigh County Board of Education would donate the land. The Marsh Fork Alumni Association successfully met these terms, and the Board of Education voted unanimously to donate the land for the park project.202
Forward from the 1966 yearbook, courtesy of Ted Lacy
To the community, Marsh Fork was more than a building. Over the 70 years that Marsh Fork was active, students and their families were building communities, relationships, and memories. Many proud alums returned to serve as staff, and many staff members dedicated decades of their careers to Marsh Fork and its students. In the forward of the 1966 Marsh Fork yearbook, an image of class rings is accompanied by the caption: These rings symbolize “Our Parents’ hopes and dreams.” When considering the history of Marsh Fork and its surrounding communities, where many parents were coal miners (17% of Raleigh County’s total workforce in 1969, as per WVU data).203 in a time when the coal industry was in a downturn, a high school education promised a more stable future for their children. The alumni of Marsh Fork felt a strong connection and appreciation for their alma mater and wanted to honor its legacy in a way that would continue community connection.
In 2015, Marsh Fork High School Memorial Park opened to the public and dedicated to every student who attended from 1925-2003. Designed by the Marsh Fork Alumni Association, the park has a walking track, playground, picnic shelters, basketball courts, fishing area, and even a marble ring. Playing marbles has a long legacy at Marsh Fork. Marsh Fork High School was home to the 5-time World Marble Champion, Ray Jarrell, class of 1977. Ray won his first National and World titles in 1972 and would practice for up to four hours a day.204
Ray Jarrell from the 1975 Marsh Fork Yearbook, courtesy of Ted Lacy
Today, the park serves as both a memorial to the legacy of Marsh Fork and as a place for Raleigh County community members to create new memories.At the official dedication, alumni members spoke to the crowd and encouraged Raleigh County citizens to engage with park history and memories of the school. On August 2, 2018, the Marsh Fork High School Alumni Association officially deeded the property to Raleigh County Parks and Recreation Authority (RCPRA), establishing Marsh Fork as an official county park. Many Marsh Fork High School Alumni still work in partnership with RCPRA and take great pride in ensuring the site remains a place for community connection.
Alumni, their families and friends, and the public can enjoy Marsh Fork’s playground, picnic shelters, fishing spots, and recreational areas and learn about the legacy of Marsh Fork High School. There is even a walk of fame where community members can purchase a brick to financially support the park and its mission. And while you’re here, don’t forget to pet the Marsh Fork bulldog!