Pisgah Church Restores Old Schoolhouse
for Community Use

by Carol Skaggs

Pisgah Presbyterian Church of Somerset, Kentucky, founded in 1806, undertook the restoration of a two-room schoolhouse built in 1923. In September of 2001, the Pisgah Schoolhouse, located next door to the church, was offered for sale, and members voted to purchase the property. Since closing in 1964, the school had been used as a farm building storing hay, animals, and farm equipment and then just as a storage building. The school was in total disrepair, the tin roof was leaking, vines were growing through the clapboard siding, the basement cafeteria walls were crumbling and water had damaged the floor. The front porch was falling off the building and, in looking back, this project was a major undertaking.

A decision had to be made on whether to tear down the schoolhouse or try to restore it. The church members voted to proceed with restoration. A committee was formed and work began in April 2002. By September the schoolhouse was totally restored except for the floor. We tried to be sure that a list of names of all those who contributed to the restoration was kept and over 250 names are on that list. The entire Somerset community jumped on the bandwagon to restore the school. We received donations from $10 to $10,000. The actual amount spent to restore the school was around $70,000. This does not account for the time and materials donated. Every time we thought we were in trouble with money and might have to slow down on the work a contribution would come from somewhere.

Today we can walk back in time to a 1920’s schoolhouse just like the ones our parents and grandparents attended. We have wooden flip-up seat desks, period teachers’ desk, forty-eight star flags, the original school bell, which stood in the school yard, a potbellied stove from a school in Eastern Kentucky, and an old wood cook stove in the basement cafeteria.

One rewarding commendation received was a letter from our First Lady, Laura Bush, expressing her sentiments on saving this landmark and symbol of early education in America.

We have great plans for the old schoolhouse and hope it once again will become the center of the community. In 1913, Pisgah Presbyterian Church was destroyed by a “cyclone”, and the community gathered together to help rebuild the church. That is what seems to have happened here with the school. Restored, the school boasts of a modern kitchen with all the conveniences, a handicap accessible bathroom, heating and air-conditioning, the ability to seat over seventy-five people for dinner, a stage and all the ambiance of an early twentieth century school. All this, and the integrity of the building has been maintained.

Pisgah Presbyterian Church traditionally holds a July third celebration. This year more than 300 neighbors and church members came, ate hotdogs, and watched fireworks. Many former students who had attended the school were there, some coming from out of state to be there. At the celebration, funds were raised through an auction of items donated by local merchants, a raffle of a Fred Thrasher framed print, and donations. Pisgah church has again been honored and blessed with the kindness and generosity of the community which has surrounded it for almost 200 years.

Last year, members produced an old fashioned Christmas play called Christmas Bah Humbug! They played to a packed house two nights in a row. It was a smashing success. All this appears to be just the beginning. The Pulaski County School Superintendent has informed us that they will provide transportation for field trips so that all interested middle school students can visit the school. We are meeting with the coordinator for adult education and literacy for the county to find out how our schoolhouse can fit their program. Church members are exploring other ideas on how the school can be an asset in our community. The goal is not to “make a lot of money”, just enough to pay utilities, insurance and maintenance with a little left over to be used for the Mission Program of the Church and share a special part of Pulaski County and Kentucky history.

This schoolhouse replaced a small one-room schoolhouse. It was once a very important part of this community boasting of, we understand, the first rural school cafeteria in the state. The cafeteria was built by the WPA in the 30’s. A third generation church member, Pete Stigall, born the same year the school was built, remembers being in school when the workers came and dug a basement under a portion of the schoolhouse for the cafeteria. The Stigall family have been members of Pisgah Presbyterian Church since the 1800’s. Year 2006 will mark the 200th birthday of this church and church members are looking forward to preparing a celebration honoring the many successes of Pisgah Presbyterian Church and the lives that have passed through these doors.

On Saturday, September 20, 2003, we will hold our second Chicken Dinner on the Grounds complete with good food and good music. For information on our next celebration contact Pisgah Presbyterian Church at 606- 679-4310. Leave your name and phone number and we will return your call.