McComas Area Schools

Bible Schools

1944 Bible School Certificate from Thomas Memorial Church
certificate supplied by Cynthia Marie Sanders Lee 1/2004


McComas, High School McComas, West Virginia 1924-1960 Patricia Smith (Patty Spicer)WebMaster/Creator
DESPERATELY SEEKING ADDITIONAL SCHOOL INFORMATION. Please email any additional data you may have for display I will list you as the contributor. If you can identify individuals in the photos please email their names to me. Thanks!
Previous McComas High School Staff Members Links provided for pictures of some teachers Lorainne Alley, Teacher Mr. Anderson Ms, Lucille Fisher Teacher (1945) Bonnie Bailey, Librarian Earnest Bailey, Teacher James Bailey, Teacher Lorraine June Beckett, Teacher Mr. & Mrs. Wayne Bailey (1945) Evelyn Beggs, Teacher Ted G. Bird, Teacher(Math/Science)/Coach 1954-1959 Principal 1959-1960 Mrs. Brown, Teacher Doris Cartwright, Teacher 1950s Mrs. Caruth Choir 1950s (Rotating Mercer Co. Music Teacher visited McComas once a week - she also came to Pinnacle when I was in elementary school there) Lorraine Catron, Teacher Melvin McClain, Principal around 1940 Howard Conner, Teacher/Coach 1950s Mr. Edwards, Teacher and COACH Bruce Fleshman-Pincipal 1947 Mrs. Gad, Teacher Ward Gamble, First PRINCIPAL in 1924 Julia Garnett, Teacher Ms. Noletha Gilberth, Teacher Mr. Jack Graham, Teacher Ms. Alice Graves, Home Economics and Science (1938) Ms. Florence Hanna, Teacher Mr. A.C Hinkle, Principal & Mathematics (1938) Mr. Bill Houchins, Coach 1947 Agatha Hughes, Teacher (1940-50s) Mrs. Carol Hurst, Teacher 1950s/60 at McComas, then continued to teach at Bramwell when MHS closed and the students were transferred there in 1960 Betty Johnson, Teacher Mrs. Jude, Teacher Ms. Martha Lazenby, Latin & Physical Education (1938) Mrs. Lengle Ms. Janet Massie, Teacher (1945) Mr. Melvin McClain, Physical Education & Science (1938) John Magann, Principal 1950s (In an article in the Bluefield Daily Telegraph on April 15, 1953 John Magann was the Principal at McComas High School 280 students and 13 teachers were at the school) Mrs. Penland, Teacher Steven Peters, Teacher Mr. Pete Roney, Teacher Mr. Arthur Rowland, Teacher/Coach 1950s Ms. Nancy Ruddle, Teacher Mr. Leroy Sale, Commercial Department (1938) Ms. Kelly (Arvenia) Shutt, Mathematics & Biology (1938)(1945) Mr. Skidmore Teacher/Coach late 1940s Brookie Smith, Teacher Ms. Lucy Snead, Teacher (1945) Mr. Dana Lee Stike, Principal 1944, 1945 Mr. James Stinette, English & Social Science (1938) Mr. Harry Strong, Biology & Social Science (1938) Inez Taylor, English & Social Science (1938) Naola Bam Toler, Teacher Mrs. Vaughter, Teacher Jack Webb, Teacher/Coach 1950s Mr. E. L. Wellman, Teacher (1945) Mr. Richard Wellock Choir (IRotating Mercer Co. Music Teacher visited McComas once a weekI) Hobert Young, Teacher Ernest Mathena Janitor 1950s
	Photo supplied by Tony Basconi November 2001
	Coach Luther Huffman (my uncle) is standing in the left with his arm extended up. Kathleen Cole is center of the photo. Let me know if you recognize anyone in this MHS Gymnasium photo.	McComas High School Site as of November 2001

McComas Area Schools
McComas High School (MHS) McComas Loaders 1924-1960 First graduating class was in 1927 with 47 students. (I originally read the number who graduated as 47 in an article by Ken Bowen about the graduating class of 1927 Terry Tabor reported the number as 5 along with the names (click this icon to read Terrys email)) The last MHS graduating class was in 1960 ( click here to see their picture) with at least 17 students.
McComas High School Steps (if you can see them through the trees - 41 years after closing Photo supplied by Jim Smith) McComas High School Site Nov 2001 (hillside where school once sat - photo taken from the site where we got on the school bus in the afternoon, the steps are on the hillside but barely visible - Photo by Pat Smith Nov 2001) Another view of the steps - photo by Pat Smith November 2001 Maxine Bird Brugnoli age 18 taken in 1940 on the MHS Steps provided by Gina Bocock her daughter What a great picture this is what we remember them looking like!!!! McComas High School(MHS) Class of 1937 McComas High School (MHS) 1937 Faculty McComas High School(MHS) Class of 1939 Helen Huffman MHS 1939-1940 9th grade McComas High School (MHS) Class of 1941 (provided by Carl O'Donnell McComas High School (MHS) Class of 1943 - plus a picture of their Graduation Announcement [Photograph and identification of students courtesy of Gordon & Jackie Curran Howard] Helen Huffman 1944 MHS Graduate (Mother of Pat Smith) Helen Huffman 1944 MHS Diploma McComas High School (MHS) Class of 1947 McComas High School Glee Club Program 1947 McComas High School (MHS) Class of 1948 McComas High School BasketBall Team 1948/49 McComas High School (MHS) Class of 1949 McComas High School(MHS) 1952 Basketball Team provided by Cynthia Sanders (Note from Pat: my 1st cousin Bobby Huffman is on this team!) McComas High School(MHS) 1952 Graduation Program McComas High School(MHS) 1952 Yearbook Partial MHS 1953 Seniors Class Terry Tabor's 1953 MHS Memories McComas High School(MHS)Class of 1954 McComas High School(MHS) 1954 Graduation Program MHS 1956 Senior Class MHS 1956 Jerry Shinshock in his basketball uniform McComas High School (MHS) Class of 1957 McComas High School (MHS) Senior High Letter in Basketball Award award provided by Elsie Bailey for her son Roger who was in the last MHS class of 1960 McComas High School (MHS) Class of 1960 (the last graduating class)
Conner Mountain Elementary School
Conner Mountain School near McComas, WV Inside Conner Mountain School early 1950s
Crane Creek Elementary School
Crane Creek Elementary School(in the background - Susie Cole & James Sutherland circa 1950)
Crystal Elementary School
Crystal Elementary School#1 Crystal Elementary School#2
Pinnacle Elementary School
Mrs. Bailey, Teacher 5th/6th grades 1950s Eulalia Hobbs,Principal-Teacher 1st/2nd grades 1940s/50s Ilene Reed, Teacher 3rd/4th grades 1940/50s Juanita Sylvester, Teacher 1940s There were two elementary schools at Pinnacle. The older Pinnacle School: Was a two story structure. There were 2 classrooms upstairs and 2 down. You would enter the front door and immediately go up a large flight of steps to the second floor. Under the stairs were 2 indoor restrooms. Each classroom contained a "pot belly" stove to heat the room. Both Pinnacle schools used the same playground area. Pinnacle 1947-1948 Grade 1 photo supplied by Elsie Bailey Juanita Sylvesters Class at Pinnacle photo supplied by Elsie Bailey Sylverster School Certificate certificate supplied by Elsie Bailey Ilene Reed 2nd Grade Class at Pinnacle 1950 photo supplied by Elsie Bailey Faithful/Perfect Attendance Certificate May 23, 1950 certificate supplied by Elsie Bailey for her son Roger The newer Pinnacle School opened across the road from the older one around 1950/51. It contained 3 classrooms (each supported 2 grades) with a Principal's office on the top/main floor with the lunch room, kitchen, store room, 2 bathrooms, and furnace room on the lower level. This school was build on top of debry from the slatedump explosion which occurred at Pinnacle on June 10, 1924. Robert Lacy was Principal at Pinnacle in the 1930s and Ms. Eula Hobbs was in the 1940s/50s/60s. Ilene Reed 4th Grade Class at Pinnacle 1951/52 photo supplied by Elsie Bailey Site before Pinnacle Elementary School was built, pre-1950 Pinnacle Elementary School, 1960s Pinnacle Elementary School, 2001 (house to left of the school is also in the 1920s McComas/Pinnacle Slate Dump Explosion picture above - the school and this road were built over the explosion debry. The green roadside to the left goes up to the Harman Cemetary.)
Mora Black Elementary School Mora Balck Elementary School, 1948 Aerial View (poor quality) No data to add. If anyone has any please sent it I would love to add it to this page.
Mora White Elementary School
Mrs. Auville, Teacher 1950s Myrtle Eaton - 5th & 6th Grade Teacher John Holston first Principal of Mora Buelah Hubbard - 3rd & 4th grade teacher Kathleen Keaton - 1st grade teacher John Lovern - Principal & 6th grade teacher Virginia McMillian - 2nd grade teacher Mr. Moore, Teacher 1951 Large Group Photo outside Mora Elementary School, 1941 (1st photo) photo supplied by Cynthia Sanders Large Group Photo outside Mora Elementary School, 1941 (2nd photo) photo supplied by Cynthia Sanders Mora Elementary School, 1948 Aerial View (poor quality) Mora Elementary School, 1947/48 Mora Elementary School, 1948/1949 Mora Elementary School, circa 1949 photo supplied by Ted Black Mora Elementary School, circa 1950 photo supplied by /Ted Black Mora Elementary School, 1950 photo supplied by Tony Basconi Mora Elementary School, 1950/51 photo supplied by Tony Basconi Mora Elementary School 1951 Mora Elementary School Grades 5-6, 1953-1954 photo supplied by Elsie Bailey
Prosperity Elementary School at Windmill Gap
Prosperity Elementary School photo supplied by Susan Arrington Clark (daughter of Joyce Cockran) Prosperity Elementary School, November 2001 photo taken by Pat Smith Alice Taylor's Memories of Prosperity Elementary School letter and photos from Alice Taylor
Thornhill Elementary School
Thornhill Elementary School 1952 Grades 1-4photo supplied by Tony Basconi
Sagamore Elementary School closed in 1953
A two room school located up Sagamore Hollow. Agnes Pietrantozzi, Principal Norma Riggs, Teacher Evelyn Poe, Teacher Margaret Butt Comments from Terry Tabor: The two pictures of Sagamore Elementary School with teacher Agnes Pietrantozzi sitting in the back of the room are the same picture. Both the dates indicated (1947 and 1951) are incorrect. That picture was actually taken in 1949. I was in Evelyn Poe's third grade class that year. The picture of Mrs. Poe's class was 1950 (the date is written on the board). In 1950, I was in Mrs. Pietrantozzi's fourth grade class. (Note from Pat Smith after looking at the pictures I do think Terry is correct they are the same picture) Sagamore Elementary School 1947 photo supplied by Ken Bowen Sagamore Elementary School 1949 & 1950 photo supplied by Terry Tabor Sagamore Elementary School 1950 photo supplied by Robert Saddler Sagamore Elementary School, 1951 photo supplied by Robert Saddler
Schools McComas area students attended after the local schools closed
Bramwell High School (BHS) Bramwell Millionaires 1891-1991
Bramwell High School Bill Pettys Bramwell Web Site - http://www.bramwellwv.com Bramwell High School Cheerleaders, 1960-61 (2) McComas students (Rita Huffman & Sue Bailey) Bramwell High School Cheerleaders, 1961-62 (2) McComas students (Rita Huffman & Kaye Steele) Bramwell High School Graduating Class of 1961 Bramwell High School Graduating Class of 1962 Buddy Sparks Ex-McComas Student on BHS 1961-62 Basketball Team Guidance Office Bramwell High School, 1963 (2) McComas students (Pat Spicer and Janette McKinsey) Bramwell High School Graduating Class of 1963 Ex McComas Students: Top row left to right #7 Ronald Belcher, #9 James ODonnal Middle Row #4 Judy East, #5 Esther Walker Front Row 7 #3 Ruth East, #5 Pat Spicer (webmaster of this site), #7 Ila Davis Bramwell High School Graduating Class of 1965 Ex McComas Students: Top row left to right Row 1 #3 Joan Browing, #6 Johnny East, Row 3 #1 Brenda Belcher, #2 Bill Belcher, #5 Judy Farley, Row 4 #1 Wayne Belcher, Row 6 #2 Gordon Harless, Row 7 #3 Lonnie Odle, Row 9 #3 Joyce Poore, Row 10 #1 Freddie Sparks, #2 Ricky Sparks, Row 11 #1 Brenda Stevens, #3 Darrell Martin, #5 Eva Walker, Row 12 #4 Jeanette McKinsey, #6 Ronnie Wellman Bramwell High School class of 1966 EX-McComas students: Kaye Bailey, Ernie Belcher, Janet Belcher, Mary Cantos, Mike Kennett, Brenda King, Roger Krondon, Lydia Tooley, Larry Reed, Charles Wellman, Anita Sylvester, Rita Sylvester, and Mrs Carol Hurst taught us at both McComas and Bramwell High Schools. Bramwell High School 1966 Jr Varsity Basketball Team EX-McComas students: Mickey Spicer, Stanley Sparks, Johnny Harmon, Danny Brock Bramwell High School Graduating Class of 1967 Bramwell High School WV State Championship 1967 Basketball Team Ex-McComas students Johnny Harman and Mickey Spicer on the team. Mickey Spicer BHS 1968 Sandy Bird BHS 1968 (Sandy was from McComas/Pinnacle her grandfather Charlie Bird was the Manager of the Crane Creek and Pinnacle Company Stores. Her stepfather Mason Myers was McComas Post Master during the 60s) BHS 1968 Graduating Class Ex McComas Students: Top row left to right #1 Sandy Bird, #3 Danny Brock, Row 4 #7 Johnny Harmon, Row 6 #7 Pricilla Kade, #5 Dale Sigmon, Row 7 #7 Stanley Sparks, #6 Mickey Spicer
Around 1966 a partial group of McComas area students began attending school at Montcalm. During this timeframe several of the higher grades still attended Bramwell High School until the were allowed to graduated. Today all Elementary and High School age students from McComas,WV attend Montcalm Elementary or High School. Anyone with more detailed information about this move I'd like to get more details. Please email me at: Patricia Smith (Patty Spicer)McComas Memories WebMaster
Montcalm Elementary School
Montcalm High School
Montcalm Schools Information

McComas Area Schools

Bible Schools

McComas, High School

McComas, West Virginia 1924-1960

Conner Mountain Elementary School

Crane Creek Elementary School

Crystal Elementary School

Pinnacle Elementary School

Mora Black Elementary School

Mora White Elementary School

Prosperity Elementary School at Windmill Gap

Thornhill Elementary School

Sagamore Elementary School closed in 1953

Montcalm Elementary School

Montcalm High School

Sagamore Elementary School
closed in 1953