Flower stands which graced Greenbrier Hall, the main office and classroom building at the Greenbrier Valley Campus of New River Community and Technical College, since it was built as a part of the former Greenbrier College for Women have been restored by the maintenance department at GVCNRCTC.

“These stands were pushed back and hidden and had been used as ash trays,” said David Thompson of Rupert, director of the maintenance staff. “We simply cleaned them up, made an appropriate space on either side of the sidewalk at the foot of the grand stairway to Greenbrier Hall, and placed them in an area where the students and the general public can appreciate them.”

Research in the GVCNRCTC Library’s collection of yearbooks for the former Greenbrier College and Lewisburg Seminary shows the flower stands in place as early as 1907.

Working on the restoration project were Frank Houck Jr. of Union, Aubrey Houck of Union, Ivan Cales of Fort Spring and David Thompson of Rupert.

“The work of our maintenance staff shows the pride they have in our campus and extra efforts like the flower stand project is a prime example of the dedication they have,” notes Roger Griffith, director of the GVCNRCTC.

“We invite the public to visit the campus and see these flower stands and enjoy the campus,” Griffith added, noting that picnic tables and benches are available.

The campus is part of Academy Park which GVCNRCTC shares with North House Museum of the Greenbrier Historical Society and Carnegie Hall of WV.

Located at the intersection of US 60 west and Church Street , the GVCNRCTC serves as the only undergraduate institution of higher education in the Greenbrier Valley and as the community and technical college for Pocahontas, Summers, Greenbrier, Monroe, and eastern Fayette counties.

July 13, 2005

Submitted by Mike Williams