Scrabble School
Rappahannock County, Virginia

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The SCRABBLE SCHOOL CHALKBOARD
March, 2005

This is the first of our newsletters that we plan to publish periodically to inform Alumni and Friends about the progress to “save” the Scrabble School structure and property for rehabilitation and ultimately reuse as a viable community asset.

We thank all the Alumni and Friends that have supported the endeavor thus far. We continue to search for additional alumni and friends to assist with funds, time and talent. The effort is to have as many as willing to help with the projects that will arise as we move closer to our goal. Should you know of others, please contact them and/or send to us their addresses that we may contact them and elicit their interests.

The Scrabble School Preservation Foundation, Inc. was founded in the early 1990’s by the late E. Franklin Warner of the Scrabble, VA area. Several Alumni and Friends living in the area, Frank’s wife, Dorothy, and one of the original directors, Dorothy Butler, resurrected Frank’s initiative almost 2 years ago and have succeeded in reestablishing the Foundation, electing a Board of Directors, and informing the community about the Foundation’s mission and goal.

The School has been an item of interest of The Rappahannock News over the past several years and continues to “get coverage” when the Foundation conducts an activity or presents information at public forums.

* The Directors, in June 2004, conducted its first meeting for interested people to
include the District Supervisor and Planning Commissioner and several other dignitaries
that have supported the Scrabble School project since its inception.

* In July, 2004, a mini “reunion” for Alumni, living in the local area, was hosted by the
Directors. Many alumni attended and indicated interest and expressed support for the
project.

* In November, 2004, the Directors requested and received from the County Board of
Supervisors its concurrence to allow the Foundation a period of one-year to
develop a plan for the school site. (see attached article)

* A recent event, conducted in February, 2005, was a meeting for “Neighbors and
Friends of Scrabble School”. This was a public forum to solicit ideas and concerns
about the site’s future use.

*The Rappahannock County School Board at its regular monthly meeting in March, 2005, was informed about the Scrabble School and the Foundation’s activities. The Board’s help was solicited to obtain the student records for historical purposes.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation has been consulting with the Foundation.
The Trust has an ongoing national campaign to locate and preserve so-called “Rosenwald Schools”. Scrabble School is a “Rosenwald School”. Because it is a stand alone structure and relatively intact as it was when used as a school, Scrabble School is significant to The Trust’s efforts. The Foundation plans to make use The Trust’s assets in its work to preserve Scrabble School.

It is important to note that although there is national interest in preserving “Rosenwald Schools”, it has to be worked at the local “grassroots” level to eventually the task accomplish the task. Currently, the Foundation’s directors consist of nine people, meeting monthly to plan next steps that moved the project to this point. We need more help with publicity, planning the rehab, contacting alumni, raising funds and the myriad of tasks yet to be started! We have only until November, 2005 to develop a plan to present to the County Board of Supervisors. Time is literally running out. Preserving Scrabble School could be in jeopardy at this year’s end.

Please advise us about other alumni and friends, of your volunteering services or contributing funds, of your support for preserving Scrabble School. You are asked to take a moment to fill out the enclosed form and return it in the envelop provided. A contribution of at least $25 will entitle you to receive, as a thank you gift from the Foundation, a pack of note cards commemorating Scrabble School.

(The Scrabble School Foundation, Inc. is an IRS recognized 501c(3) organization. Your contribution may be tax deductible.)

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©2005, 2006 Scrabble School Preservation Foundation