"Almost Heaven..."

West Virginia 2025 Conference Wrap-up
Isn't it amazing that we can look forward to so many celebrations this year (and next) as our beautiful country will celebrate 250 years as the United States of America? Coincidently, CSAA also celebrated a milestone this month with an appropriate gathering of schoolhouse preservationists at the 20th Annual Country School Conference held at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia.  

We sincerely thank Dr. Teresa Eagle and Dr. Isaac Willis Larison of Marshall University for serving as this year's coordinators... and what a program they put together from June 8-10th,  both on and off campus.

This year we previewed a more compact event using our time more efficiently while maintaining the high quality we've been enjoying for the past 20 years. Enthusiasm was contagious and we made many new friends, as well as a new appreciation for the rugged individuals who settled this gorgeous state. 

50 participants converged from all over the country to hear keynote speakers, schoolhouse curators, historians, educators, and schoolhouse enthusiasts in some 19 presentations over two days. The third day was dedicated to the annual coach trip to WV heritage sites and schoolhouse museums enriching us with history and spectacular scenery along the way.

Interesting to note that after 20 years of conferences like this, our CSAA presenters have offered completely new topics for their presentations all relating to the world of country schools. Every presenter was refreshing and informative and our attendees left once again with a renewed vigor for ramping up their own country school involvement. We will post a video slide show soon so you can see how we fill a conference with the "sites" and sounds of early American education. 

Having said that, we urge you to consider attending the 2026 conference to be held in Geneva, New York on beautiful Lake Seneca, June 21st to 23rd at Hobart and William Smith Colleges.  For a wonderful experience in history, preservation and schoolhouse restoration topics, this is the summer trip for you!  Information will surely follow...