TALCOTT W.Va. (Hinton News) – It is time for another edition of A Peek into Summers County’s Past. Every week, local history collector William Jones talks about items from his collection and their historical significance. In honor of the recent rededication of the old Talcott School Gymnasium, Jones is discussing the history of the gym and the man for whom it is now named.
To begin the conversation, Jones said, “It only seemed fitting that this week’s piece centered around the Talcott School Gymnasium since it was recently restored with COVID-19 money Summers County received. It was also renamed and dedicated in honor of Coach Dallas ‘Bud’ Mann. Who is better known as ‘Coach Mann’ by the locals and especially students like my father and myself who had Coach Mann during our time at Talcott School.”
“First I will talk a bit about Coach Mann before delving into the history of the gymnasium. He had a long history with Talcott School, having been one of the seniors in the 1957 graduating class. Then in 1962 was a graduate of Concord College. His first teaching job was at Streeter School and then he went to Forest Hill School where he coached basketball.”
Continuing, Jones noted, “Then, in 1966, he transferred to Talcott School where he taught physical education, and coached baseball and basketball. It was here he earned the name that he is so well known for today, ‘Coach Mann.’ He then went on to teach at the middle school when Talcott consolidated, he finished his Talcott tenure in the spring of 1994 before moving on to Hinton. He finished out the remainder of his teaching career at Summers County Middle School where he retired in 2005 with 43 years of being a teacher and coach. In 1997 he was recognized with the Teacher of the Year award. The photo you see of him is from my father’s 1974 yearbook.”
“It is only fitting that the recently refurbished Talcott School gymnasium be named after him. The new elementary school was completed in 2008. Which means that it sat empty for 15 years. It wasn’t until Summers County received its COVID-19 money from the federal government that work was started on its restoration.”
Jones stated, “The building was originally completed in 1936 and is of a unique construction that has elements that are very pleasing to the eye. The woodwork around the stage is in an amazing ornate style. My family has a long history with Talcott School. I have seen a photo of my grandfather Bernard Thompson when he was in the 3rd grade before woodwork around the stage was even finished in a school play called Wedding of the Flowers.”
“According to the document you see in the photo, the original concept for the idea of the gymnasium was for a community recreation center, built by WPA in Talcott. This project started under ERA, calls for a two-story brick, steel and concrete structure housing a gymnasium, auditorium, stage, dressing and social rooms.”
Jones went on to say, “In an article from the Hinton Daily News dated Sept. 11, 1935, it talks about the gym and auditorium at Talcott to be rushed to completion early. It was the first WPA project in Summers County. The article further explains that a cost of over $10,000 would be spent on the structure before it would be finished. A small sum of money in today’s cost of construction but that was a sizable amount in 1933.”
Continuing, Jones said, “The building is 80ft long by 50ft wide and contains a basketball court, stage, seats for an auditorium, shower rooms, dressing rooms and a full basement. Over the years many things changed from decade to decade. While I was in elementary school, the art room was in the later addition behind the stage. And there were reading and math labs as you went up the stairs to the right of the stage.”
“I have countless memories in this gym, from selling donuts and Tom-Wat for school fundraisers which would be sorted out on the gym floor. To school carnivals where my grandfather Bernard Thompson would lend his carnival games he built for his little portable carnival he had in the 1960s to use at the Alderson 4th of July celebration. To my mother Cheryl Jones and Louise Standard being the “pooper scoopers” for the donkey basketball games that had been held in the gym at Talcott since the 1930s.
To conclude, Jones stated, “In history, almost every historic building finds a new life from what its original purpose was. It will be exciting to see what new chapters are in store for the Dallas ‘Bud’ Mann Gymnasium as it was renamed and dedicated on October 28, 2023. Bud or ‘Coach Mann’ was what he was generally referred to as. After this restoration, it will easily be around for its 100th anniversary in 2036 and will more than likely still be standing for its 200th in 2136. It is so fitting that it was COVID-19 money that was used to renovate this building that had originally been constructed as a WPA project.”
This concludes another edition of A Peek into Summers County’s Past. Did you know the history of the Talcott School Gym?
Anyone wishing to share a story from the area’s history can send an email to news@hintonnews.com.
