The Twin Pines Conservation Education Center recently dedicated a newly restored historical schoolhouse to be used for conservation education programs as well as a facility to host local public meetings.Melanie Carden-Jessen, man
ager of the education center, said the addition of the school house is important for specific reasons. “First, we needed the classroom space for our programs,” Carden-Jessen said. But she also said the building has historical value.“The school was built in 1910 when the big timber boom was in full swing in the Shannon County area,” she said. “For a one-room school house the Vann School is very large because of the increase in population caused by the timber industry at the time.”
She also said the schoolhouse is made of significant material for the area. “Everything is made from wood,” she said. “The floors are oak, the siding is pine.”
She said the building was originally constructed as a community school, supported by the state of Missouri in 1910 and recently donated by the Winona School District, who also picked up the cost of moving the building. Restoration funds were provided by the Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation, the Missouri Department of Conservation, and the Stewardship Ozarks Initiative-Community Foundation of the Ozarks.
Carden-Jessen said working with members of the community on the project was a highlight through the whole process.
Special guests (pictured) at the dedication included the director of the Missouri Department of Conservation, John Hoskins; Winona Elementary School principal, Sue Bockman; local retired school superintendant Shannon Ennis; and, Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation executive director, Rick Thom.
Director Hoskins said he counted the dedication event as a success. “It was obvious that excellent planning and much work took place in advance of the event,” he said. “Melanie and her team are doing outstanding work, and it shows.” - Contributed by Candice Davis, MDC Southeast Region
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