“Father and son, Benny and Abe Gibson, both educators and graduates of Franklin County HS, have spent the last year documenting hundreds of schools that no longer exist in Franklin County, thanks in part to a grant from Virginia Humanities. They examine the county’s impressive efforts to provide its children with an education despite challenging circumstances. Overcoming the rugged terrain, nonexistent roads, and rural poverty that made funding a school system extremely difficult, Franklin County supported hundreds of schools throughout the early twentieth century. And now, 100 years later, all these schools have closed, and most have been forgotten.
The Gibson’s have spent countless hours researching, documenting and in some instances, photographing these “vanished” schools. This exhibit is a culmination of their efforts although they still are seeking information on these schools. To contribute, please go to www.TheVanishingSchools.com