Mr. James Webb stands beside his beloved Long Rock School.

First impressions are often quite revealing. Observing James Webb stretch to measure steel sections while standing ten feet above his shop floor on scaffolding, one couldn’t help but be impressed. More impressive still was witnessing the spry 78-year-old stoop, turn, and quickly dismount the structure. Introducing himself, Webb’s enthusiasm and zest for life was instantly evident and contagious.

Born on December 7, 1928, the same year of the United States stock market crash and onset of the great depression, Webb’s “can-do” demeanor reflects back to an era when hard work was not feared but embraced as a literal means of survival.

Roots

Stepping from his shop and surveying his property in the mid-afternoon sunshine, Webb smiled and said, “I’ve lived here most of my life. This land is home to me.”

He noted that in 1934, at the age of six, his family moved from Benton County to the Long Rock community located near highway 77 (Browning Highway) to reside in the home of his grandparents, Alvin and Rinda Cole. Located a short distance from the residence stood Long Rock School, a one-room brick building that taught children grades one through eight, and Long Rock Methodist Church.

“At the time, my daddy, a disabled WWI veteran, was drawing a government check of $18 a month. He died the next year, on Christmas day in 1935.”

He noted that his mother had also died in the same home 51 years later, on New Year’s Day in 1986.

School Days

Webb stated that he had attended Long Rock School from first through eight grades and that his teacher at the time of his graduation in 1943 was Irene Parrott.

He laughed, “I always tell folks that I graduated at the head of my class. There were only three of us in my class during my eight grade year-Glenn Byars, Mildred Arnold and me.

He recalled, “During revival at Long Rock Methodist Church, they always turned school out. The students would line up single file and the teacher would walk us over there. I remember Mrs. Clara Harrington was my teacher during those times.”

In winter months, James noted that his teacher would pay him a small amount each day to bring in firewood to place inside the pot-bellied stove to heat the room.

After graduation from Long Rock, Webb began his freshman year of high school at Huntingdon. He said, “I wasn’t a city boy, and back then I only went into town once or twice a year. I went to school at Huntingdon for about two months and quit.”

After Long Rock School was closed in the mid-1950s after 60 years of being utilized to teach the youth of the community, the building was purchased by Webb’s uncle Lester and aunt Maggie Cole for $99. He stated that the couple renovated the interior of the former school building and lived there for a while.

Long Rock School

Restoring a Dream

Webb stated that when he originally purchased the 5,200 square foot tract of land the school stands upon on June 24, 2004, the building could not be seen from the road due to the plat being completely covered by a dense growth of trees and vegetation.

He noted that clearing the land of trees and trash was a monumental undertaking.

He estimated that he and friend and former classmate Leo Britt hauled away in excess of 30 dump truck loads of garbage, debris and over 200 old tires from the site.

“There were mounds of garbage back behind the school building, and it was an awful mess. We spent a lot of time just cleaning the area up. You just wouldn’t believe the amount of debris that was there,” he said.


Webb stated that he initially gutted the structure from ceiling to ground level in order to properly restore the building’s interior.

He added, “I tore out all the flooring and dug down deep enough to provide at least 18 inches of clearance from the ground level up to the flooring joists. I cut an access hole in the wall near ground level at the back of the building and laid plastic down under the building to serve as a moisture barrier against mildew or rot.” Webb noted that prior to restoration; the building had only 12 inches of ground clearance beneath it, with some areas being even closer to the ground.

Webb stated that prior to placing the new floor joists, he installed rows of substantial and sturdy block piers to rest the foundation on. He said, “The flooring is also nailed to the surrounding walls, which greatly improves the structures overall stability. Before, the outer edges of the floor sat on block but were not tied into the walls. They are now.”

Webb stated that he was not sure how much money he had spent clearing the site and restoring the building. He laughed, “Honestly, I probably don’t want to know. A lot of folks might view my efforts to restore the old school house as a waste of time and money. I guess it all comes down to what something means to someone. I’ve lived in this area most of my life and all of the education I ever received was taught to me inside those school walls. A lot of memories were made at that place…it’s special to me. Doing this has been a labor of love.”

He added, “It is my belief that the Long Rock School was the only one-room brick school building in the county. I haven’t heard of any other ones.”

Webb noted that Jake Yoder had installed the building’s new metal roofing and Jim Holt had helped with the brick work.

Educational Intentions

Webb stated that he did not want to open the school house up to community activities, meetings or dances.

He said, “My true intent is to go to the Carroll County Board of Education and work with them in securing copies of as many photos of former Long Rock School teachers as possible. I would like to place their photos on the wall for display along with securing some vintage-era two-seat desks like we sat in during school. I also want to incorporate a teacher’s desk in order to make the room look like it did when classes were being taught here. That is my true intention-to restore a part of the past.” He added, “My intention is to never sell it. I just want it to remain like it was intentionally built long ago.”

Exposed section of “Long Rock.”

Shop of Dreams

Walking from the school building into Webb’s 30-by-40 foot square foot shop, one becomes immediately aware of the vast number of work projects lying about, most in varying states of completion. Webb is a tinkerer of the highest order, perpetually enamored in the inner workings of countless mechanical apparatus.

Smiling, he said, “A person can usually find me here inside the shop each morning around 6 to 6:30 a.m. I like to work and stay busy.”

“I’ve done about everything in my life-carpentry, electrical, metal, plumbing. Basically, I guess I am just of a jack-of-all-trades and master of none. I usually have something going on all the time.”

Staring at an old tractor, he noted, “I was never interested in horses. I was always fascinated with how mechanical things worked. People often ask me why I try to repair all the features and functions of machines. They’ll say, “You don’t even have to have that part of the machine to work to have it perform what you want it to. Why bother with it?” He laughed, “I always want the entire machine