The Fairview School Mystery Folder

In October 2019, I went to the Lynchburg Public Library to check out a book sale. I love books and simply can’t resist a used book sale. When the library sells books, it’s usually items that they have too many copies of or books that don’t get checked out anymore. The sale ends up being in a tiny back room with only a couple of shelves of books. I’m the only person there and not all that hopeful that I’ll find anything interesting. However, a book lover can always find at least one to take home. I picked up a gigantic Funk & Wagnalls Dictionary, Bartlett’s Familiar Quotations, and a copy of Quiet by Susan Cain book for $2.50. That’s a steal.

As I was checking out, an unusual item caught my eye. It wasn’t really a book. It was a green, three-ring binder that had a small label with “Fairview School” written on it. Inside, it looked like a scrapbook or history project of some kind. I asked if it was for sale. The library staff confirmed that it was. They said that they really didn’t know where it came from or why it was at the library. I could tell that someone put a lot of work into this binder and didn’t want it to see the waste bin quite yet. I had $3.00 in cash and spent my last 50 cents on this mystery item. I figured that I’d read through it one day, then eventually give it to the Jones Memorial Library for safekeeping.

The binder itself is jam packed with papers, obituaries, news articles, handwritten notes, family trees, letters, photographs, and official documents. You can tell that there was a lot of time and effort put it into assembling this folder.

The lead story in this binder is about a long-lost portrait of William Marvin Bass, a former teacher at Fairvew School and the namesake of Bass Elementary in the City of Lynchburg. The typed summary is from Betty Smith, who identifies herself as a “former student of Bass at Fairvew School.” Perhaps she was the one that assembled this binder? We also get our first mention of the ghost of Bass Elementary.

A 2002 newspaper article about the portrait’s return to school.

An image of the aforementioned portrait of Mr. Bass.

A short bio of William Marvin Bass is included as well.

A 1948 news article about the naming of the new school after Mr. Bass and an image of the portrait painted by Miss Julia Mahood.

One of the most striking images in the binder is this image of May Day at Fairview School.

This appears to be an attempt at identifying the kids in the image. I wonder if Betty Adams on the second row is our Betty Smith? See anyone you know?

Included in the binder was a “History of Bass/Hutcherson School” that is said to be “From Lybg. Public School Files”.

The next two documents are vintage statistics about City schools. Year built, lot size, cost. The second page has statistics about promotion broken down by school for 1934-35. I’m not sure why these are in here, but maybe our researcher found them on her journey and thought they were interesting enough to keep.

The next three documents are images of Fairview School.

This last image was an actual developed photograph. I’m guessing that it’s Betty Smith, the most likely creator of this binder, with a staff member at Bass Elementary, but I really don’t know.

Three reasons to share this binder:

1) It’s Lynchburg history. Why not put it out there for people that might appreciate it? Maybe someone will see a picture, a face, or something that brings back a memory from Lynchburg past that makes them smile.

2) To see if anyone else has a similar binder like this one. Part of me thinks that this could be one of several identical binders made and given out. Maybe the Lynchburg Museum System or the Jones Memorial Library or another group has another one?

3) To find out where this binder should ultimately go. I brought it home with me from the library to read through it and try to understand the story around it, but it does not need to stay with me. Should it go to Bass Elementary, the Jones, the Lynchburg Museum System, or possibly somewhere else?

My favorite part of reading through this binder is seeing a kindred spirit at work: A history lover filled with nostalgia for their childhood teacher and school that loves digging through old records to try to put together a story. Ms. Smith’s triumph in finding the portrait, restoring it, and returning it to its rightful place at Bass Elementary is really a lovely ending to her quest.