J. Walter Barnes, Fairmont Normal and the Bell Tower by M. Raymond Alvarez, DHA, MPA Born in Marion County in 1862, James Walter Barnes completed two years teacher training at the Normal School in Fairmont in 1881. During a short period of teaching public school, he finished his studies in the Law School of West Virginia University in 1883 and began practice at Fairmont. He married Olive Cooper of Clarksburg in 1884, and the couple eventually had five 1 children. The Normal School was established in 1867 by the West Virginia Legislature as a graded school (1-12) and a Normal School (2-3 years additional training in standard ‘norms’ for teachers). In 1885, Barnes was asked to join the faculty at the Normal, where he taught history, language and mathematics until he was named principal in 1892, continuing in this role for nine more years. By the late 1890s, the Normal’s enrollment had grown and prospered as a source for training well qualified teachers for the state so that a larger, separate building was needed. Principal Barnes secured additional appropriations from the Legislature to establish both a new public and Normal school, the latter which was erected on the 200 block of Fairmont Avenue in the city’s growing “Southside.” Constructed of red brick 2 with stone lintels and sills, the three story building was described as “imposing and grand.” Below: The first ‘Normal’ School was located at the top of Adams Street in 1872. At right: In 1893, the Normal opened on Fairmont Avenue in ‘Southside’.
Most photos of the Normal at Fairmont Ave. show the clock.
Fairmont architect A. C. Lyons designed the 1895 wing that added dormitory rooms for women and offices. However, Barnes wanted an additional structural element added to the original building—changing the Italianate bell tower to a Victorian clock tower. Barnes secured subscriptions of $250 from the students and considerable contributions from Fairmont residents so that the original tower and balcony could be removed and replaced with red brickwork supporting a four-sided clock. Dedicated in 1899, the clocks were 8’ in diameter and included a 1600 pound bell with a 50 lb. hammer. The imposing clock became a landmark along Fairmont Avenue, site of many imposing homes and mansions.
The bell towers of the Normal became a Fairmont Landmark.
With the clock tower completed, Barnes transitioned to public service. In 1901, the telephone companies in Fairmont, Mannington, Grafton and Clarksburg joined to create the Consolidated Telephone Company and recruited Barnes to serve as General Manager. His leadership and acumen in negotiating business was now recognized widely. After Bell Telephone purchased the system, Barnes continued an active public role, not only in the Fairmont community but for West Virginia. For the City of Fairmont, he served as Commissioner of Finance and Public Utilities from 1914-19. In 1920, he was appointed by Governor Cornwell as member of the State Board of Control which managed of all the state's penal, charitable and educational institutions. Meanwhile, Fairmont Normal outgrew the Fairmont Avenue campus and the WV Legislature appropriated funds for purchase of land on Locust Avenue. The Normal moved in 1917 to its third location and the Fairmont Avenue building was vacated. After various uses were proposed, it was sold and razed in August 1924. The property eventually became the new site of the Fairmont Post Office/Federal District Court.