Rotary Club learns about Kump Center
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ELKINS -- Dr. Heather Biola, executive director of the Kump Education Center visited with the Elkins Rotary Club, giving the group a history of Governor Kump, the Kump home and update on current Kump Education Center projects.
Herman Guy Kump, a member of the Rotary Club of Elkins in its early years, hailed from Hampshire County. The house he grew up in was Federalist style and when it was time to build his house in Elkins, he stayed true to that style. The house was designed by architect Clarence Harding of Washington, DC. The home, which was completed in 1925, was built by T.R. Whiteman, a local home builder of great renown. Originally, the Kump farm consisted of 11 acres and included the land from the home to the railroad track. At the end of this term as governor, Route 33/48 was built through the middle of the farm in its current location. "We probably have more original furniture than any other historic building in the state and this may be the best examples of the American century because it does have the life of a family through the 20th century," said Biola.
During his early years, the house in Hampshire County was twenty-eight miles from the closest train station. There was only a one-room school, the teachers were hired by the local parents and they often lived with a local family. If Kump missed a day of school to work on the family farm, he had to memorize a page of the dictionary. He attended Shenandoah Normal College (now Shenandoah University). Following college, Kump worked in a County Clerk's Office and for Monongah Mine, before attending law school at the University of Virginia.
After law school, Kump came to Elkins to work for an attorney who was employed by the Davis and Elkins families. He met his wife, Edna, after coming to Elkins.
While serving as Governor of West Virginia (1933-1937), Kump was instrumental in bringing President Roosevelt's New Deal tenants to the state including Social Security, unemployment insurance and the Civilian Conservation Corp. "When he came in, West Virginia was very much in debt and the state was in disarray. He did bring in the county unit school system. He was very much interested in being sure that there were schools for people in rural areas, for people who had to ride buses, for people who had to have lunches at school and that the teachers didn't have to be housed in homes," said Biola. At that time, each county had its own road commission, so Kump organized a state-side road commission. He also reorganized the state banking system, created a liquor control commission due to the end of prohibition and instituted a 1% sales tax.
In 2008, the Kump home and an endowment trust were gifted to the City of Elkins by Mary Gamble Kump, Governor Kump's daughter. The Kump Education Center was organized in 2010 to fulfill the declared wishes of Mary Gamble Kump that the property be used for preservation and educational purposes.
The basement of the home is used for tutoring. Local banks have supported the tutoring program and many Davis & Elkins College students have assisted with the program by providing hands-on help with the students. "Our Kump Education Center Research Seminar has been held for 13 years. That's the one thing we've done the longest. I was an educator and I believe the public doesn't realize how much teachers know, how serious the discipline is and how important it is to support teachers," said Kump.
A current project underway at the Kump House is the renovation of the fencing around the property. The brick gateposts were removed but they will be replaced such that emergency vehicles can have access to the property. The fence will be replaced with composite fencing that will hold-up better than the wood fencing.
"This one man (Mayor Marco) pushed the point of getting this done and we are very grateful. He not only did that but he let us have use of City equipment to bring down the gateposts," concluded Biola. "It wouldn't have happened the way it did if it hadn't been for the Mayor."
The public is invited to participate in the Kump Education Center upcoming events:
April 6 - Pepperoni Roll Pop-Up; Noon - 2 p.m.; Old IGA parking lot; a price for dinner;
April 17 - From Coal Mining to Forest: The Mower Tract Revival lecture; 7 p.m.; Kump House; free;
June 8 - Garden Party featuring a Pie Auction and house tours; Noon - 5 p.m.; Kump House; tour admission fee.
For more information about the Kump Education Center, visit its website, www.kumpeducationcenter.org or contact Biola at 304-637-7820.
Rotary is a global network of 1.4 million neighbors, friends, leaders and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change - across the globe, in their communities, and in themselves. Visit www.Rotary.org to learn more about Rotary International, visit the club's Facebook page --Rotary Club of Elkins -- or contact club president Kenny George at kenneth.george@blueridgeriskpartners.com for more information.