Instructor Fights Administration to Save Historic Farmhouse

By Stephanie McLaughlin

A farm house that dates back to the 1700s will be destroyed because the school has no use for it, but one RVCC instructor thinks it should be saved for its historical value.

The “Seminar Center” is a white farm house located on Lamington Road near the West building. Preservations experts say it has been standing since the 1700s, according to Dr. Jay Kelly, an assistant instructor of Biology at RVCC. The administration says a few pieces may have survived from the 1700s, but the main part of the house has been here since the 1900s.

Kelly would like to see the house stand for years to come. He says the house is still intact. John Trojan, the Dean of Finance and Facilities says otherwise.

Trojan says the house is not handicap accessible. Kelly says that the house has two separate entrances with ramps and wide doors with two bathrooms that are handicap accessible.

Trojan says the house is not functional and would cost too much to upgrade. “There is only one room available for conferences. To restore it would be $250,000.” It has many detailed features including original fireplaces, wide-plank floors, hand-hewn beams, hand-made iron hinges and many others.

That’s why Kelly thinks the house is an “absolute treasure. It is part of our culture, historical and ecological heritage and ought to be preserved, protected, and if anything, restored.”

The school does not want to sell the land because it can come into good use if they need to add buildings or parking spaces. 

Kelly believes the house could save the school a lot of money if they turned it into an office or classrooms, Trojan says that “there is no room for classrooms.” stands behind his decision

The administration discussed the house’s future for a year says Trojan and decided in January 2008 and it will be removed.

Despite Kelly’s objections, Trojan stands by that decision.