AdvanceChristiansburg

New horizons are forming for one of Christiansburg's most important landmarks, the Christiansburg Industrial Institute (CI).  From 1866 to 1966 the Institute offered education, inspiration and community to African Americans trying to better themselves in the face of adversity.  In its prime, CI encompassed 185 acres of land and 14 primary buildings that offered on-campus and off-campus education, technical/trade training, and life leadership modeling for young people during the long period of racial segregation.  The original campus includes property now occupied by Christiansburg High School, Horne Funeral Home, Food Lion, Oak Tree Town Homes, Lion's Gate subdivision, and Vista Via Subdivision.  The remaining building, named after former Headmaster Edgar A. Long, is situated on 4.4 acres at 140 Scattergood Drive near Christiansburg High School.  Thanks to a dedicated group of Alumni and a relatively new 501c3 organization, Christiansburg Institute Inc.,  formed in 1996, a new commitment is underway to to preserve and promote CI through enacting its legacies of education, service and excellence in the remaining Edgar A. Long Building.  The building itself is on the National Register of Historic Places and is a Virginia Historic Landmark.  For nearly three decades the Agricultural Program was overseen by famous Franklin County native Booker T. Washington.  Needless to say, the historic and cultural significance of CI is a town treasure that desrves the complete support of the town in achieving its noble plans of restoration and ongoing vitality.

More recently, an important partnership between CI and Virginia Tech has formed, together with the Towns of Christiansburg and Blacksburg, and even more recently Montgomery County, to formulate a solid plan for a rebirth of this facility as a living resource for community building, education, preservation, and exhibition.   I've had the pleasure of serving on this important Partnership Committee since Fall 2008, and it's clear that several key developments are at hand that will springboard this vision into reality.

Ms. Elaine Carter, Executive Director of Christiansburg Institute Incorporated, and resident alumni/board members will be increasingly present before Council to report on the progress of these efforts, as well as to present opportunities to participate in this revitalization.  To date, the Town has offered some key infrastructure components including sidewalks, public sewer, etc. to the adaptive reuse of this building and the overall Master Plan.  With the momentum and support of this important working group, it won't be long before this dream is realized.  I, for one, am very much looking forward and committed to it.