Older than the state of West Virginia itself, The Linsly School was the first college preparatory school established west of the Alleghanies. The school was originally founded in 1814 as Wheeling Lancastrian Academy, and became an all-boys institution at the beginning of the Civil War. In 1876, Linsly began serving as a military institution. It is the Linsly doctrine that nothing of substantial or lasting value comes without hard work and sacrifice, and its existence today is testament to that philosophy. Adhering to its motto, "Forward and no retreat!," the school carried itself through almost two centuries of war, pestilence, and economic depressions to become an honored and beloved institution in which generations of students take tremendous pride. Today's non-military, coeducational Linsly School continues to enrich students in grades five through twelve with values of honesty, sportsmanship, hard work, and discipline. Through rare and never-before-seen vintage photographs, The Linsly School chronicles the fascinating and inspiring story of the tribulations and successes of the school itself, and the people who worked, sacrificed, and dreamed to make it happen.
Author Robert W. Schramm is professor emeritus and archivist at West Liberty State College. He is a 1952 graduate of the Linsly School, at which time it was Linsly Military Institute. Schramm is also the author of West Liberty State College, published by Arcadia in 2001.