Recently designated as an Historic Landmark, the restoration of the Edgar A. Long building will serve as the core of the renovated Christiansburg Institute campus. Originally built to house new classrooms, the Edgar A. Long building was named for a beloved and dynamic school principal and holds the distinction of being the only campus building to be named for an African American leader. Completed in 1927, the Long building is only one of three buildings remaining from the original fourteen.
At left: Present-day Edgar A. Long building, Christiansburg Institute Collection.

November 13, 2000 was a day, from all appearances, that was divinely guided. The weather warmed up and the winds calmed down as the press conference called by Congressman Rick Boucher of the Ninth Congressional District got underway. He gave a curious crowd of alumni and New River Valley friends a wonderful message.

Pictured left to right: Robert Bates, Dean of Virginia Tech College of Arts and Sciences and CII board member; Jacqueline Eaves, CIAA President and CII board member; Congressman Rick Boucher, Elaine D. Carter, Director and board member of CII; and board members and school alumni, Nathaniel Bishop and Mary Mills, Christiansburg Institute Collection.

An appropriation granting the Christiansburg Institute $300,000 to support the restoration of the Edgar A. Long Building was passed by the United States Congress. An instantaneous joy spread through the crowd, bringing smiles, laughter, tears, hugs and hand-holdings. With a relief that only joy brings, everyone recognized immediately that a tremendous tide had turned toward making a dream a reality. This appropriation will be dedicated to Phase I of the restoration: returning the buildings exterior to its original 1927 state.

On December 6, 2000, the Virginia Historic Resources Board and the State Review Board added the Edgar A. Long building to its long list of historic landmarks. Further, they nominated the building to be listed in the National Register of Historic Places and acceptance occurred on March 5. The decision to seek historic site designation was made by the CIAA Board of Directors in the spring, 2000. A set of favorable events facilitated a speedy nomination request submission. Several professional resources became involved, providing CIAA the capability required in preparing the nomination application. The Community Design Assistance Program (CDAP) of Virginia Tech's College of Architecture and Urban Studies, introduced to CIAA by Associate Provost Laurence Moore, and the Center for Public Administration and Policy provided the resources to conduct required historic architecture and social surveys of the building. John Kern, director of the Roanoke Office of Historic Resources, was extremely supportive in the construction and presentation of the nomination. Alumni Mary Mills, John Craggett, and Elaine Carter traveled to Richmond with John Kern, joining Caroline Bott of CDAP in witnessing this historic moment.

The historic landmark designation will allow for the restoration of the Edgar A. Long building (pictured at left) to its 1927 original appearance. While the interior of the building will be altered to accommodate contemporary needs - museum, archive, computer interactive classroom, administrative offices, educational and civic meeting rooms, including a community meeting room - the hallways will remain intact. The exterior of the building will include restoration of its original windows and side entrances, including the re-grading of the grounds to expose ground floor windows. The $300,000 appropriation will be dedicated to restoring the building's exterior and securing the building for interior work. Additional funds need to be raised to restore the building's interior.
At left: Edgar A. long Building as it appeared in the late 1920's, Photograph courtesy of Friends Historical Library, Swarthmore College.