Reflections from the Past and Present: What’s New with CREW at the old Triplett School in Mt. Jackson
On Saturday, June 14, 2025, from 11 am to 4 pm, an Open House will be held at the CREW Community Center at 60444 Main Street in Mt. Jackson. The public is invited to see the transformation of the building and grounds! Some of the highlights of the Open House include live music, food, tours, and activities for young and old!
The Community Resources for Education and Wellness, Inc. (CREW) was incorporated in 2023 and has been working since to offer facilities and programs designed to improve individuals and the community such as the Rotary Learning Lab with 24 technology workstations funded by the four Rotary Clubs in Shenandoah County which was recently completed. Other parts of CREW include “The Clubhouse” which provides indoor practice space for sports and wellness activities, the Culinary Arts Center with a commercial kitchen, the Event Hall which can be rented for up to 120 guests, the Gymnasium, and the Performing and Cultural Center for events such as concerts and other performances. Shenandoah County 60444Board of Supervisors member David Ferguson was one of the many community members who had a vision for CREW and made it happen! Check out CREW’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/CREWCommunityCenter or the CREW website https://crewva.org/ for more information.
The building that houses CREW began as Triplett School which was constructed with a $25,000 donation by Dr. J. I. Triplett on the site of his home. The school burned in 1925 and was rebuilt. A primary building wing including the gymnasium was added in 1939, with the cafeteria added later. Students in grades one through twelve attended Triplett until the high school students were transferred to the new Stonewall Jackson High School in 1959. It continued as an elementary school until Ashby-Lee Elementary opened with grades Kindergarten through four in 1975, and Triplett became a middle school. The school closed in 1993 when North Fork Middle School opened in Quicksburg. The building later became the Mt. Jackson Rescue and Fire Company before their new facility was opened on Route 11 south of the old Triplett school.
One of the interesting things to explore on June 14 at CREW is “Wild Child: Museum and Menagerie.” Created by Rosealie P. Lynch, this new adventure opens on June 14 to offer “Everyday Play” visits to the museum as well as age-based classes and playgroups, a summer camp inspired by animals, and supervised play sessions led by Wild Child guides while parents work, study, or socialize in the space. The Museum and Menagerie features interactive exhibits and activities which echo the natural world and how animals, especially mammals, care for their young. The space features 12-foot ceilings and around 700 square feet of space for play and educational exhibits. check out the Wild Child: Museum and Menagerie website at https://www.wildchildmuseum.org/ and the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/wildchildmuseum for more information on the variety of activities offered and to be a sponsor/donor!
I remember meeting Rosealie at the New Market Farmer’s Market when she and her husband Ian Hoke (who Is a Virginia native and now a teacher at J. Frank Hillyard Middle School) were returning to the area from El Salvador where he was a 7th grade English teacher at the American School of El Salvador while Rosie worked virtually in the non-profit sector. Rosie, who is originally from New Jersey, came to the Valley to attend James Madison University; she graduated from JMU Honors Program with a double major in Anthropology and Religious Studies with a minor in Asian Studies. While at JMU she met Ian, a local guy, and they lived in the Valley eight years before going to El Salvador. Rosie’s family has also moved to New Market; her mother, Laurie Lynch, who has three decades of experience in education from daycare to high school, will be helping with Wild Child’s daily operations! I have enjoyed getting to know Rosie and Laurie and her children (a 3-year-old son and a daughter who is almost 2) through their participated in the New Market Area Library’s programs for children! I am excited to attend the Open House and see her dream translated into action for the benefit of many parents, children, and the community! Facepainting, free drinks and snacks, story time, a petting zoo, and a special summer camp giveaway will be part of the Open House!
The Community Garden behind the CREW building will be open on June 14; it started in 2024 using funds from Shenandoah Memorial Hospital. The garden started small with three raised beds in a fenced area behind the old school. The first year, 30 pounds of produce were donated to those in need. Since then, the garden had to be moved and is now being created and maintained by the Master Gardeners of the Northern Shenandoah Valley, with Chris and Jerry Jorgensen spearheading the work. They also volunteer with the children’s programs at the New Market Area Library and other community groups! Chris did an adult program on rain gardens for the New Market Area Library and with other Master Gardeners, maintains the rain gardens they planted at the library. Many volunteers are helping with the Mt. Jackson Community Garden, and more are always needed: contact mjcommunitygarden1@gmail.com to get more information!
