WEIRTON – Carole Bernardino can still remember the day in June 1991 when old Cove School closed its doors forever.

“It was very sad,” said Bernardino, the school’s last principal, standing in grass where one wing of the school once stood. “Whenever I’d come to Weirton to visit, I’d look up here and see it still standing, but then all of a sudden it was gone. That was heartbreaking.”

On Saturday, former students, teachers and administrators gathered on the site of the old school, now the Weirton Event Center, to watch as local leaders unveiled a plaque commemorating the school and its significance to the community. The base of the historical marker was reinforced with bricks salvaged from the school.

A time capsule loaded with memorabilia also was buried at the base of the historical marker.

“It’s like we’re back at Cove School again, reminiscing and thinking about the wonderful children we had the pleasure of teaching,” said Bernardino, who told the crowd gathered for the celebration that “those were wonderful times.”

Cove School alumna Lori Price agreed, saying the teachers there “taught us to do the best we could, they taught us morals and how to treat other people.”

“Cove School was our family,” said Price, who attended Cove School from 1978-84. “Just because there’s not a brick building with steel and mortar here now, doesn’t mean we don’t remember what stood here, on this lot. The heart never forgets.”

Nicholas Mourat, 87, recalled attending Cove School back when desks had ink wells.

“When I was in the fourth grade, Mary Fenske sat in front of me,” he recalled. “I’d pull her hair all the time but she wouldn’t pay any attention to me, so one time I (dipped) her hair in the ink well. She’s never forgotten that.”

Bernardino, who spent 32 years as a teacher and administrator with Hancock County Schools, said the bond forged between students and teachers is still there even though the school isn’t.

“I remember when they merged some of the special classes to Cove,” she said. “We were told we’d have to know sign language so I had someone come in and teach the teachers and everyone connected with the students, how to sign. We did it before school, but nobody ever missed it. They came because it was for the good of the school.”

The celebration was part of the Weirton Area Museum & Cultural Center’s “Rediscovering Holliday’s Cove” project. Sponsoring the historical marker, in addition to the museum, were Hancock County Savings Bank, Top of West Virginia Convention & Visitors Bureau, and the Pipinos Charitable Trust in memory of Mario and Irene Pipinos. The City of Weirton and P.S. Marketing also assisted with the project.

Serving as master of ceremonies was Hancock County Commissioner Mike Swartzmiller, who started his teaching career at Cove School. Also participating were former teacher administrator Jim Piccirillo and Dennis Jones, president of the Weirton Area Museum and Cultural Center.

(Harris can be contacted at lharris@heraldstaronline.com)