(Photo by Shelley Hanson) Members of the Paden City Development Authority and Paden City Foundation stand in front of Paden City High School and with the school's painting created by artist Vincent Myrand of Sistersville. Prints of the painting were made and gifted to the school’s last graduating class on May 31. From left, are authority members Bill Bell and Eric Danielson, artist Vincent Myrand, Sistersville resident and art patron Terry Wiley, authority Director Cork Bowen and Rodney McWilliams, president of the Paden City Foundation.

Paden City High School’s last graduates – the Class of 2025 – each received a special memento into addition to their diplomas during their baccalaureate ceremony on May 31.

They were given a 5×7 framed print of a painting of their school building made by Sistersville-based artist Vincent Myrand.

The original painting will be on display at the Paden City History Museum.

“I wanted to commemorate the high school building in a classic oil painting on canvas. I wanted something for the students to have and look back upon, and sort of work like a memory trigger,” Myrand said. “There’s not a lot of activity going on here so I’ve left room for each individual who views this to kind of put themselves in it and retrace their steps.”

Myrand said he’s enjoyed the process of creating the painting and being able to give back to the community.

The painting was commissioned by the Paden City Foundation and Paden City Development Authority.

Rodney McWilliams, president of the Paden City Foundation, said more prints of the painting will be available to purchase at the Paden City History Museum at a later date.

The students can take theirs with them wherever they live in life to remember their alma mater, he said.

“We wanted to provide the graduates of this class – the last class – a commemorative gift,” McWilliams said. “We didn’t want to dwell on the closing of the school, but it’s a fact we’re facing right now so we might as well commemorate it as best we can.”

Cork Bowen, director of the Paden City Development Authority, said Myrand did an excellent job capturing the building in his painting.

“It’s a memento of the many years the kids spent in that building because it’s grades 7-12,” Bowen said. “We felt this was important. … I think it was well received by people.”

The school’s closure was part of a decision made by the Wetzel County Board of Education to consolidate students next school year. The plan is to close Hundred High School and move its students to Valley High School. Paden City students will now attend Magnolia High School. And Paden City’s 7-8th graders will attend the New Martinsville School.

Many residents of Paden City opposed the district’s closure plans. An initial attempt to close the school by Superintendent Cassandra Porter ended up in court with the district citing public health concerns due to the city being a Superfund site because of PCE groundwater contamination and vapor intrusions. People protested during board meetings, in public and still others placed signs of opposition around the city and tied ribbons with the school’s colors around utility poles. Eventually a court ruling allowed the school to remain open for this school year.

Not long after the board of education and superintendent made the consolidation plans. The longer-term goal is to construct a brand new consolidated high school on a plot of land.