HISTORIC SAMPLE – A group of students stand in front of a bus at Decatur Public School in the 1930s. This is an example of the type of photos sought for the project at Weatherford College Wise County. Courtesy of the Wise County Historical Society

The walls of Weatherford College Wise County are empty, but instructor Cathy Johnson is planning an installation of historical photographs that will personalize the building.

Johnson, a Ph.D. who teaches history and government, is organizing the project and hopes that not only will it be an educational exhibit, but also an element to make the building feel like home.

“It would be a nice ode to Wise County,” said Johnson. “And we want people to feel welcome and at home here.

“The photos would motivate people to explore the building.”

Johnson is seeking submissions to be included in the exhibit. There are no funds for the project, so she is hoping citizens, businesses, churches and schools will submit photos and pay for them to be printed. She does not yet know the exact cost but does not anticipate it to be more than $100.

A small plaque will hang with each photo indicating the sponsor and identifying what is in the picture.

“This would give families a way to commemorate and honor loved ones,” she said. “They may think, ‘wouldn’t it be neat to (have a photo displayed) on a public stage?’”

Johnson has already contacted the Wise County Historical Society, the Bridgeport Historical Society, the Paradise Historical Society and the Wise County Veterans Group, and she hopes to work closely with them as the project develops.

The instructor is accepting photos until the end of the year. All submissions should be “historical” and in good taste, and she will consider using more recent photos if they have an “historic interest.”

“It really is like a huge, blank canvas,” said Johnson, while walking the hallways last week.

She hopes to collect photos of all aspects of life in Wise County. If you would like to submit a photo or request information about the project, email Johnson at cljohnson@wc.edu.