Massive fire burns Virginia Intermont main hall

Massive fire burns Virginia Intermont main hall

[lindawilson]

Heartbreaking to see this. 💔 I graduated from there in 1985 and worked at the college library. It was very unique it had ballerinas, horsemanship majors,
as well as sciences, etc. It will live forever in our hearts. 💜💜

[yrslfbtru]

I too am a VIC alum and have anxiously watched from the sidelines while Main Hall (where I had my room directly above the cafeteria) deteriorated from neglect. I don't understand how it became so quickly engulfed in flames when it could be seen from so far away. I also will never understand why the city let foreign companies buy it, lie about its intent, neglect it, and then ultimately let it deteriorate to this untimely end. We have lost so many large buildings, many of them old schools and such, that some day will be regretted in local histories. It may not have been the best college in the country, but it certainly was a beautiful campus and educated many a young woman in the performing arts and the equestrian program. Going co-educational is usually a mistake and a game-changer for a women's institution and I think it put VIC on a different path that led somewhat to its demise. RIP Main Hall.

[HaroldLeeDye]

Who set the fire ?
The reason for its death ?

[MaryAClark]

Virginia Intermont was a historic structure. When it was active the college added the energy of youth to our town. About 2014 the college failed as many small colleges have in the past decade. A Chinese company bought it and said it would be reopened as a business college. Nothing was ever done with the property, and over the years the buildings began to deteriorate. Bristol VA fined the company but without effect. Homeless people have been seen around the buildings. The cause of the fire is unknown, but in any case, the owners are responsible and should face legal action IMO.

[TheWanderingDukes]

That looks like Arson very sad I went to college there

[UnicornPurple-utwf]

If you can help the Bald Creek Relief center they have an Amazon wish list

[brianandrews]

That is one way for this property owner to get “out from under” local government pressure to secure, repair and maintain those crumbling, huge old buildings and cut the property taxes due each year considerably; now that most of the site is undeveloped land … all for the $3.3 million spend on a property that they clearly regretted purchasing. It’s too bad the oldest, most historic building on the property wasn’t converted to condominiums rather than just left to rot and become an unofficial homeless shelter. I’d wager the city ends up taking over ownership of the property after the owners fail to clear the site; sticking the city with both the costs and responsibilities. I agree that the city should take legal action against the owners but realistically, the city is unlikely to every get anything more from the owner than the property it can seize.