Davis-Stuart, Inc

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Affiliations Presbyterian Church USA Alliance for Children WV Dept. of Education Office of Institutional Education WV Department of Health & Human Resources Davis-Stuart History Davis-Stuart School, Incorporated (the original name) began when George N. Davis and his wife, Mary Estelle Kinports Davis donated their 574 acre farm near Lewisburg, WV to the Synod of West Virginia, now part of the Synod of the Trinity, Presbyterian Church USA to serve as a home for orphaned and dependent children. The home was chartered in 1919 to a board of directors in memory of Mr. Davis ’ father and mother, Col. James Ward Davis and Margaret Lynn Stuart Davis, hence the name "Davis-Stuart." The initial task of organizing the home out of the farm lay with Dr. J.L. Lineweaver, pastor of the Beckley Presbyterian Church. He served for six months as the first employee of Davis-Stuart, taking a leave of absence from his church. Under the leadership of R.K. Robinson, the first superintendent, the facility began quickly receiving the first residents into an enlarged farm house in the fall of 1920. The facility grew quickly and became a home to as many as 70 youngsters at a time, some as young as six years old. The original program was designed to provide an environment in which children could learn values, habits, manners, and some vocational skills. The girls were taught homemaking techniques and the boys participated in the daily operation of the farm. The children also participated in school, recreational activities, and worship services. In the 60 ’s the Board of Directors restricted the age of children served to over 12 years of age. In addition to the main campus in Lewisburg, three group homes were established in the state, located in Beckley, Bluefield, and Princeton, WV, each licensed to accommodate six residents. By the 70 ’s the number of children in each of the six campus cottages was limited to eight and the licensed capacity established at forty-four residents. Also during this time, the program expanded with the addition of staff specializing in education, work training, and family services. The program became more specialized in its focus, utilizing positive peer culture problem solving groups with each cottage to teach the residents how to communicate and assist each other. The focus of treatment was upon the behavioral disorders of the residents. In 2000, the fourth group home was established in Maxwelton in memory of Alicia McCormick. As with the other group homes, the Alicia McCormick House is also licensed to accommodate six residents. Today we operate as a private, non-profit agency governed by an independent Board of Directors. We are a validated ministry of the Synod of the Trinity, Presbyterian Church, USA. Davis-Stuart is a Presbyterian therapeutic residential treatment facility for adolescents ages 12 to 17 who, for various reasons, cannot live at home. All children placed here are in the custody of the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources. A typical length of stay is approximately six to nine months. At our main campus we provide an array of services to ensure the physical, mental, and spiritual health of the residents.

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