A concerted community effort is needed to return the historic Woodville School at Ordinary to its original place as a public facility, Dr. Wesley C. Wilson told the Gloucester Genealogical Society of Virginia Monday.

Wilson, who is active in a foundation working to restore the Woodville School and the Thomas Calhoun Walker house in Gloucester Court House, said that the Gloucester Economic Development Authority purchased the old school several years ago.

Now, Wilson estimated it will cost approximately $500,000 to remodel the interior of the building, provide a vehicular deceleration lane required by the Virginia Department of Transportation for proper access to the site, and do landscaping. Also, a small building to the rear that once was used to teach home economics and house a visiting teacher might be relocated and attached to the main building to provide additional restroom space.

During the society’s annual meeting at the Gloucester Library in Main Street Center, Wilson s...