Early in 1907, Manufacturers Record carried a notice requesting architects “to submit competitive plans for the Tyler County High School,” adding that the school board had “adopted the general plan of the Shepherd College, Normal School building, located at Shepherdstown, W.Va.” as the model to emulate. Alexander and Chaplin of New Martinsville, who won the competition, designed a classical brick building with an expansive, arched entrance fronted by a giant-order Ionic portico, all on a raised sandstone basement. The building does indeed resemble Harrison Albright's Knutti Hall ( JE20) at Shepherd College in Jefferson County, which, according to its 1904 dedication program, was “regarded as the most handsome school structure in the state.” The Tyler building, West Virginia's first county high school, now serves as the Tyler County Museum.