Over the years many Mountain schools have fallen victim to consolidation, and thus seem to be forgotten as time passes, but deep in the hills of Harlan County there is a room that not only keeps alive the memory of one school but takes those who visit it on a journey back in time.

The late Mike O'Bradovich, a 1965 graduate of Lynch High School in Lynch, Kentucky, was one of the creators of the Bulldog Room, a room dedicated to preserving the history of the school and all of those who once walked its halls.

"When they come through that door and see that big football field and they see that big bulldog logo on the 50 yard line and their head spins, that's what they say. "Wow." And my response is, "That's what I want to hear," because that means we've done a good job," he said.

The room, which sits in an old depot building along Main Street, is home to hundreds of pictures, jerseys, and trophies, all helping to paint a picture of a culture that was, and in many ways still is, deeply-rooted in Appalachian pride.

"We were somebody, and that pride is part of who we were too. For those of us that grew up here, and I can name their names right now, but they've got as much pride as I do."

"Close your eyes and walk down your hallways. What do you see? Do you see trophy cases or class pictures on the walls? Can you remember the black board that was in your home room? Anything associated with your school what do you remember about it?" Pick out anything that you can remember, and it's probably in the Bulldog Room."

The room is open to the public, but there is no advertising, no admission fee. It does not exist to raise money. The Bulldog Room was created to simply to preserve a time in history that is so fondly remembered by those who lived it.

Story Courtesy of WYMT - By Josh McKinney