The DeJarnette Center is visible from Interstate 81 as you are approaching exit 222 from the south.  It sits on the property of the Frontier Culture Museum.

DeJarnette is only spoken of in hushed tones here in Staunton, mainly because its namesake, Western State superintendant Joseph S. DeJarnette, was a public advocate of eugenics and forced sterilizations of the insane. Thanks to the efforts of idiots like him, Virginia's eugenics law was upheld in the U.S. Supreme Court and strongly influenced the development of Nazi Germany's law about sterlization. You can read DeJarnette's ode to eugenics, "Mendel's Law," at this link. ("Oh, you wise men take up the burden, / And make this you [sic] loudest creed, / Sterilize the misfits promptly- / All not fit to breed!") A good writeup about Dr. DeJarnette and Virginia's eugenics movement is at this link.

Understandably, the City of Staunton is anxious to proceed with plans to pave over the DeJarnette Center with a shopping mall and parking lot. What I find ironic in all this is that, to my knowledge, Dr. DeJarnette worked at the former Western State campus and not in the mouldering ruins bearing his infamous name.

I must give props to News Leader columnist Charles Culbertson for his ongoing support of these buildings.  He has repeatedly plead for their restoration and has offered ideas for their use.  He understands their value to the city and what a great fascination so many people have with the buildings.  Heck, this is the most visited page on the Odd Staunton website. Keep fighting the good fight, Charlie! 

As of June 2007, the buildings will remain intact.  The plans for demolition fell through because the developers couldn't secure enough tenants in the shopping center that would replace DeJarnette. Here's hoping they never find enough tenants. 

For other cool galleries of DeJarnette photos, see these sites:
Gallery One (Scroll down)
Gallery Two