Old Rock carves out new look

CHATSWORTH, Ga. -- Shiny metal poles are holding up the historic stone walls of the Old Rock Building after stabilization and asbestos abatement work completed in the past month.

Fire gutted the 76-year-old building Sept. 26 after lightning struck the rear of the structure, the former Murray County High School.

A $1.6 million rebuilding project moved another step forward as officials begin to review proposals for a construction management firm to oversee the work. A recommendation is expected next week, said Dean Donehoo, Murray County director of administrative services.

After receiving insurance money for the damaged school, the best use of the money is to rebuild and preserve the structure, Mr. Donehoo said. The insurance payoff gives the county $663,263 more to rebuild rather than raze the old structure, he said.

"The plan is to rebuild the building using only insurance proceeds and no general fund money," Mr. Donehoo said.

Larry Sampson, who taught history in the corner classroom of the Old Rock Building for 20 years, said the county's first consolidated high school represents a special period for Murray County.

"I think what makes it worthwhile is how that building came into being," said Mr. Sampson, a Murray County teacher from 1969 to 1989. "That represents the beginning of consolidation of schools."

Murray County had high schools scattered in outlying communities until they were consolidated in 1934, he said. The centralized high school was a point of pride for the whole county.

"This thing was built as part of (President Franklin) Roosevelt's New Deal," Mr. Sampson said. "That was at the height of the Depression. Those guys that worked on the building, they got $1 a day to work on the building."

Mr. Sampson said the building "was built to last." Preserving it "would be a testament to those New Deal workers who worked on that building."

Murray County Board of Education members will hear a recommendation for construction management services Thursday, said board member Becky Whaley, a member of the facilities committee.

On Tuesday, the committee reviewed four construction management proposals that ranged from 15.7 percent to 19.5 percent of the total project cost, Ms. Whaley said. The management fee could tally a portion of the entire $1.6 million, or a range of between $260,330 and $323,340, she said.

Once board members choose the firm, they want to start work on the project immediately, Ms. Whaley said. County workers tasked with some of the cleanup will be among the first on the site, she said, while the management firm should be in position to oversee all remaining work.

France Adams, a retired Murray County teacher, administrator and former school board member, was one of several donors to contribute to the rebuilding effort.

"Being a native Murray Countian and having gone to school there and spent all those years there, I just felt the need to help preserve it," said Mr. Adams, who donated $1,000.

"This is a little something I can give back to my community," he said. "I know that sounds trite, but that's the way I feel."

SCHOOL HISTORY

* School name: Murray County High School

* Established: 1934

* Students in 1934: 300

* Teachers in 1934: 13

* 1935: Home economics building, cannery and electric lights added

* 1935: First graduation held May 18. Thirty-eight of 60 seniors starting 1934-35 school year awarded diplomas

* 1936: Agricultural building added

* 2004: Placed on the National Register of Historic Places

* 2005: Renovations begin for future school offices

* Sept. 26, 2009: Fire guts old school

* Jan. 19: Proposals submitted for construction management services

* Feb. 4: Expected recommendation to school board

Source: Murray County Museum online archives and history, Murray County Schools

Upcoming Events