School transfer awaits roof replacement

By Clint Confehr

LAWRENCEBURG, TN — A public-private partnership here is leading toward a community center in an 87-year-old building where African-American children were taught before desegregation.

Lawrence County commissioners have budgeted money to pay for a new roof over the old public school on West Gaines Street, County Executive David Morgan said, explaining that ownership of the building shouldn’t be transferred to a private non-profit group until after roofers are paid.

It’s illegal for Tennessee governments to work on private property.

“I’d hate to give it to them [West Gaines School Community Center Inc.] with the roof being in such disrepair,” Morgan said.

“We can’t donate that…” roof replacement, Morgan said, “once they own the building.”

James Wallace is the president of the West Gaines School Community Center (WGSCC) Inc. It’s been working to acquire ownership of the old county school building and transform it into a place where: students could do homework; groups may hold meetings; sports may be played in the gym; and a Black history museum may attract tourists to Lawrenceburg.

Transfer of the building would also reduce the county’s liability insurance costs. Money for the roof might come from the sale of surplus county property.

A fundraising luncheon for WGSCC Inc. is set for 1 p.m. Feb. 24 at the Society American Nosherie restaurant on Lawrenceburg’s Public Square. Wallace says John Finch Nelson is the featured speaker. Knowledgeable about Black history, Nelson is to discuss evolution of Blacks’ education, their religions and businesses.

West Gaines School is where Black students were educated from 1937 to 1964. Later, it was used for storage and other purposes. Wallace says he believes there’s evidence that ownership of the property has been transferred from the school board to the county commission. Morgan was consulting County Attorney Charles Holt on that. Wallace wants more evidence. He’s attended county meetings and consulted authorities about Tennessee Supreme Court papers. He believes the school was built with: Rosenwald Fund money; county funds; and $200 raised by the African American community approximately 94 years ago.

Rosenwald Schools were a project by Julius Rosenwald of Sears, Roebuck and Co., and Tuskeegee Institute President Booker T. Washington. Restoration of some Rosenwald schools resulted in placements on the National Register of Historic Places.

Construction of West Gaines School was apparently delayed by a lawsuit, Wallace said. More research is on-going.

Thursday, Rebecca Moore — a 1990 Lawrence County High School graduate, now an interior design professor in Belmont University’s College of Architecture and Design — introduced three students to the West Gaines School project. While at Auburn University, Moore was taught by a professor who started a program to revive buildings open to the public. Now, Moore is working with the Belmont University Community Partnership, a commitment by Belmont for community service and students’ hands-on education. The students are to help make the school qualify for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.

Lawrence County’s maintenance department put a blue tarp over holes in the school’s roof, Morgan said. He’s on the West Gaines School Community Center Board and advocates for a Boys and Girls Club at WGSCC. Its board met Feb. 15 in St. John’s United Methodist Church. Morgan has helped publicize the project for more than six years.

The roof might be replaced “hopefully, this year,” Morgan said.

Restoring the building is a collaborative effort between the local Historical Society, Middle Tennessee State University’s Center for Historic Preservation, Belmont, WGSCC, churches, civic-minded people, Lawrence County and other institutions.