Historic preservation makes sense in large measure because historic preservation makes dollars and cents, but it also saves dollars and cents. Historic preservation is a rational and effective economic response to overconsumption. To make a new brick today to build a building on a site where there is already a building standing steals from two generations. It steals from the generation that built the brick originally by throwing away their asset before its work is done, and it steals from a future generation by using increasingly scarce natural resources today that should have been saved for tomorrow.
Don Rykema
The Economics of Rehabilitation [1997]xv
Recently we were made aware that the Cherokee County Board of Education was exploring the option of demolition for the former Canton Grammar School. This imposing edifice on Academy Street was built in 1914 to replace Etowah Academy, the first school in Canton. It originally played host to grades 1-11 until Canton High was constructed in 1924. The grammar school underwent many changes over the years until the elementary classes left in 1974 for their new building on Marietta Highway. The school reopened two years later, in 1976, as part of the Bicentennial Celebration for the Department of Education.
Now we believe that it is better to repair than to replace and we urge you to join us in our efforts to save this school!
We will be hosting a booth at this Saturday's farmers market in the square in downtown Canton with a petition form to show our support for saving this building and to create a dialogue with the community and the school board. If you would like to share your thoughts or take part, please come by and visit our booth. We want to see you and, more importantly, we want to hear you!
Stefanie and Meghan
dear society
ReplyDeleteyou need to renovate building b in downtown canton
i know the school district won't let you because there isn't enough money in the budget. but that building can't be tore down.you need to do a fund raiser to raise money for the renovations.Or something else to raise money.
It is scary that the board of education does not understand the value of preservation. They should set the example that the future is built on a solid past and that historical structures are part of American history. Imagine if they would have torn down the historic courthouse to build the new one. Where would the character of Canton be? In a parallel comparison, there were discussions after the Paris fair to torn down the Eifell Tower. What if they would have done it?
ReplyDeleteThe School Board can find alternatives without destroying historical structures, and they should set the example to our future leaders that past, present and future are interconected and the three can exist in harmony.
I went to grammar school at Building B from 1955 until 1958 (1st - 3rd) when I "graduated" to the big school across the street. This school is just a part of Canton... I can't imagine it being torn down! So many of our old homes have been demolished (the old Jones house that was the Canton Library for so many years) and so many others that have disappeared through the years. I do hope there is some way to rennovate it so that it may continue to be a part of our history.
ReplyDeleteThe most important property in Cherokee County is the Keith Plantation on York Road in Keithsburg. This house was constructed in 1865 with bricks made on the Etowah River. The large rock displayed at the Funk History center in Waleska was removed from this property in the 1940's. It was the marker for a Cherokee Indian burial ground. Why not save this property?
ReplyDeleteI agree, the Keith property definitely needs to be saved. When development was imminent a couple of years ago we talked with the owner and he was interested if we could get it moved. Since it's brick, we couldn't make that option work. I am not sure of the current status of the property, but I would definitely love to see it on our next "Sites Worth Saving" list. We do accept nominations from the public, so please contact us about nominating the Keith Plantation for the next round. Stefanie Joyner, CCHS Executive Director, sjoyner@rockbarn.org
ReplyDelete