Old Rock Building
The old rock building in Chatsworth, Georgia, is being renovated. The historic building caught fire and burned on Saturday, September 26th, 2009, after being struck by lightning during heavy storms and flash flooding. The building was special to the community as a historic and architectural landmark. It was built in 1934 as the first consolidated high school of Murray County. Before the fire, a renovation was already in progress. The building had recently received a new roof. After the fire, community and school-board members held public forums to discuss the future of the building. The general sentiment among the public was to save the structure if at all possible, pending reports by engineers and insurance representatives. Damage to the building included a total loss of the interior and severe damage to the stone walls. The building was adequately insured and renovation was considered to be a viable option, so the decision was made to restore the building. Renovation has already begun. For more about the 2009 fire, see Daily Citizen News reports. Also see photos of the fire.
The old rock building is on the National Register of Historic Places as the Murray County High School Historic District. It was officially named as the V.C. Pickering Administrative Center in 2005, prior to Phase I of the renovation. Plans were to use it as the central office for the Murray County school system.
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