View source for Central Elementary School (Albemarle, North Carolina)

{{short description|Historic school in North Carolina, US}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox NRHP | name =Albemarle Graded School
| nrhp_type =
| image = Albemarle Central Elementary School.jpg
| caption = Western side
| location= E. North Street, [[Albemarle, North Carolina]]
| coordinates = {{coord|35.3523|N|80.1959|W|display=inline,title}}
| locmapin = North Carolina
| area =
| built =
| architect=
| architecture=
| designated_nrhp_type =
| governing_body =
| partof =
| refnum = 14000991
}}
'''Central Elementary School''' is a historic school in [[Albemarle, North Carolina]] whose current main building opened in 1925 as '''Albemarle High School''', and whose previous building ('''Albemarle Graded School''') located next door was named to the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 2015. Additions to the 1925 building were constructed in 1936 and a renovation and expansion completed in 2007. When the renovation was completed, Central Elementary moved from its original building next door. The renovation resulted in the [[Stanly County, North Carolina|Stanly County]]'s school board being honored by Preservation North Carolina in 2008. The school has 561 students in grades pre-kindergarten to 5th grade and is [[Southern Association of Colleges and Schools|SACS]]-accredited.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.greatschools.org/north-carolina/albemarle/1764-Central-Elementary/|title=Central Elementary - Albemarle, North Carolina - NC - School overview|publisher=greatschools.org|accessdate=May 8, 2014}}</ref>
== History of the original building ==
The original Central School (previously Albemarle Graded School) was built in 1900 at North Third Street and East North Street on the site of another building built in 1875. The school burned November 18, 1920 but was renovated and expanded.<ref name=NRHP>Heather Fearnbach, ''Albemarle Graded School - Central Elementary School National Register of Historic Places Nomination Draft'', April 2014.</ref>
When a new [[#History, expansion and renovation of the 1925 building|high school]] opened in 1925 next door, the older building became Central Elementary School. Additions were made in 1952 and 1965. While the main entrance had faced North Street, the 1965 addition included a new entrance on Third Street.<ref name=NRHP/>
By 1990, the oldest building needed replacing. A new building next door was considered, but the decision was made to renovate and add to the Albemarle Middle School building already on that site.{{citation needed|date=May 2014}} The old Central School building had been empty since students were moved to the renovated building next door in 2007.<ref name=Rosser/><ref name=jul21/> One proposal in 2009 was housing for the elderly, with the auditorium converted for cultural activities.<ref>{{cite news|title=Former Central School may become apartments for seniors |last=Lisk |first=Jim |work=[[Stanly News and Press]]|date=August 7, 2009}}</ref> As of 2011, the oldest section was still standing. The building and the 2-acre property was for sale.<ref name=jul21>{{cite news |url=http://www.thesnaponline.com/local/x1241070160/Old-Central-School-building-for-sale-by-Stanly-County-Schools |title=Old Central School building for sale by Stanly County Schools |last=Richardson |first=Marina |work=Stanly News and Press |date=July 21, 2011 |access-date=May 8, 2014 |archive-date=May 17, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517153448/http://www.thesnaponline.com/local/x1241070160/Old-Central-School-building-for-sale-by-Stanly-County-Schools |url-status=dead }}</ref> In December 2013, after several offers, the Stanly County School Board voted to sell the old building to the city for $150,000.<ref>{{cite news|title=Board plans to sell old Central to city|last=Starnes|first=Ritchie|work=Stanly News and Press|date=December 5, 2013|page=1A}}</ref>
The old Central School buildings are part of a downtown revitalization project funded partly by tax credits for historic preservation of the school buildings.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thesnaponline.com/local/x1767986263/City-continues-downtown-revitalization-plan-through-Old-Central-School-site|title=City continues downtown revitalization plan through Old Central School site|work=Stanly News and Press|date=January 17, 2014|author=Shannon Beamon|access-date=May 8, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517120353/http://www.thesnaponline.com/local/x1767986263/City-continues-downtown-revitalization-plan-through-Old-Central-School-site|archive-date=May 17, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Albemarle Graded School/Central Elementary buildings were named to the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 2015.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/blog/real-estate/2015/04/national-register-historic-places-north-carolina.html|title=National Register adds 18 historic places in North Carolina; 4 in Triangle|last=Hoyle|first=Amanda|work=[[Triangle Business Journal]]|date=April 29, 2015}}</ref>
Albemarle Central School Apartments, intended for people over 55 meeting income requirements, opened in August 2016.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thesnaponline.com/news/local_news/finish-nears-for-albemarle-central-apartments/article_84135b46|title=Finish nears for Albemarle Central apartments|work=Stanly News and Press|date=July 14, 2016|author=Shannon Beamon}}{{Dead link|date=July 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Old school gets new life|work=Stanly News and Press|date=December 11, 2016|author=Shannon Beamon|page=1A}}</ref>
==History, expansion and renovation of the 1925 building==
[[Charles C. Hook]] designed Albemarle High School. The design included "carved Indian-influenced geometric [[limestone]] patterns."<ref name=Efird/>  The new building was described as  "one of the handsomest structures in the city ... built of the best grade of brick ... three stories and ... practically fireproof."<ref>{{cite news|title=Contract For New High School Building To Be Let August 15th|work=Stanly News Herald |date=July 29, 1924}}</ref> It was opened in the fall of 1925.<ref>{{cite news|title=Albemarle's New High School Building|work=Albemarle Press|date=September 10, 1925}}</ref>
A gym completed in 1936 was considered "one of the most modern structures of its type in North Carolina high schools."<ref>{{cite news|title=High School Gymnasium Is Rated Among Best In State |work=Stanly News and Press|date=February 26, 1937}}</ref>
A football stadium with 2300 permanent seats and 700 temporary bleachers opened in 1947.<ref>{{cite news|title=Dedication Ceremonies Planned For High School Stadium Friday|work=Stanly News and Press|date=September 30, 1947}}</ref>
A new high school was built on Palestine Road in 1958,<ref>{{cite news|title=New Senior High School Building Takes Shape |work=Stanly News and Press|date=January 4, 1958}}</ref> and the old high school building became Albemarle Junior High School.{{citation needed|date=May 2014}} A stadium was added in 1978.<ref>{{cite news|title=New Football Stadium Nearing Completion|work=Stanly News and Press|date=August 22, 1978}}</ref>
Albemarle Junior High became Albemarle Middle School in 1985.{{citation needed|date=May 2014}}
A 2000 [[bond referendum]] called for the 1925 building to be demolished, but a number of people in the community wanted the historic building preserved.<ref name=Knox/> Stanly County Museum director Christine Dwyer said, "It's a very important kind of architecture because it's so rare."<ref name=Sims/> The [[Collegiate Gothic]]<ref name=Lisk/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.preservationnation.org/magazine/911/historic-nc-school-could-be.html#.U2ue6lcvD40|title=Historic N.C. School Could Be Demolished|last=Dwyer|first=Christine M.|publisher=Preservation 911|date=December 29, 2002|accessdate=May 8, 2014}}</ref> building was described as "a reinvention of the [[Gothic art]] of the [[Middle Ages]]" which included "carved [[limestone]] and [[battlement]]s across the front."<ref name=Sims>{{cite news|title=Group: looking at reuses for Middle School|last=Sims|first=Douglas|work=Stanly News and Press|date=January 4, 2001|page=1A}}</ref>
The [[National Institute of Historic Preservation]] offered financial help.<ref name=Rosser/> To see schools that were "good as new", officials visited C.G. Credle Elementary School in [[Oxford, North Carolina]] and Watts Elementary in [[Durham, North Carolina]]. The schools did have problems but those were mainly in the newer sections. In December 2002, the Stanly County School Board voted to preserve the 1925  building.<ref name=Knox>{{cite news|title=AMS will be central to new school|last=Michael|first=Knox|work=Stanly News and Press|date=December 8, 2002|page=1A}}</ref> Two of the 1936 additions would also be kept—the [[gym]]nasium and a section next to the football field.<ref name=Architects/>
A 2-story building with a new cafeteria was planned on the site of the other 1936 addition. Students were expected to move in by Fall 2004 and the construction costs were anticipated at $6.8 to $7.3 million.<ref name=Architects>{{cite news|title=Board: architects on the right track|last=Russell|first=Le-Anne|work=Stanly News and Press|date=January 9, 2003|page=1A}}</ref> The $7.9 million cost of the project was $1.2 million more than expected.<ref name=Russell/> Work began in October 2003<ref name=Lisk/> and students were to move in by January 2005. The existing building was designed to look the same on the outside with a mostly new interior and a 25,000-square-foot addition.<ref name=Russell/> The addition was later increased to 37,000 square feet, with an exterior appearance matching the 1925 building.<ref name=Onxley>{{cite web|url=http://www.onxley.com/CES_Presentaion.htm|title=Central Elementary School|publisher=Onxley Architecture|accessdate=May 8, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141017053723/http://www.onxley.com/CES_Presentaion.htm|archive-date=October 17, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>
With a new middle school building completed on Badin Road in 2003, the former middle school building was expected to house 500 students,<ref name=Russell>{{cite news|title=Central project to begin|last=Russell|first=Le-Anne|work=Stanly News and Press|date=October 2, 2003|page=1A}}</ref> with larger classrooms than many schools had, and [[kindergarten]] and first-grade students would have classes on the first floor.<ref name=Efird/> The load-bearing walls were five bricks thick, and bricks were solid, rather than the newer type with three holes. Architect Steve Onxley, who worked on the new project, said, "[T]his building was years ahead of most of the buildings of its time."<ref name=Years/> School buildings tended to be well built because of the value of a high school education at the time, equivalent to a [[junior college]] years later. The former auditorium, used as a library, was found to have [[heart pine]] floors, which were to be kept. The 1936 gymnasium had [[maple]] floors which would be refinished, and glass block windows were to be added.<ref name=Years>{{cite news|title=Years ahead of its time|last=Efird|first=Jo Anne|work=Stanly News and Press|date=November 20, 2003|page=1A}}</ref> [[Plaster]] moldings were still able to be used. No structural cracks were found in the 1925 building, despite the lack of expansion joints.<ref name=Efird/> Onxley said the gym "has all the look of a modern movement with simplified precast concrete detailing to match the carved limestone."<ref name=Onxley/>
The project ran into numerous delays. A contractor went bankrupt, [[lead]] and [[asbestos]] were bigger problems than expected, and steel beams in the new section were bent. The target date was August 2006.<ref>{{cite news|title=DePaul:Central School will still open in August|last=Lisk|first=Jim|work=Stanly News and Press|date=December 4, 2005|page=1A}}</ref> Then a slab between the old and new sections had problems.<ref>{{cite news|title=Central August opening in doubt|last=Lisk|first=Jim|work=Stanly News and Press|date=February 14, 2006|page=1A}}</ref> Work stopped until a new contractor could be found.<ref name=Efird>{{cite news|title=Central School work back on as district looks for new contractor|last=Efird|first=Jo Anne|work=Stanly News and Press|date=March 21, 2006|page=Success/Textiles & Education 7}}</ref> The project resumed in October 2006. The cost had increased to between $11 and $12 million. The basement of the old school had been removed<ref name=Lisk>{{cite news|title=Central School ready this fall|last=Lisk|first=Jim|work=Stanly News and Press|date=March 15, 2007|page=1A}}</ref> and the third floor of the 1925 building was left for future expansion. The stage and balcony of the 1924 auditorium were restored, and original brickwork that had not been visible can now be seen, showing the skill of those who built it. Students moved into the new 99,433-square-foot Central Elementary on November 13, 2007.<ref name=Rosser>{{cite news|title=New Central Elementary School opens|last=Rosser|first=Sarah Jane|work=Stanly News and Press|date=December 30, 2007|page=3A}}</ref>
In 2008, Preservation North Carolina honored the Stanly County School Board with its Carraway Award of Merit.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.journalnow.com/news/local/article_107bc310-12f8-544d-81d9-1ea246e7b68b.html|title=Architect to report to Stokes on school|last=Underwood|first=Kim|work=[[Winston-Salem Journal]]|date=December 15, 2008|accessdate=May 8, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://ui.uncc.edu/gallery/historic-schools-charlotte-region|title=Historic schools of the Charlotte region|publisher=[[UNC Charlotte]] Urban Institute|accessdate=May 9, 2014}}</ref>
== References ==
{{Reflist|2}}
== External links ==
*[http://www.central.stanlycountyschools.org/ Central Elementary School, at Stanly County Schools]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20140521200458/http://www.central.stanlycountyschools.org/about-us/history Photo of current building]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20160916041446/http://www.albemarlecentralschoolapartments.com/ Photo of older building turned into apartments]
[[Category:Public elementary schools in North Carolina]]
[[Category:National Register of Historic Places in Stanly County, North Carolina]]
[[Category:1925 establishments in North Carolina]]
[[Category:Brick buildings and structures in North Carolina]]