Published: November 01, 2009 08:41 pm      

To rebuild or not to rebuild

Russ Bridges doesn’t want to see the charred remains of the Rock Building demolished.

“I want to make sure what can be salvaged, is salvaged and restored the best it can be,” said Bridges, a 1991 graduate of Murray County High School, who now lives in Ringgold. “I don’t want it knocked down. It’s a historical building. It’s been there for 70-something years. When you think about Murray County and Chatsworth, you think of the Rock Building and the Chief Vann House. It’s part of the county’s identity.”

The Rock Building — the original Murray County High School building, which opened in 1934 — burned in September. A lightning strike is said to be the cause of the blaze, which completely gutted the building leaving the exterior rock walls standing. At the time, several fire and school officials said they believed the charred remains would have to be demolished because the building was thought to no longer be structurally sound.

School officials still aren’t sure if rebuilding is a possibility, but Bridges isn’t alone in his opinion. School officials hosted two public forums last week to hear what residents want to see done with the building, where many spoke in favor of rebuilding.

But Marion Whiteside, who said she cried as she watched the building burn, says she doesn’t know if rebuilding is a wise use of money.

“They said lightning struck the building, and that’s an act of God,” said Whiteside, a resident of the Little Murray community. “I don’t question why God let that happen, but I know we cannot afford to rebuild an old building.”

“I’m not against rebuilding,” she said. “But it’s going to cost a lot of money. We have to get the facts straight on the amount the insurance will pay and safety... I’m asking ‘What’s going to take priority?’ We’re losing teachers, and our teachers are on furloughs (as a result of state budget cuts). I’m not against rebuilding, but I don’t want to use tax money to do it.”

School officials haven’t released an estimate. Superintendent Vickie Reed said she doesn’t want to give an estimate until they have a better idea of how much it would cost to rebuild.

Insurance will pay 90 percent of the cost to restore the building or to build a similar one, Reed said. The other 10 percent would have to be raised by donations or grants because the school system does not have funds to pay it, she said.

The insurance company will “pay less, if we take the money and run,” said Danny Dunn, the system’s personnel director. But he did not give a percentage.

A structural engineer working for the school system’s insurance company advised school officials not to rebuild, Dunn said.

“The building can be repaired, however, it will require exhaustive financial and labor efforts,” he said. “Look in the doors and windows, and you see a mess.... Arrangements are being made for additional studies.”

Reed said another structural engineer voluntarily looked at the Rock Building last week, but she has not seen his report. Another structural engineer has volunteered to inspect it, also, but his inspection hasn’t been scheduled.

“The Board of Education will not make a decision on the Rock Building until we have the outside engineers’ studies,” Reed said.

Emily Cogburn, who attended classes in the Rock Building, helped raise funds for its renovation before it burned. A new roof was placed on the building two years ago. Plans were to renovate it into a central office.

She knows raising the 10 percent not paid for by insurance will be hard.

“I can’t see it demolished,” Cogburn said. “I cannot imagine tearing it down when it can be rebuilt. It will be hard (to raise funds) — as hard as we worked on it, and so many people are just so burned out on begging for money. But I don’t think there would be a problem.”

Many people, who were not a part of raising money for the renovations a few years ago, have spoken out showing their support to rebuild since the fire.

Bridges is one of them. He began a Facebook group page “Murray County High School — The Old Rock Building” to give people a site to leave their memories. He has more than 750 members.

Bridges also began an online petition (www.thepetitionsite.com/1/restoretherock) for people to sign and comment in support of rebuilding. As of Sunday afternoon, there were 128 signatures. It was launched last week.

“I hope to let the school board members, or whomever... know that we don’t want it bulldozed,” Bridges said. “At worst, we want a memorial using what’s left. I know to rebuild it completely back is a lot of money.”



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Rock Building and Murray County High School facts



• The Rock Building, the original Murray County High School building, opened in 1934 after the county’s high schools were consolidated.

• The year the Rock Building opened, the Chatsworth High School building burned. This year, North Murray High School opened, and the original Murray County High School building burned.

• The words from Murray County High School’s alma mater, “From the cliffs of old Cohutta, once against the skies, came the walls of alma mater, so rugged and so high” reference the Rock Building’s facade. It was made from the rocks blasted out of the mountain when the Chatsworth-Ellijay Highway was constructed. Truckers hauled the rocks in for 50 cents a load. The alma mater was written by long-time teacher Lula Gladden.

• The colors green and white were chosen by teacher Pauline Ogletree. The Indian was Chatsworth High School’s mascot. It was carried over to Murray County High School by faculty members.

• Electric lights were installed in the Rock Building in 1935.

• The school’s first band formed in 1935 with “21 instruments.” The band included students and teachers.

• Murray County High School’s first graduating class was in 1935, with 38 graduates.

• A funeral was held in the Rock Building in September of 1944 for Lula Gladden at her request. She was an original faculty member. She taught for 51 years, most of which was in Murray County.

• Basketball was the first sport at the school. Baseball and track soon followed. There wasn’t a football team until 1950.