Old Rock Building: 2005, Deteriorated Condition and Later

The old rock building on Green Road in Chatsworth, Georgia, was built in 1934. It was an important historical building in the county, both for its purpose and its history. It was built as the first consolidated high school in the county. It featured natural, local stone, brought down from the mountain while the Chatsworth-Ellijay Highway was underway as one of the government's WPA projects. The style incorporated American Craftsman features, and it had a mission-style facade.

By the year 2000, the building was in deteriorated condition. Some of the stone was crumbling. At least one chimney had a split section at the top, porches and attached concrete structures were crumbling, and the foundation showed some damage. Doors and windows were boarded up. Local history and alumni groups, supported by citizens, raised money to build a new roof, which was accomplished in 2004 as part of the Phase I renovation. Once the roof was in place, the building could at least be used for storage. Fundraising efforts continued, with plans to raise enough money to fully renovate the building and use it as central offices for the Murray County school system.

The Phase II Fundraiser kicked off in 2005, as I recall. There had been some stories in the local paper. I took some pictures of the rock building, focusing on some of the problem areas. Two years later, rock-building-renovation discussions were still being held. I was particularly involved with the historical society in 2007, and the ongoing rock-building-renovation project was one of the community concerns mentioned in our updates. In 2007 or 2008, I did a painting of the building and donated the use of it to the Rock Building Committee so that prints could be made for the fundraising effort. The painting itself is now owned by the Murray County Board of Education (or a related entity).

In 2009, during a severe thunderstorm, lightning struck the building. I remember the terrible lightning that day. The thunder was so loud, and the lightning so severe, the ground shook every time it struck. The fire did not break out immediately, but smoldered silently for hours, burning the wooden interior and items in storage. Many historical features of the building interior and items in storage were lost. I remember the moment I learned of the fire--I was at work and couldn't leave. It was a sickening feeling. We had just raised all that money and put on the new roof.

A database out west recorded the lightning strike that occurred at about 11:00 on the morning of Saturday, September 26, 2009. The fire silently smoldered for several hours. The resulted fire caused total devastation to the interior and critical damage to the shell of the building. The rock structure was burned and blackened and even appeared to curl at the top. One engineer warned that there was nothing supporting the rock structure--no support beams at all. I remember that he said a good breeze could bring it down. It was a very dangerous situation. No one thought the building could be save. However, the building was covered by insurance, which paid for the total renovation of the building.

I have no photos of the fire. I have one photo of the burned-out rock shell of the building. The renovation started almost immediately.  I have a couple of photos of the building as it was being repaired.

In 2017, there was a formal dedication to name the building the V.C. Pickering Administrative Center, though the intent to give it that name was stated at least as early as 2007.

Shared Photos: Old Rock Building
Most of these are from 2005, showing features of the building in its deteriorated condition.
Old Rock Building: Public Photos in Drive

Times-News Free Press Article on the Old Rock Building 
2011 Reopening of the Building
https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/news/story/2011/apr/06/murray-county-opens-rebuilt-rock-building/46696/

Daily Citizen News Article: V.C. Pickering Administration Building
Dedication of the Name
https://www.dailycitizen.news/news/local_news/murray-county-s-rock-building-named-in-honor-of-v/article_52b8c2da-1df0-5225-b5cf-b2150ea10d3c.html