With County Executive David Morgan’s signature, West Gaines School Community Center, Inc. has become the official owner of the historic former African-American school on West Gaines Street in Lawrenceburg.
County Commissioners voted to give the property to the nonprofit at their September 24 meeting, and to give a previously budgeted $45,000 toward a new roof for the building at their November 26 meeting. While a few final administrative steps were needed to complete the process, those have now been finished. The deed was signed and officially filed at the Register of Deeds office on December 12.
Originally built in 1937, the school served grades 1 through 8 until its closure in 1964 following desegregation. Over the years, the building has housed offices for the Lawrence County School Board and the Department of Human Services, but has remained vacant in recent years.
For more about the West Gaines School Community Center, Inc., visit their Facebook page and website at https://westgainesscc.org/
