28 Jan 2013 New 'Old Main' for Quitman High
by Molly Bowman
It takes courage to let go of the familiar and accept change, but when this courage is embraced, it can benefit everyone involved.
Such is the case of Quitman School District’s decision to construct a new building on the site of the historical “Old Main.”
Growth in the community, as well as a basic need for updating the school campus, sparked the need for a new building for Quitman High School. However, change of this magnitude rarely occurs without some drawbacks and discomfort. The building that previously existed in the center of campus, endearingly known within the community as “Old Main,” was built in 1937 and served for many years as the school district’s only building.
At the time of its construction, Old Main was one of the most modern structures in Cleburne County due to its lighter brick and unique architecture. However, as other buildings were constructed on campus, the facility became used mostly for storage purposes.
“It would have probably cost the school district more to renovate the old building than it cost us to build a new, innovative building,” said Don Rowlett, Quitman High School’s Facility Coordinator. “This change has been an emotional one for some people in the community, but [the building] had served its time, and it was time for something more.”
The landmark held a special place in the hearts of people who attended school there in the late 1930s and early ‘40s because most of them attended kindergarten through 12th grade in the building. At first, the school district received some opposition to the tearing down of Old Main due to emotional ties, but after the dedication of the new facility, most of the community has had a change of heart.
“A lot of people realized that this new building will be the younger generation’s ‘Old Main.’ and it was built in a manner that can bring the whole community a sense of pride,” Rowlett said.
When beginning the process in June 2009, Quitman High School was intentional in keeping some of the features and characteristics of Old Main and incorporating them into the new building’s external architecture while giving the inside an updated, innovative style. Some of the peaks in the roofing, the lighter color of the brick and the front entryways were some of the qualities transposed into the new building’s design. In addition to these features, the new building added 18,085 square feet, which encompasses eight regular classrooms, two special education resource rooms, a reception area, a band room and a new principal’s office. Technological advances, such as motion sensor lights and SMART boards, add to the building’s modern elements.
In the entry way of the new building hangs an original painting of Old Main, to make sure its history is never forgotten. The artist Garry Reeves, a retired art teacher from the Guy area, also painted a bulldog mascot mural in the entrance.
“We needed to put something there, and we wanted it to be something that invoked school pride every time students enter the building,” Rowlett said. “We felt that bulldog would be a perfect fit.”
The school district hopes that the new construction, completed in early 2011, will lead to more growth and development.
“I absolutely think that if people drive through the area looking for a good place to live, they will be persuaded by what they see,” Rowlett said. “They are going to be drawn to a good-looking facility.
“Anything that will instill pride in your community will help the community as a whole. We definitely want to create something that the kids can be proud of and take ownership of, and I think we accomplished that task.”
