Anyone who lives in the area knows Dupree School is a historic place, but the location is now receiving recognition from the federal government for its distinction.
Houston County Commissioner Tracy Adams appeared at Dupree School Friday morning to present a $10,000 check from the County Commission — but he and Dupree School Board Chairman Steve Smith also had the honor of presenting a plaque designating the school as a historic place.
The schoolhouse was constructed in 1904; however, as of 2022, the building was turning to dust.
But the love of the community helped revive the place; in years past, it was used for people to jam together and play bluegrass and old gospel music. Now, restorers are setting their sights higher.
Disability-friendly restrooms are being added, along with a catering kitchen and a gallery entry hall.
Furthermore, there are hopes to turn the building into a voting location ahead of upcoming elections.
“A great musical legacy is attached to this building,” Smith said.
And he’s right.
This reporter lovingly remembers being fed pound cake and lukewarm orange soda from sweet ladies with lipsticked smiles in the front kitchen while old folks played whatever instruments they could bring.
Expert and amateur musicians alike were welcome to play music; any musician wanting to learn more could depend on Dupree School for a crash course in how to keep up playing as a group.
Back then I could tap dance; I remember an old fiddler, Mr. Charlie, who used to teach me Hank Williams songs and how to tap tunes as he bowed at his likely decades-old instrument.
It was cathartic to wander through the freshly-upkept two-room schoolhouse. The rooms still smelled of varnish from the “new” floorboards, 120-year-old wood procured from an old Georgia cotton mill.
The main schoolroom was once divided by big doors with pews in the back and a spattering of mismatched dining chairs in the front where folks could bring guitars, fiddles, upright basses and mandolins; Smith said future plans include a stage setup and a piano.
But the blank canvas of the rooms reveals a greater future of a community hub at what Smith calls “America’s crossroads.”
“We look at this not only as a local project, but a Wiregrass project,” Smith said. “We have several objectives to restore light and life to this American landmark.
“This will be one acre of unity, no matter what your politics are, no matter what your differences are.”
He said he was grateful for the efforts of locals who donated their money, time, resources and expertise to the rehabilitation of a now-recognized historic place, calling the work a “project of the people.”
The schoolhouse looks forward to March 21 and 22, when their annual Bluegrass Revival will bring what’s guaranteed to be a huge to-do for music fans. March 21 at 5:30 p.m. features a free jam session — so bring your instruments and get ready to have fun playing music. March 22 at 11 a.m. welcomes a lineup of bluegrass artists, food, arts and crafts, and kids’ activities.
You can see Dupree School at 1116 Antioch Church Road.
