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Gowensville Community Center—the historic Gowensville Elementary School rebuilt in 1922—will hold a 100th-anniversary open house from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 4. 

The brick structure is part of Gowensville’s 200-year legacy in education, which began with Squire Brown’s benefactor school in 1809. It includes two private schools—Gowensville Seminary from 1858 to 1889 and a Willard Industrial High School in the early 1900s—in addition to the Greenville County public school system.

The original wooden structure housing elementary and high school students burned in 1921 and all local students were sent to Spartanburg County public schools by special arrangement. The present structure was rebuilt the following year of brick from the same floor plan as ONeal Elementary School. In mid-year 1953-54, students were transferred to Landrum and Campobello schools, and the structure was later sold to the forerunner of the Greater Gowensville Association for use as a community center and site for a handmade crafts Fall Festival on the second Saturday of November each year.  

The public is invited to the open house. There will be a children’s activity in the small brick library building adjacent to the school building.  

 

Submitted by Dean Campbell