Today’s Spring Creek Community Center began as Spring Creek School in 1929 with 330 pupils, no cafeteria, and no electricity. Made of stone donated by local farm families, the building is a classic example of a Western North Carolina “old rock school”. For decades, the school was the center of the community. After the arrival of electricity in 1949, the school was the site of socials, dances, cakewalks, movies, music, and guest speakers.
In 1951, a separate cafeteria building was added, which today serves as the Senior Active Living Center and Nutrition Site and Spring Creek Food Pantry. The last high school class graduated from Spring Creek School in 1974, with the opening of a consolidated high school in Madison County. Students in grades K-8 remained at Spring Creek School until 1989. Shrinking enrollment and the need for updates to the building contributed to the County’s decision to close the school. The lovely stone building sat empty until 1999, when a group of dedicated community members came together to establish a non-profit organization to save Spring Creek School.
The new organization leased the dilapidated building from the County and began to raise funds and roll up their sleeves. Since that time, they have renovated three quarters of the building by soliciting donations, holding fundraising events, securing grants, and doing much of the construction work themselves. Under the leadership of these tireless volunteers who love Spring Creek, the old rock school lives and thrives once more.
