By Shannon McFarlin News Director
Paris, Tenn.–The move by the Henry County Schools central offices from its Grove Tower offices is now complete.
As we reported on April 18, structural issues at the historic Grove Tower forced the move from the building. They have temporarily relocated at the Henry County High School. The central offices’ official address is 313 S. Wilson St., with phone number 731 642 9733.
Director of Schools Dr. Leah Watkins said April 18 that the staff must ‘temporarily relocate as soon as possible’. She distributed an email on April 17 informing staff of the imminent move to space at Henry County High School. “It breaks my heart to leave this incredible building, but it’s a temporary move and we’re going to figure out a path forward.”
Grove Tower, which was built in 1906, houses the central and administrative offices for Henry County Schools. The Romanesque, Classical Revival structure is on the National Register of Historic Places and originally was the home of Grove High School. Grove High closed in 1969 and was replaced with Henry County High School when schools in the county were consolidated.
Watkins said the current situation evolved at a pre-bid meeting to replace the roof on the structure. “We’ve needed a new roof for a long time and we have money set aside for that and we were having the pre-bid meeting,” she said. “And a couple of the contractors told us they couldn’t bid on the project until the structure was evaluated.”
The strong wind storm about a month ago caused more damage, she said.
As we previously reported, Watkins said it was decided that staff needed to relocate ‘as soon as possible’ while awaiting a formal structural evaluation that will “give us a better understanding of what is needed.”
Photo by Shannon McFarlin