By Shannon McFarlin News Director
Paris, Tenn.–An update on the potential next steps in the preservation and reuse of Grove Tower was presented at a meeting of the Henry County Historical Society and an immediate need is to stop the roof from leaking into the building. The meeting was held at the Paris-Henry County Heritage Center.
The building, which was constructed in 1906, was evacuated in April of 2023 due to its condition. The county school district’s central office staff was ordered to vacate Grove Tower due to structural issues and have been working from the Henry County High School since then.
Later that year, the county board of education approved a stabilization plan for the building, which was executed by Renaissance Historic Exteriors.
The unused building is of concern to many in Henry County who do not want to see it deteriorate further.
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.
Updates were provided by County Historian David Webb, and Ramay Winchester and Susan Jones, two members of a committee who volunteered to help create a revitalization plan for the structure. They have been looking into steps that can be taken to preserve, repair and promote adaptive reuses for the building.
Webb presented slides that showed the current condition of the interior of the buiding and said the first thing that must be done is to “stop the leaks in the building”. He said the county school board needs to be convinced that it is their responsibility to at least temporarily patch critical areas of the roof.
“I hate to see the condition it’s in, but I can see obvious potential” in the building and its restoration, he said.
Winchester and Jones discussed the meetings and discussions they have had with Rob Goad, Executive Director of the Paris-Henry County Industrial Committee; Marty Mabry, of the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development; Doug Rogers of Paris, a renowned and award-winning set and production designer who now lives in California.
Winchester and Jones were encouraged by Mabry and Rogers to think outside the box, with ideas for the future use of the building including a bed and breakfast, event center, and historic inn.
At an earlier meeting of the group several months ago, it was also suggested the building could feature a national FFA or agricultural education museum since Grove High School was the home of the first vocational ag classes in the nation.
Funds would have to be raised for the preservation efforts, including donations, fund-raising events and Goad said he would pursue what state funds might be available.
Webb said the building “reflects a lot of what’s best about our community, entrepreneurship, the architecture, education…The worst thing we can do for an old building is to not occupy it. It could be one of the major economic drivers for the community.”
In other business:
–The Historical Society conducted election of officers, re-electing the same slate of officers, including President David Webb, Vice President Pete Lackey; Secretary/Treasurer Tracy Loines.
–The Society approved restoration of the McNeill Family Monument in Paris City Cemetery and accepted a bid of $600 for the project. The monument is some 20 feet and the project will be finished before the Cemetery Tour set for September 27.
Photo: David Webb presents slides of Grove Tower while fellow presenters Susan Jones and Ramay Winchester look on. Shannon McFarlin photo.