By Shannon McFarlin News Director
Paris, Tenn.–After a presentation by the Save Grove Tower Association about the historic importance and future of Grove Tower, the Henry County Schools Board of Education voted unanimously to issue a vote of confidence and to form an advisory committee.
Meeting at Henry School last night, the school board decided the advisory committee will be made up of two county commissioners (not yet chosen); two school board members Russ Orr and Jim McCampbell; three at-large citizens Jerry Hayes, Patrick Smith and Bill Jelks.
The board also voted to continue paying for maintenance of the building and keeping utilities on in the building.
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 presentation was given by Ramay Winchester, who was in the E.W. Grove High School Class of 1967. Also present from the Save Grove Tower committee were Judy and Mike Garner, William Morris and Danny Veazey.
She noted that since 2024, meetings have been held with interested citizens as well as state-level officials to explore options for the preservation and reuse of Grove Tower.
The Save Grove Tower Association has been formally established, with a 501 (c)(3) non-profit designation. The Executive Committee has been formed consisting of: Winchester, Susan Jones, Rachel Terrell, Judy and Mike Garner, Danny Veazey, Jack Nichols, Barbara Gray, William Morris, Bo Caldwell, Redgy Ross, Lee Greer and David Webb.
“Please acknowledge the different interest and expertise of our committee….educators, business professionals, attorneys, tourism professionals, writers, architect……all loyal Henry Countians and most are graduates of Grove High or attended Grove Jr. High,” Winchester said.
“We have studied multiple adaptive uses for the Tower, including a National FFA museum and Hall of Fame (with the potential relocation of the FFA’s national headquarters.)”
Winchester said, “I worked for 22 years with the TN Dept of Tourist Development covering the whole state and retired in 2020. I brought in Marty Marbry, Div. Manager with Tourism and after seeing the building, she highly recommended a path forward in making the Tower a Historic Inn. This project could include the restoration of the Tower itself along with a new adjacent building to provide expanded lodging, a restaurant, spa and meeting spaces. We are THINKING BIG.”
Susan Jones brought in Doug Rogers, graduate of Henry County and a noted television and set designer and Oscar winner for “Shrek”. He and his son traveled from California and spent several days studying the building and taking photos. He, too, liked the idea of making it The Historic Grove Tower Inn. He is working on drawings and renderings for a potential floorplan for a Historic Inn.
“Such a project would be a multi-million-dollar investment requiring partnerships with the Henry County Board of Education, other public entities, private investors, and support from grants and donations. With a long-term lease structure, the Board could retain ownership of the property while also receiving potential revenue.
The following are benefits to the community of restoration with The Historic Grove Tower Inn:
*sustainable funding for Tower preservation and maintenance
*Increased local tax revenues thru sales tax and hotel-motel tax
*creation of new jobs and economic growth
*a unique tourism and lodging destination for Henry County
*preservation and interpretation of a significant part of our
community’s history
*opportunities for partnership with TN College of Applied
Technology and Dyersburg State Community College programs in
Business, hospitality and Culinary Arts.
The Save Grove Tower group made the following requests for the Henry County Board of Education:
- Address water intrusion immediately:
Prevent further deterioration by authorizing a temporary or permanent solution to stop roof leaks. Even if the fix is not aesthetically appealing, halting the damage is critical. It will be extremely difficult to attract serious investors while water continues to enter the building.
- Provide structural analyses:
Share any existing structural reports of the Tower. If an updated analysis is required, the Grove Tower Association is prepared to pursue state grant funding to cover the cost.
- Support our efforts:
Partner with the Save Grove Tower Association to facilitate
the restoration and preservation of Grove Tower, identify
a viable adaptive use that ensures its survival for
generations to come, and maximize its cultural, heritage
and economic benefits for our community.
Photo: Ramay Winchester presents the information from the Save Grove Tower Association. Susan Burton photo.