In 2018, Hurricane Michael caused considerable damage to the roof, leading to significant interior water damage. Vandalism has also contributed to the poor condition of the structure. Windows have been broken out, some of the furnishings were stolen, and door locks are continuously damaged to gain entry to the building. The preservation of this property is vital to the community and its history.
Dupree School was constructed in 1904. Simon B. Harper bought forty acres of land from B. M. Hamrick, B. Z. Hamrick, and Rosa Hamrick on October 19, 1904, with one acre set aside for the school. The schoolhouse educated community children in grades one through six. Dupree School is a typical rural school building featuring a large classroom that can be separated into two rooms by folding doors. The building sits on brick piers and has wood clapboard siding. The school operated until the late 1940s or early 1950s. On November 3, 1953, the state of Alabama transferred ownership of the building to the Center Community Club, and the building became its meeting place. Over the years, Dupree School has been used as a gathering place for social events such as parties and family re-unions. The Community Club offered home demonstration classes in cooking, sewing, and quilting. Many gathered on Saturday nights as local musicians entertained with guitar picking and singing. The building also served as a polling site for local, state, and national elections.
In 2018, Hurricane Michael caused considerable damage to the roof, leading to significant interior water damage. Vandalism has also contributed to the poor condition of the structure. Windows have been broken out, some of the furnishings were stolen, and door locks are continuously damaged to gain entry to the building. The preservation of this property is vital to the community and its history.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Alabama's Endangered Historic LandmarksEach year since 1994, Alabama Heritage has highlighted threatened historic sites throughout Alabama. The “Places in Peril” list has identified more than 215 imperiled historic resources throughout the state, and is compiled by the Alabama Historical Commission and the Alabama Trust for Historic Preservation. The locations highlight the results of deferred maintenance, perceived obsolescence, development pressures, and lack of funding—forces that now more than ever threaten our cultural legacy. But awareness is a powerful force, too, and can cultivate a renewed determination to be responsible stewards of our heritage. For more information, visit the AHC or the ATHP websites. Alabama Heritage is proud to bring to you a selection of the places designated as perilous. Please keep your comments to information relevant to the featured place in peril. Alabama Heritage reserves the right to delete any comment that we deem inappropriate. Archives
May 2023
|