On May 5, 2022, the Clay County Progress released an article discussing the school
district’s plans for major renovations. In this article Lorrie Ross detailed plans for building a new
cafeteria, an arts center, a new school building for grades three through eight, and a middle
school gym. Clay County Superintendent Dale Cole explained, “This would consolidate 11 old
buildings under one roof to save future maintenance costs for taxpayers, provide a much safer
environment and help us better recruit and retain families and teachers to Clay County Schools”
during the meeting on April 28, 2022. Now that we’re in 2024, the construction of these new
buildings is underway.
Among the buildings that had to be taken down was the old auditorium. Over the years,
it hosted countless events and held a special place in the hearts of many students and faculty.
High school art teacher Ellen Engelmann recalled, “In 2015 they had a talent show for the
teachers. It was so funny. It was one of the funniest memories I have here at Hayesville high
school. That talent show in the auditorium.” She also mentioned the murals her class and
herself contributed, saying, ”Me and my class painted all of the murals in the foyer around
2017-2018.”
For Engelmann and many others alike, the auditorium held a personal connection. “The
last time I was in the auditorium was my son’s eighth-grade graduation at the end of the year,”
she shared. It wasn’t just a building. It was a space full of many memories, laughter, and
milestones. While the new facilities promise great improvements, the nostalgia for places like
the old auditorium reminds everyone of the community’s shared past.
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Nostalgia of the Auditorium
September 9, 2024
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