It has been a lengthy three-decade long dream of Mt. Airy Mayor, Gary Morris, to save the historic Mt. Airy School. That dream is about to become a reality for Mayor Morris and the citizens of Mt. Airy, as well.
The school, which provided Mt. Airy school children in grades 1-11th a place to learn reading, writing and arithmetic for almost 40 years, was once voted to be demolished by the Mt. Airy City Commission. But Gary Morris had a vision for the 12,000 square foot structure that saw its last school bell toll ion 1954. Since then, the building has been an egg distribution center, a commercial sewing facility, storage for antique cars, and a wood shop, more recently.
A 30 year dream
When Mayor Morris first saw the historic building when he moved to Habersham in 1986, he knew the building was special and should be saved. “They just do not build structures like this…with 22 inch think brick walls. It is solid,” he told Now Habersham in an exclusive interview, continuing, “I knew the building had to be saved.”
Four years ago when the City had to make a decision on what should become of the endeared red brick building, Mayor Morris asked for a year to see if he could raise interest and funds to save the former school house. It worked. The group received a $120,000 SPLOST allocation, and the brick and mortar building was on the path to a new and important purpose: Mt. Airy City Hall and Municipal Building.
The first round of SPLOST funding has made it possible for the Mt. Airy Police Department to move into the renovated facility, along with G.C.I.C. A second wave of SPLOST funds, $200,000, will make it possible to add an elevator, complete the upstairs auditorium, and provide a permanent parking lot. The newly revamped building already has high speed internet provided by fiber-optic cable, which was necessary for G.C.I.C. background checks. The building also has a generator for powering computers and police radios, as well as the water-well pump, in emergencies.
Mayor Morris encourages community groups to take advantage of meeting rooms and the auditorium, once those spaces are completed. Mid-July is the target date to move all Mt. Airy city employees into the new City Hall. Morris adds, “It has been great to see all the enthusiasm and the fruition of our dreams. 
There were thousands of school children who passed through the hallways of Mt. Airy School and the tradition is now carried on with citizens who will utilize the space.”
