Hayesville City Hall Rehabilitated As Small Classroom

Hayesville City Hall Rehabilitated As Small Classroom. . After a few years of fundraising by Historic Hayesville, Inc. and community support from individual donors, the old Hayesville Town Hall was successfully moved in 2019 to be preserved as a part of Clay County history. HHI provided transport of the building to Hayesville Heritage Park featuring historic sites by partner non-profits, Clay County Communities Revitalization Association and Clay County Historical and Arts Council., Located below the CCCRA Cherokee Homestead and CCHAC Old Jail Museum, the building is within pedestrian access from downtown or the Clay County Schools campus., The 1930s structure represents part of early 20th century architecture around Hayesville Town Square with wooden buildings which were eventually replaced by brick in the 1940s., The 15ft x 25ft building was originally located close to the Historic Courthouse Square. The structure was modified and used at different times from the 1930s to 1950s as the City Hall, Tax Office and housing for the town's early fire hose before being retired to private ownership to local resident Frederick Russell "Red" Benedict., The building continued to house various collector's items before declining into a storage shed. When offered later as a donation by his daughter, Betty Lyon, HHI made the decision to accept the building with plans to save it as a classroom for historical, cultural and art classes or outdoor festival presentations. Interior and exterior features include re-purposed items from other historical or period buildings including the 1930s Hayesville Post Office, Historic Courthouse, former elementary school and additional items that are an integral part of the original wood structure with an added front porch and school bell., (captions) , Beginning in the 1950s, the building was moved from the square by private owners to more than one location., Rehabilitation of the old Hayesville Town Hall (also known as City Hall in earlier years) was completed in the Spring of 2023 by Woodhaven Construction with help from HHI volunteers and community donations., The 15x25 building served the town into the early 1950s and was offered to HHI by the Lyon family to be moved from their property for new community use., The building dates back to the 1930s when wood structures were surrounding the Hayesville Town Square but were later replaced by brick buildings in the 1940s., (Footer) HHI is the 501c3 non-profit organization of the Hayesville Small Town Main Street project which included a budget of at least $35,000 to save the building as a community asset. The building also represents combined efforts by CCHAC, CCCRA and HHI for downtown revitalization, historic preservation and activities for all ages.