Gray in Jones County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)
W. E. Knox Civic Center
Photographed by Tom Bosse, March 11, 2015
1. W. E. Knox Civic Center Marker
Inscription.
W. E. Knox Civic Center. . This building was dedicated on November 29, 1936 and educated students in grades 1 through 11 until the 12th grade was added in 1950, and it served as a school until 1991. This was one of the most modern school buildings in the state at the time. The cost was approximately $30,000 with the county assuming 55% and the federal government 45%. The building was designed by Ellamae Ellis League of Macon, who was the first licensed woman architect in Georgia. Stillwell Construction Company of Macon was the contractor. The members of the building committee were W. e. Knox, chairman and school superintendent; M.J. Wood, D.V. Childs, George B. Slocumb, all of the board of education, and J.A. Burnette of the county commissioners. The building sat vacant for a few years before housing the Jones County Chamber of Commerce in May of 1999. The building was dedicated as the W.E. Knox Civic Center November 17, 2007, in memory of the school superintendent who served as chairman of construction. Mr. Knox was a civic leader being involved in the Kiwanis Club, the Masons as well as a church leader in the Gray United Methodist Church. Mr. Knox was involved in several businesses and served as the Mayor of Gray.
This building was dedicated on November 29, 1936 and educated students in grades 1 through 11 until the 12th grade was added in 1950, and it served as a school until 1991. This was one of the most modern school buildings in the state at the time. The cost was approximately $30,000 with the county assuming 55% and the federal government 45%. The building was designed by Ellamae Ellis League of Macon, who was the first licensed woman architect in Georgia. Stillwell Construction Company of Macon was the contractor. The members of the building committee were W. e. Knox, chairman and school superintendent; M.J. Wood, D.V. Childs, George B. Slocumb, all of the board of education, and J.A. Burnette of the county commissioners. The building sat vacant for a few years before housing the Jones County Chamber of Commerce in May of 1999. The building was dedicated as the W.E. Knox Civic Center November 17, 2007, in memory of the school superintendent who served as chairman of construction. Mr. Knox was a civic leader being involved in the Kiwanis Club, the Masons as well as a church leader in the Gray United Methodist Church. Mr. Knox was involved in several businesses and served as the Mayor of Gray.
Erected by James County History & Heritage, Inc.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list:
Click or scan to see this page online
Education. A significant historical month for this entry is May 1999.
Location. 33° 0.458′ N, 83° 32.309′ W. Marker is in Gray, Georgia, in Jones County. It is at the intersection of West Clinton Street (U.S. 129) and Stewart Avenue, on the right when traveling east on West Clinton Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Gray GA 31032, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Georgia’s Antebellum Trail and in the Piedmont. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Deep South. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 21, 2020. It was originally submitted on March 15, 2015, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 771 times since then and 31 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on March 15, 2015, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
