__NOTOC__ The Webster Rock School is an historic

school A school is an educational institution designed to provide learning spaces and learning environments for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is sometimes compuls ...

building located NC 116 / Main St., at

Webster Webster may refer to: People *Webster (surname), including a list of people with the surname *Webster (given name), including a list of people with the given name Places Canada *Webster, Alberta *Webster's Falls, Hamilton, Ontario United State ...

Jackson County, North Carolina Jackson County is a county located in the far southwest of the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 43,109. Since 1913 its county seat has been Sylva, which replaced Webster. Jackson County comprises the Cu ...

. It was built between 1936 and 1938 by the

Works Progress Administration The Works Progress Administration (WPA; renamed in 1939 as the Work Projects Administration) was an American New Deal agency that employed millions of jobseekers (mostly men who were not formally educated) to carry out public works projects, i ...

, and is one story with hip roof utilitarian building, constructed of native "river rock" in colors of tan and brown. It has an "E"-shape plan and has a 13 bay front facade. The school originally contained an auditorium, cafeteria, kitchen and eight classrooms. In 1990, it was added to the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...

History

It once served as Webster High School and Webster Elementary School. The High School was active from 1936 until consolidation into Sylva-Webster High School (Now

Smoky Mountain High School Smoky Mountain High School is a public high school located in Sylva, North Carolina. The school formed as a result of the consolidation of the former Sylva-Webster High School and Cullowhee High School in 1988 at the Sylva-Webster campus, which ...

) in 1960. The Elementary School remained in operation until it was consolidated with Sylva Elementary School and Savannah Elementary School to form Fairview Elementary School in 1973.

Current use

The old Webster Rock School is being used as the Southwestern Child Development Center, and by the Family Resources Center for Jackson County. The old Gymnasium is sometimes used for community events. The old windows and doors have been removed, replaced by white wooden panels and smaller windows, and most of the original ceilings are now obscured by a drop-in ceiling. The town's World War II memorial, dedicated to the memory of local residents who died during the war, is located on the front lawn of the building.

References

{{National Register of Historic Places in North Carolina School buildings on the National Register of Historic Places in North Carolina Buildings and structures in Jackson County, North Carolina School buildings completed in 1938 Works Progress Administration in North Carolina Stone school buildings National Register of Historic Places in Jackson County, North Carolina Stone buildings in the United States

History

Current use

See also

References