Old Rock School

When the Waldensian colony settled in the area that would become Valdese in 1893, they brought with them a strong cultural passion for education. Children first attended a one-room county school about a mile south of town, then a colony-run school in the Community House. The 1905 county-built wooden schoolhouse was too small by 1917, and citizens voted to approve funding over the next few years. The County School Board acquired four acres of heavily wooded land, and Quince Edward Herman from Hickory was chosen as architect for the new school.

In 1921, land was cleared, basement excavated, and men put to work removing and hauling stone from the local quarry. Much of the work, including all of the stonework, was done by local Waldensians, and workers accepted a reduced wage for their labor due to the importance of this project to the town.

On July 4, 1922, a large crowd attended the all-day celebration to lay the cornerstone for the school. The celebration included a parade, local dignitaries, student presentations, and a picnic. The building was finished by 1925 and cost $75,000 (including land and furnishings).

Students first attended classes in October of 1923, but the basement was still unfinished, there was no stage in the auditorium, and the front stairs had yet to be built. Having 12 classrooms, a large auditorium, and several rooms for other purposes, many thought the school was too large and would never be filled.

By 1935, however, it became apparent that “North Carolina’s Fastest Growing Town” was outgrowing its school. Having already finished and filled the basement classrooms, and there being no practical way to add additional space, a new high school was built in 1938, followed by a primary school in 1957. The Primary School was enlarged in 1976 to accommodate all elementary students, and by the late 1970s the Rock School was no longer used as classroom space.

For a while, the building was used by various centralized services of the Burke County Public Schools, as well as local organizations. While the interior fell into disrepair due to lack of use and high maintenance costs, it was obvious that the building was historically significant and many people in town had personal memories associated with it. The town of Valdese purchased the building from the school system for $1 in 1981.

The town held a preference poll in 1984, asking the citizens of Valdese if the town should take on the renovations required (which would end up being $800,000) to make the Rock School usable as a community center. The town overwhelmingly voted ‘YES,’ and with a combination of state and federal grants, local donations raised by the Historic Valdese Foundation, and tax dollars, the Rock School was refurbished and opened to the public as a cultural center in 1986.

In 2000, the Millennium Clock Tower was built, and in 2022-2023 the Rock School celebrated its Centennial. After 100 years of use, another major renovation was undertaken in 2024. Funded by state and federal grants, local donations raised by the Historic Valdese Foundation, and tax dollars, this second major renovation hopes to move the school well into its second century.

Over 100 years since that first cornerstone was laid, the Old Rock School is home to nine organizations, businesses, and non-profits, including the Valdese Community Affairs Office (created in 2005) and visitor center. Added to the National Registry of Historic Places in 1984, the school houses the Rock School Art Galleries (since 1987) and the Piedmont & Western Railroad Museum (since 2004). The school maintains a full event calendar, including Bluegrass at the Rock Concert Series, Community Theatre from Old Colony Players, and public performances such as pageants, award ceremonies, recitals, and family celebrations. Sitting proudly on Main Street, the school plays an important role in town celebrations, like the Town Centennial in 1993 and the 125th in 2018. Town-sponsored events are frequently hosted at the venue, and the iconic staircase leading to the building’s main entrance is often utilized to commemorate special holidays. The reputation of the historic Old Rock School has evolved over the past century into a multi-faceted hub of entertainment, celebrations, and the arts.