Special to the Herald
SPRINGFIELD – The Effingham County Board of Commissioners has approved a bid and contract for the renovation of the historic Springfield Central High School.
Built in 1956 at 434 Wallace Dr., Springfield Central was originally used to educate Black students in grades 1-12 until 1970. Stemming from the Minimum Foundation Program in 1949, it was part of a statewide equalization effort to improve school buildings while maintaining racial segregation.
It has served in many capacities for the citizens, particularly the students, of this county. It has functioned as a high school, a junior high school, an elementary school, and as a learning center.
Springfield Central was also the original home of Parent University, a non-profit community initiative aimed at empowering parents and caregivers. It offers free learning sessions designed to help parents support their children's education and overall development. Since the county took over the campus in 2013, it has served as a resource for the county recreation department.
Dr. Franklin Goldwire’s life is uniquely tied to the campus, as he is not only a Springfield Central High School alumnus but also the former principal when it was used as Springfield Elementary.
As a staunch advocate for the preservation of history, Dr. Goldwire and other members of the Springfield Central Alumni Association helped to get the school designated as a historical site by the Georgia Historical Society in 2021. Several members of the association were in attendance at the April 1 meeting as the Board of Commissioners approved the bid. He discussed the importance of the school during a 2019 Exchange Club of Effingham County meeting.
“Springfield Central High School is one of only 200 of the 500 schools (built for Black students) that is still in existence today,” he said. “During the past few years, counties and communities have recognized the significance and importance of these schools and what they really stand for, so they are literally digging them out of the rubble and trying to restore and reuse them.”
“Historic buildings, structures, and sites are tangible evidence of our shared history and bring that history to life in ways that no written or audiovisual materials ever could,” he added.
The cost-effective building, which remains structurally sound, features red bricks and outdoor walkways that are an example of the International Style of architecture popular among schools at the time.
The renovation project consists of updates across several buildings to be used by multiple offices and departments within the county government, as well as some much-needed community space. In total, the project consists of approximately 30,000 square feet of renovated space.
Once complete, the anchor tenant of the campus will be the Elections & Registration Office. The expanded facility will include new offices, voting equipment storage facilities, and an early voting precinct. Since early voting plays a substantially larger role in elections, the facility will offer over double the parking spaces compared to the current facility and a covered exterior queuing area to protect citizens in the voting line from the elements.
Also included in the project are a new headquarters and workshop for the Facilities and Maintenance Department, an area for Records Retention and Storage, a new entrance and restrooms for the gymnasium, a community room, and an event facility. The county also set aside space to set up a 1950s prototype classroom for field trips where future students can learn about the history of segregation and equalization in the state.
District 3 Commissioner Jamie DeLoach is eager to begin the project and recognizes its historic significance to the community.
“It is vitally important to the Board of Commissioners that we preserve the cultural heritage of Effingham County but also be good stewards of taxpayer funds,” he said. “Rehabilitating this facility versus building a new one accomplishes both.
“This transformation honors the school’s history and ensures it remains a pillar of progress for years to come," DeLoach added.
