SCCC History & Heritage

Today’s Spring Creek Community Center began as the Spring Creek School in 1929 with 330 pupils, no cafeteria, and no electricity. Made of stone donated by local farm families, the building is a classic example of a Western North Carolina “old rock school.”

For decades, the school was the center of the community. After the arrival of electricity in 1949, the school was the site of socials, dances, cakewalks, movies, music, and guest speakers.

In 1951, a separate cafeteria building was added, which today serves as the Senior Active Living Center and Nutrition Site and Spring Creek Food Pantry. The last high school class graduated from Spring Creek School in 1974, with the opening of a consolidated high school in Madison County. The high school closed its doors for the final time in 1974, when Madison County consolidated its high schools. Grades K–8 held on until 1989, when shrinking enrollment and the building's aging infrastructure led the county to close Spring Creek School for good. For a decade, the beautiful stone building sat empty.

In 1999 a group of dedicated community members led by Mary Ruth Fowler came together to establish a non-profit organization to save the Spring Creek School.

They leased the dilapidated building from Madison County, and rolled up their sleeves, literally and figuratively. The community did much of the renovation themselves, in addition to soliciting donations, running fundraisers, and securing grants.

The old school was restored in three phases. Phase One was the restaurant, store, single-stall restrooms, and Sheriff’s office and community room. Phase 2 was the gymnasium/auditorium, the multiple stall restrooms, and cleaning closet. Phase 3 was the SCORED! (Spring Creek Office for Rural Economic Development) Business Center, which includes a value-added kitchen, a classroom/conference room, and multiple rentable offices for small businesses based out of Spring Creek.

Almost three decades later, that same volunteer spirit runs Spring Creek Community Center and our old rock school lives and thrives once more.

Photo Galleries:

There are multiple photo albums and scrap books revolving around Spring Creek made by community members available to look at in the History Hallway (Phase 1 Hallway).

Spring Creek School History

School Sports Memorabilia Displayed in the SCCC in 2026

This wildcat was going to be cleaned up and hung in the library, but went someplace safe for storage and has been MIA.

2008 School Renuion, Over 100 attended and it was catered by Grits

The School Sign circa 2002, with plain concrete block planter.

The School Sign circa 2006 after the planter was covered with the rocks classic to the area's buildings.

The Spring Creek School Sign from 2006 was rotting and falling apart, so volunteers refreshed it in 2025, maintaining its original spirit.

Building Restoration

~2000 - Lumber felled on local land by the Spring Creek community. Trees and labor were donated to restore the Spring Creek School.

~2000 - Lumber being planed by the Spring Creek community to use in the restoration of the Spring Creek School. The community donated their time and expertise, along with use of equipment, trees, and fuel.

~2000 - Lumber being planed by the Spring Creek community to use in the restoration of the Spring Creek School.

2002 - Demolition of the Entrances. Local businesses (including Pangle's Construction and Trantham and Son Grading) donated their time and expertise.

2002 - Removal of the Perimeter Fence that Surrounded the School

2002 - Preparing for the New Green Metal Roof

2002 - View from the top of the SCCC while preparing for the new green metal roof

2002 - The SCCC Prepped and ready for the new green metal roof.

2002 - Community members took lead on the metal roof install

2004 - The State of the Gym and Auditorium

2005 -Phase 1 - Demolition and Construction of the "Store," Hall and "Dining Room," of what would become Grits and later Dave's 209.

June 2006 Construction of the "Store" and "Dining Room," of what would become Grits and later Dave's 209.

September 2007 - Construction of the Deck outside Phase 1

September 2007 - Construction of the Deck outside Phase 1. Like most of the construction of Phases 1 & 2, this was done by volunteers in the community.

Boards for the Deck could be purchased for $10/board and in 2008, the names of the "owners" of t — September 2007 - Construction of the Deck outside Phase 1. Like most of the construction of Phases 1 & 2, this was done by volunteers in the community. Boards for the Deck could be purchased for $10/board and in 2008, the names of the "owners" of those boards was carved into them.

2008 - Gym Footings and Boiler Room work

2008 (October) - Installation of new (shorter) sign

2009 (Sept) - Ready for ceiling instillation. Drywall and insulation is finished, ready for painting.

2009 - Removal of Ag Building that used to be behind the SCCC and beside the old cafeteria (current meal site)

2009 (April) - Working on Gym Floor/Footings

2010 - Pouring foundation for Phase 2 restrooms

2010 - Filling in old boiler room, concrete footings.

Previous Uses

The rooms inside of the SCCC have seen many different uses. They haven’t just been classrooms and the principal’s office. They’ve also held different stores and businesses. Below are some of them!

Grits Country Cafe & Store Opened in July 2007

The Grits Menu had a short history of the building on its front page

2008 - Food from Grits and the Community Room, which later became a Wellness Co-op and as of 2026 houses Just Be Mindful Massage

2009 - There used to be an Ag Building on the SCCC Campus. It was behind the SCCC and beside the old cafeteria (current meal site) and was demolished in 2009.