Gaston County

CRAMERTON -- For years, town officials wanted to save the historic Cramerton School but couldn't afford it.

As they explored ways, the vacant three-story building on Eighth Avenue deteriorated. They worried it might have to be torn down.

After a lengthy effort, officials are expected to complete a deal this month that would turn the 1920 red brick building into 42 luxury apartments or condos.

The $4 million to $5 million project would be done by the same group that plans to develop Gastonia's historic Loray Mill into a residential and commercial development. Like the mill project, developers want Cramerton School on the National Register of Historic Places so they can qualify for tax credits.

"This is one of the best things that's ever happened to Cramerton," Mayor Cathy Biles said. "It's a huge historical connection to people in this town.

"To have it made into a parking lot would have been sinful."

At least three vintage Gaston schools have been saved over the past 11 years. In 1990, C.W. and Peggy Smith bought Gastonia's old Ashley High School at York Road and Garrison Boulevard and converted it into the Ashley Arms luxury apartment building.

Gaston commissioners plan to sell the 1927 Dallas High School building to Preservation North Carolina, a private nonprofit that saves endangered properties. The group plans to sell the school to a Wilmington developer who would turn it into apartments for senior citizens. And restoration work began this year on Gastonia's 86-year-old Central School as the Piedmont Community Charter School.

Under the Cramerton plan, Gaston County would give the property to the town.

Cramerton would turn it over to Preservation North Carolina, which would transfer the deed to developers David Rogers of Huntersville and Murray Gould of Raleigh.

In November, Loray Mill and its 30-block village with about 250 frame houses were approved for the National Register of Historic Places. Developers plan to turn the mill building into condominiums, retail shops and restaurants.

Any changes to the mill or Cramerton school would be subject to restrictions under Preservation North Carolina.

Built by town founder Stuart Cramer, the building was Cramerton High School for more than 40 years before it became a junior high. In 1996, it closed to make way for the new Cramerton Middle School.

Since then, the building has been used for storage.

The county school board converted the adjacent 1969 school library and cafeteria into a staff development center.

Last year, the town renovated the gymnasium and athletic fields for a community recreation center.

When the county offered the school building to the town last year, Cramerton Town Manager David Young had reservations. The town couldn't afford the upkeep, and limited parking was a drawback for developers.

Meanwhile, town commissioner Jacqueline Sumner called Lucy Penegar, who leads Gaston's Historic Preservation Commission, for advice. Penegar put her in touch with Rogers and Gould.

It took a year to work out a plan to create additional parking space on town property.

David Young has vivid recollections of the school. As a fifth-grader, he walked up and down the halls with classmates during exercise sessions prescribed by his teacher for rainy-day entertainment. She put marching music on and led the procession while waving an imaginary baton.