By JIM HYLER
In the editorial, “Last days,” (Jan. 12, page A10) addressing the demise of the Schoolfield Recreation Center, the commentary not only reflected on what we - the Schoolfield Preservation Committee - did over a 10-month period in an attempt to save the Schoolfield Recreation Center, but what our lack of success portends for the remaining structures in the Schoolfield mill village that are so much a part of our heritage and culture. That same level of concern was also directed to similar structures in the downtown area that so vividly connects our past to the future.
The final statement in the editorial was right on target and particularly prophetic. Preserving Danville’s history requires, “the kind of passionate support the Schoolfield Recreation Center issue received.”
No further utterance could be more true.
More than a building
If the Schoolfield Preservation Committee did so much to preserve the recreation center from demolition, it’s fair to ask what went wrong. But before this question is addressed, it’s important to understand why we were so passionate about saving that structure.
When the Schoolfield Division of Dan River Mills was built in 1904, it was organized with a paternalistic structure. Not only did the company provide a place to work, but churches, schools, a fire station, clinic, minor shopping access and the YMCA in 1915 - later to become the Schoolfield Recreation Center. Since its inception, this institution served as the social focal point and second home for five generations of mill employees and their families.
The recreation center was the supporter and provider of many Schoolfield High School and community-related activities. Its personnel and programs gave guidance to generations of young people and saved many of us from otherwise undesirable fates. We - in different ways - were instilled with fundamental values like responsibility, accountability, honor, pride, integrity and discipline. In many ways, those experiences define what those of us who had that experience are today.
To watch this part of our heritage and culture be destroyed would be a travesty. To do nothing would have been unforgivable.
Therein lies the passion - and thus the motivation - for the Schoolfield Preservation Committee to save the recreation center from demolition.
I’m not entirely sure the recreation center should have ever been placed on the selling block. Knowing the historical and cultural value of that building and everything it represented for the people of the Schoolfield mill village, it seems to me Dan River Inc. officials should have exhibited a greater expression of social consciousness in making the decision to sell. Was there, for example, an opportunity for the city or other groups interested in buying, using or retrofitting the building offered the opportunity to secure it? I don’t know the answer. It is the preponderance of opinion that the last owners of Dan River wanted to unload the mill, get their money and “get the hell out of Dodge.” That may or may not be factual.
Finding some fault
Second, it is fair to ask if I, as the chairman of the Schoolfield Preservation Committee, adequately organized, planned and directed that group’s activities to accomplish the desired goal? Others will make a judgment on that question. What I do know is that we were at least six months - maybe even a year - late getting organized and working on the question. In March 2006, Dot Handy, the president of the Schoolfield Reunion Committee, asked me to organize a group for the purpose of convincing CVS to seek other locations for its store.
Initially, we couldn’t determine if a contract between Dan River Inc. and CVS even existed. Both companies’ personnel that we contacted stonewalled us - they would not discuss the matter. It wasn’t until a meeting with City Manager Jerry Gwaltney that we got the answer - there was a contract for the building’s sale, but it had not yet been closed.
This is where we found an opening. Many activities followed, including face-to-face meetings with U.S. Rep. Virgil Goode, letters to Sens. George Allen and John Warner, and contacts with state historical staffs, CVS officials, preservation groups in North Carolina, Danville’s city fathers - including members of Danville City Council - and the collection of some 2,000 petition signatures, among many other activities. After most of March and April of last year, we finally concluded that the federal government will do nothing until the state agencies take appropriate action, and the state would take no action until the local government took a position and supported requested programs. That became a major issue for the outcome of our effort to save the recreation center. Ultimately, the city government serves the needs and desires of the people. In the end, it is the will of the people that drives efforts to preserve historical structures that brings together the best of the past to connect to the future.
Third, CVS is the fall guy in this whole episode, as some of the letters to the editor and a few overzealous activists have suggested. Folks who make those assumptions simply have not been close enough to the situation to know the facts. Now let me make it clear - CVS owes me nothing and I owe CVS nothing.
To begin with, CVS - like any other business - wanted to erect another store in Danville. The recreation center building was for sale. The property location was considered to be the best possible spot for its business needs, among several they looked at in that part of town. They didn’t have - nor should they have had - any knowledge of cultural sensitivities of that community. So they bought the property.
Approaching the crossroads
Through our actions, we were able to convince CVS to exercise other options available to them to place their store. Believe me, that was no easy task! From that point, continuous negotiations between CVS and property owners ensued. In several of them, I served as a mediator between CVS and the property owners. As has already been reported, the failure to reach an agreement on one of them prevented CVS from acquiring the property needed to build this new store.
The efforts of the Schoolfield Preservation Committee to save the recreation center obviously failed. We fought the good fight, stayed the course and kept the faith, but to no avail. I feel, however, we did do everything humanly possible with no experience in such matters and with meager support from the general public to save that building.
The crossroads of decision I spoke of at my opening is now upon the Schoolfield Preservation Committee. It’s decision time as to whether we can continue our efforts to preserve other significant structures in the Schoolfield area. Since we no longer have the recreation center, a museum with artifacts representing both Dan River Inc. and the Schoolfield mill village is under consideration.
The reality is that our committee consists of eight people, the majority of whom are in their mid-70s or older. What will we do? I don’t know. I do believe we can’t continue to pursue this cause with the fervor we displayed in our effort to save the recreation center. We are trying desperately to find younger, dedicated people to assume the mantel of leadership for this important effort to preserve some part of our heritage.
As I understand it, the Danville Historical Society was formed to do exactly what our committee did in Schoolfield, but to include the entire city. It is further my understanding that it has been deemed completely ineffective for perhaps a number of reasons - the most significant of which is the fact that it has no leadership, no permanently paid cadre to provide some direction and meaning to these efforts, as well as provide an umbrella for a number of preservation-related projects for the entire city.
Money could be raised to pay a bright, knowledgeable and focused person to lead that group. On that board should be a group of young professionals - including lawyers and businessmen - who are focused, dedicated and willing to give of themselves to help preserve our heritage and culture for future generations before it’s all destroyed. I had hoped - and still do - that this group could become fully functional and assume the responsibility from the point where the Schoolfield Preservation Committee left off.
In addition to a fully functional and active historical society, this effort requires the involvement of at least two organs of the citizens of Danville - the full involvement, encouragement and support of the city fathers and the essential support of the Danville Register & Bee.
This is no time for naysayers or overzealous preservation activists who would attempt to use intimidation and threats to accomplish desired goals. That approach never works. There must be a thoughtful coordination of organizing, planning and execution in order to attain reasonable goals. No group can be expected to preserve every desired structure in the city. It must pick its fights, so to speak, and focus on realizing success of stated objectives.
Finally, I would say to the young professionals of Danville who believe in the preservation of your heritage and culture for future generations to appreciate, step up and give of yourself for the good of the community.
The charge is urgent and the hour is late! You, too, are at the crossroads of a decision!
Hyler is chairman of the Schoolfield Preservation Committee.
