Old Rock School

When the Waldensian colony settled in the area that would become Valdese in 1893, one of the things they brought with them was a strong cultural passion for education. The first winter in Valdese, the Waldensian children attended the one-room county school about one mile south of Valdese (where Bollinger’s Chapel Methodist Church now stands), but it was quickly evident that the language barrier was a problem. The colony began their own school – first in the main room of the colony building (on the corner of Massel and Faet streets) and in a second schoolhouse about five miles south of town[1], and later in a 1905-built two-room schoolhouse directly east of the church (on what is now Main Street).The two-room school-house was funded by local fundraising and the Burke County Board of Education.

By 1917 the drafty wooden schoolhouse had been enlarged, and it was becoming evident that the town was growing too fast for that building to suffice. Citizens voted to approve a special tax for school funds in 1917, and by 1920 the town called for a special election to approve a $25,000 bond for the building of the school. The County School Board acquired the four acres of heavily wooded land from Peter and Albert Tron, and Quince Edward Herman from Hickory was chosen as architect. The building he designed differs from most schools built during this time, probably due to the Waldenses’ expertise in using native stone as masonry for building (often referred to as “Waldensian brick”).

The land was cleared, basement excavated, and men put to work to remove stone from the local quarry and haul it to the building site. Much of the work, including all of the stonework, was done by local Waldensians, and all 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, cut short by rain, to lay the cornerstone for the school. The celebration included a parade, local dignitaries, presentations by students, and a picnic. A speech given encouraged all local families to participate in the building of the school, bringing stones from their land to add to the walls if nothing else.[5] 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. The opening of the school coincided with a movement toward consolidation of one- and two-room schools, as well as the introduction of a high school curriculum.[8] The Rock School (as it was known locally) was used for all grade levels – including high school students bussed in from the surrounding area. By 1935, 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 to the Rock School, a new high school (Frances Garrou High School) was built behind it for grades 8 and up in 1938. In 1957, an additional building for the first three grades was completed. This new Primary school housed the youngest students, while upper elementary grade levels remained in the Rock School.[10] The Primary School building was enlarged in 1976 to accommodate all elementary-aged students, and by the late 1970s the Rock School no longer was 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. As use fell and maintenance costs rose, the building interior fell into disrepair and sat empty for some time. As discussion of what to do with it occurred, it became obvious that not only was the building historically significant, but many people in town had personal memories associated with the building and their time in school there. 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.[13] 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 public as a cultural center in 1986.

Today, the Rock School, added to the National Registry of Historic Places in 1984, sits proudly on Main Street - not only as an iconic mark of the town, but as a multi-purpose facility hosting countless events each year, and taking part in important town celebrations like the Town Centennial in 1993, and the 125th in 2018.

In 1987, the Rock School Art Galleries moved to the Old Rock School from the Jailhouse Gallery in Morganton, and in 2004, the Piedmont & Western Railroad Museum built one of the largest indoor train displays in the state. The auditorium stage has seen several legendary bluegrass talents, such as Alison Krauss and Doyle Lawson, as well as many a show tune and dramatic scene by community theatre group, Old Colony Players.

In 2000, the Millennium Clock Tower was built on the street side of the property, and in 2022-2023 the Rock School celebrated its Centennial. After 100 years of use, the building needed another renovation, and a major one 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 various organizations, businesses, and non-profits, including the Valdese Community Affairs Office (created in 2005) and visitor center. The school maintains a full event calendar, including Bluegrass at the Rock Concert Series, Community Theatre, and public performances such as pageants, award ceremonies, recitals, and family celebrations. Town-sponsored events frequently are 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.[15]

The Old Rock School - Town of Valdese Visitor Center Hours of Operation

Monday - Friday from 8am to 5pm
Closed for lunch from 12-1pm
Seasonally July - October on Saturdays from 10am to 2pm

Follow this link for public rental information

Old Rock School Event Calendar

The Old Rock School is also home to the following businesses: 

Dream Connections, INC. - 828.874.0909 website | VEDIC - 828.874.6731 website

CONTACT INFORMATION: Telephone: 828-879-2129, 828-879-2126 | Mailing: P.O. Box 339 Valdese NC 28690

The Old Rock School is operated under the Valdese Community Affairs & Tourism Department

Director: Morrissa Angi - [email protected] | 828-874-6773

Assistant Director: Annie South - [email protected] | 828-874-6774

Events & Facilities Supervisor: Sean Meiners - [email protected] | 828-874-6775