06/03/2022
The Georgia Trust is now accepting nominations for its 2023 list of Places in Peril. Do you know of a historic property that needs saving? Let us know: https://www.georgiatrust.org/our-programs/places-in-peril/
Pictured is the Mary Ray Memorial School in Newnan, a former Place in Peril. Built in 1908, the building was a cornerstone in the then new town of Raymond in Coweta County, but by the 1980s, the school had fallen into disrepair. After it was designated a Place in Peril in 2009, a group of former students and community members set out to bring the property back to life. Their vision to restore the building to its original condition, combined with limited funding, ensured a restoration ethic wherein almost no historic material was discarded. With the help of a small grant from The Georgia Trust, the building's restoration was achieved using mostly local funds and volunteer labor. A few years later, the Mary Ray Memorial School received the Chairman's Award for Excellence in Restoration from the Trust.
