Atlanta Grade School Friends
The Three Rs: Restore, Renovate, and Revitalize a Historic Icon
2001
Jane Cook Barnhill Letter to the Citizens Journal in 2001
“Many of us who grew up in Atlanta during the 30’s, 40’s, 50’s and even into the 70’s remember the building fondly. We remember the teachers who taught us in that building.”
2001
Jane Cook Barnhill Letter to the Citizens Journal
“Our Principal, Helen Manning, teachers Lessie Powell, Beulah Kirkland, Lousie McGee, Oneita Scott, Ouida Garrison, Ethel Stamps, Anabel Stamps, Myrtle Howdeshell and Katy Carroll walked those halls with pride. They gave their students a sense of belonging. They nurtured courtesy and respect by their example.”
2001
Jane Cook Barnhill Letter to the Citizens Journal
“Those named were on the faculty in 1946. Many were still teaching there in 1956 along with Annie Lou Shine, Lenora Morriss, Gladys Glass, Mrs. Teague, Lanelle Pritchard, Rheva Norris and Mattie McConnell.
Miller Grade School represents the life work of many teachers. The respect we have for the building is one tangible way we show respect for them.”
2001
Jane Cook Barnhill Letter to the Citizens Journal
“The historic fabric left in Atlanta is important. People across America are not demolishing structures without strong consideration of options that could include using old buildings in new ways.
Our school buildings can be renovated to meet state of the art technology and codes. ‘Newer’ is not better.”
Phase I
Restore 2002 through 2022
Phase I
After purchasing the property for a modest $10,000, volunteers began cleaning up the historic school and surrounding landscape in 2002. The Atlanta Economic Development & City Development Corporation helped secure a grant from the Texas Historical Commission to support this initiative.
Phase I
It was an arduous process.
Phase I
Rotting wood, a leaky roof, animal infestations, faulty wiring and dangerous physical conditions overall required a significant effort on the part of our volunteers. Over the course of 20 years, the old school was stabilized and cleaned up. It became safe for tours and limited special events to occur in the school.
Phase I
Atlanta Grade School Friends was approved for IRS nonprofit status in 2003. Private donations were given by many concerned individuals during this time, and these gifts helped fund the clean up.
Volunteers donated thousands of hours of labor and expertise to make it happen!
Phase II
Renovate
2022 through 2026
Phase II
Atlanta-Miller Grade School turned its attention to the nonprofit’s infrastructure. It moved from an inwardfacing to a public facing organization.
• GuideStar Gold Seal for public transparency
• GreatNonprofits community reviews, and individual letters of recommendation (thanks, everyone!)
• Monthly e newsletters for consistent communication
Phase II
• Professional, secure CRM database to consolidate myriad hand written donor records, now safe in the “cloud”
• Secure online giving capabilities
• YouTube channel in keeping with modern communication preferences for video
• New website for a professional public presentation
Phase II
• Google Workspace: Gmail, secure document storage in Google Drive, Google Photos and more
• Creation of publicly accessible, modern digital reading platform on ISSUU
• Creation of a formal case for support document for the capital campaign
• Annual holiday card program and the creation of a growing USPS master mailing list
• And more!
Phase II
Atlanta Grade School Friends received the Honor Award from Preservation Texas in 2023.
Atlanta Miller Grade School was removed from the list of “most endangered” historic Texas properties!
Phase II
Atlanta Grade School Friends wanted to ensure the highest quality architectural guidance for the restoration, and the conversion of Atlanta Miller Grade School into a modern community center. It hired the firm, Architexas.
Phase II
Atlanta Grade School Friends surveyed its community, which communicates primarily on Facebook @atlantagradeschoolfriends.
SurveyMonkey helped us identify ways in which the community would like to see the restored school used.
We are moving into Phase III
Revitalize
Once full funding is secured, it will take 9 to 10 months to restore AtlantaMiller Grade School and convert it into a modern community center. We envision this occurring during 2026.
With a generous initial donation to launch the capital campaign, we are able to move forward with some basic work on the building in 2025. That includes restoring the many windows found in the school.
Phases II and III
Our lead donor will be announced soon!
Phase III
2026 to 2036
• We anticipate the grand opening to occur in late fall of 2026.
• Thanks to the Atlanta Historical Museum, we will collaborate on a traveling exhibition from the Smithsonian Institution. Atlanta was one of six cities selected by the Texas Historical Commission to host the Museum on Main Street exhibition!
• Smithsonian exhibition dates are January 9 through February 21, 2027.
• In summer 2026, we will begin booking events in the restored school.
• Once complete and open, our nonprofit will turn its focus on planning for the 100th anniversary of Atlanta Miller Grade School in 2036.
Atlanta Grade School Friends
The Three Rs: Restore, Renovate, and Revitalize a Historic Icon
