Hosford School & Gymnasium added to the National Register of Historic Places

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Secretary Byrd announces

the designation of Hosford

School and Gymnasium in the

National Register of Historic Places

TALLAHASSEE – Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd announced that the Hosford School and Gymnasium in Liberty County has been listed in the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places.

“I am pleased to announce that Hosford School and Gymnasium has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places. These buildings have long played significant roles in the social and educational life of Hosford. Today, they provide a link to the past and continue to serve the needs of the entire community.” – Secretary of State, Cord Byrd

Hosford School and Gymnasium, was constructed in 1936 out of locally sourced pine by a local craftsmen, hired by the Federal Works Project Administration (WPA). Having been largely preserved, both buildings retain many original furnishings and are excellent examples of early twentieth-century rural school architecture. The WPA was a federal civic works program designated to construct public projects such as roads, bridges, state parks and schools around the country. The program was part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s “New Deal” plan to employ millions of workers during the Great Depression. From the time of its construction until integration in the 1960s, the Hosford School served white students as the only local public school. African American students in Liberty County attended separate schools during the era of racial segregation.

Like many buildings constructed by the WPA, the school and gymnasium were built to serve multiple purposes and represented a significant improvement over existing facilities. The school’s auditorium hosted political rallies, fundraisers, musical and theatrical performances, and lectures, among other events. The gymnasium was the only indoor sports facility in the rural community and hosted games and tournaments for many area schools. Starting in the 1950s, there were twice-a-month community square dances held at the gymnasium. Entertainers who performed at these and other events included Roy Acuff, Charlie Walker, and Jim and Jesse. The gymnasium also hosted homecoming dances, wrestling matches and the annual basketball game fundraiser.

From the time the buildings opened and for many years after, the school and gymnasium were the only non-religious facilities in the community capable of accommodating large gatherings. Especially in the post-World War II period, the buildings played a key role in confronting the overall decline in the county’s population. As one former student noted, the school “gave us a little toehold on life.” Today, Hosford School and Gymnasium continue to serve as a public elementary and junior high school for all students in the community and the surrounding area.