Historic Mount Airy high school being brought back to life

MOUNT AIRY, N.C. (WGHP) — The Mount Airy City Council approved a rezoning request to transform the former J.J. Jones High School.

Dating back to the 1930s, the school served Black students for 30 years. The owners want to give the building a new purpose.

Renovations are underway inside the historic high school in Mount Airy.

Alfreleta Greene, who lives close to the school, noticed the changes.

“Flooring trucks, a bunch of trash coming out, chairs like they’ve been working up there,” Greene said.

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The owners are looking to rezone the property from residential to neighborhood business.

The African American Historical and Genealogical Society of Surry County owns the school.

AAHGSSC Vice President Andreann Belle says the rezoning will allow them to preserve the history and renovate it.

“We did fight for the building, and we did get the building,” Belle said.

Mount Airy’s City Manager Darren Lewis says the rezoning is required so the nonprofit can bring the vision to life.

“It is really just cleaning up the zoning requirements for that and for them to be able to continue to operate and provide all the services that they are planning,” Lewis said.

Belle plans to turn the school into a history museum and offer office space for nonprofits and entrepreneurs.

Greene said these services can be beneficial for her son, who plans to be an entrepreneur.

“It is what Mount Airy needs. It’s a shame that our kids have to move away just to succeed … They should be able to stay home and advance just like anybody else. But it’s a need. We need that here,” Greene said.

The school has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

The property was previously owned by Surry County.

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