From Walton Sun
Throughout his lifetime, Van Ness R. Butler, Jr., has seen drastic changes take place within the South Walton community.
Upon its opening in 1938, Butler attended the original Bay Elementary School, which housed first through 12th grade, where his father was principal for nearly 30 years. Prior to the school?s construction, students walked to a one room, wooden schoolhouse.
?It was different for kids in those days. Kids put a board down to walk across Peach Creek to get to school,? Butler said. ?When Bay first opened it was the center of activity in South Walton.?
According to Butler, Bay was constructed after the Depression under Roosevelt?s Works Progress Administration as way to provide work for the community.
?At the time it was the most modern school in the county,? he said.
Butler watched with a crowd of onlookers as Walton County School District Superintendent Carlene Anderson cut the ribbon for Bay?s new 10-classroom wing on Dec. 2.
?It?s dedicated to what lives will be changed,? Tonya Elmore, pastor of Point Washington United Methodist Church said during the invocation.
The original brick building features hand hewn wooden floors from timbers cut from the property and long windows. The fa?ade of the new wing mimics the early 20th century design.
?We?re pleased with it,? William Elliott, Jr., whose firm Elliott-Marshall-Innes designed the new building.
He explained that the building embraces the architectural charm of the original building, but with modern technology and amenities, such as Internet connections. He hopes that people will be able to drive by the two buildings and never know they were built at different times.
?It aesthetically suits Point Washington,? Bay Elementary principal Gail Pettus said.
The new addition will alleviate some of the overcrowding Van R. Butler Elementary School is experiencing. At 752 students, Butler has surpassed its capacity of 667. With the new $2 million addition, Bay will now be able to hold 300 students in grades kindergarten through fifth grade.
In a previous decision, the school board voted to bus students who live east of County Road 393 to Bay. Approximately 150 children are expected to transfer from Butler to Bay. In the mean time, parents are welcomed to enroll their children earlier than next school year.
Parents and members of the community seemed pleased with the new addition.
?I think it?s awesome,? said parent Elizabeth Hall, who has a son and daughter within the school district.
Anderson believes the new school fits the community.
?I hope we fill the school with lots of children, lots of laughter, and lots of learning,? she said.
Throughout his lifetime, Van Ness R. Butler, Jr., has seen drastic changes take place within the South Walton community.
Upon its opening in 1938, Butler attended the original Bay Elementary School, which housed first through 12th grade, where his father was principal for nearly 30 years. Prior to the school?s construction, students walked to a one room, wooden schoolhouse.
?It was different for kids in those days. Kids put a board down to walk across Peach Creek to get to school,? Butler said. ?When Bay first opened it was the center of activity in South Walton.?
According to Butler, Bay was constructed after the Depression under Roosevelt?s Works Progress Administration as way to provide work for the community.
?At the time it was the most modern school in the county,? he said.
Butler watched with a crowd of onlookers as Walton County School District Superintendent Carlene Anderson cut the ribbon for Bay?s new 10-classroom wing on Dec. 2.
?It?s dedicated to what lives will be changed,? Tonya Elmore, pastor of Point Washington United Methodist Church said during the invocation.
The original brick building features hand hewn wooden floors from timbers cut from the property and long windows. The fa?ade of the new wing mimics the early 20th century design.
?We?re pleased with it,? William Elliott, Jr., whose firm Elliott-Marshall-Innes designed the new building.
He explained that the building embraces the architectural charm of the original building, but with modern technology and amenities, such as Internet connections. He hopes that people will be able to drive by the two buildings and never know they were built at different times.
?It aesthetically suits Point Washington,? Bay Elementary principal Gail Pettus said.
The new addition will alleviate some of the overcrowding Van R. Butler Elementary School is experiencing. At 752 students, Butler has surpassed its capacity of 667. With the new $2 million addition, Bay will now be able to hold 300 students in grades kindergarten through fifth grade.
In a previous decision, the school board voted to bus students who live east of County Road 393 to Bay. Approximately 150 children are expected to transfer from Butler to Bay. In the mean time, parents are welcomed to enroll their children earlier than next school year.
Parents and members of the community seemed pleased with the new addition.
?I think it?s awesome,? said parent Elizabeth Hall, who has a son and daughter within the school district.
Anderson believes the new school fits the community.
?I hope we fill the school with lots of children, lots of laughter, and lots of learning,? she said.