An old school that provided an education, jobs and a gathering place for a generation of Haywood County’s African-American community is back in the hands of those who want its history preserved.

The Haywood County commissioners voted on Martin Luther King Jr. Day to buy the Pigeon Street School from the school board and work out a lease with the Pigeon Community Development Club. The club wants to turn the school, which was built in 1956, into a community center serving youth, senior citizens and everyone else in the area surrounding the school.

“This is the right thing to do,” said James Carver of Maggie Valley. “I’d like to commend (Chairman Jim Stevens) and the board.”

Edith Allen, who went to the school as a first-grader before Haywood’s schools were integrated and who has worked for months to get the school, was moved to tears.

“Yes, yes,” she said, fists clenched over her head.

After the decision, Allen said the community club’s first task would be to take a look around and see what it can do to get the building open. The community club will be looking for grants, financial contributions, and volunteer labor.

“I think maybe today we might just go out there and march around the building,” she said.

Before making the motion to pay the school board $300,000 over two years for the school, Stevens made it clear that county commissioners wanted to work out a deal from the beginning.

“I’m glad to see the school board realized our offer of $300,000 was fair and reasonable,” said Stevens.

The school board had offered to sell the building for $325,000 in November, but the county board refused the deal. After receiving word that state money had been obtained for a road project at Tuscola High School, the school board decided it could accept the lower price of $300,000.

Commissioners also gave their seal of approval to a plan to create a Haywood County Family and Senior Resource Center that will probably cost taxpayers about $42,000 a year for the next 10 years.

The Resource Center will be located on Russ Avenue at the site of Oak Hill Furniture and Bargains Furniture. The two properties cost approximately $650,000, but the Resource Center will only occupy the Oak Hill building. Bargains will remain in business, and the Resource Center will lease it to the business that currently occupies the building.

In addition to the cost of the building, it will also require renovations that could cost as much as $400,000.

Commissioners made a formal commitment of $17,500 for lease payments through the end of June. When they formulate their new budget, they said they would include the money for the payments.

“I think if we make this kind of commitment, then we’re there,” said Commissioner Bill Noland, telling Resource Center representatives that they could expect the rest of the funding commitment.

Denise Mathis, the executive director for the Haywood County Council on Aging, said the Resource Center could eventually house several organizations, including the council, United Way, and even the Literacy Council. If all falls into place, the center could be up and running in six months.

The Resource Center would become a one-stop center for people trying to access federal, state and local resources, according to supporters.

“This is something that will change the face of the county for a long time to come,” said Mathis.