Scout Music House Interior Renovation Fund

A first date. A first dance. A first kiss. These are memories held by those in the City of Athens who attended dances in the 1930s-era Scout House near our downtown. Others fondly recall attending Boy and Girl Scout troop meetings there and playing board games and enjoying arts and crafts.

For more than four years, no memories have been made in the iconic red structure. Initially built as an activity facility for Boy and Girl Scout troops, it later operated as the central office for the Athens City Board of Education. When the board moved to a new location, the Scout House became dormant. Its red wooden boards began to rot. The structure that housed so many of our city's memories was decaying before our eyes.

In 2016, the City of Athens leased the Scout House to Athens Arts League, a non-profit dedicated to supporting artists, providing art education, and bringing cultural events to Athens and Limestone County. The city had already funded restoration at three other historic sites it owns, and did not have funds to tackle this one. The city has challenged Athens Arts League to raise money to renovate the structure and re-purpose it into a music venue with a student music lab. We have partnerships with Athens City Schools, Limestone County Schools, and Athens State University. We want to give students the opportunity to promote, schedule, and record house concerts, take music workshops, learn to arrange, write, and edit music, etc. We also want to honor Limestone County's musical heritage.

We are seeking $40,000 to finish the interior and purchase equipment to give students the tools needed for hands-on music projects. 

If you prefer to make a donation by check, please click here for instructions.

In 2016, Athens Arts League collaborated with Keep Athens-Limestone Beautiful and obtained a $20,000 Keep America Beautiful/Lowe's grant to refurbish the front facade and add xeriscaping, which includes drought tolerant plants and rain barrels. The front facade and landscaping are complete.

In 2016, Athens Utilities and Trees, Inc. removed two dead hackberry trees that were threatening the structure. The in-kind value of that work is $6,000.

In 2016, Girl Scout Troop 1922 joined the Friends of the Scout House Committee for a Community Clean-up Day and cleaned windows, removed cobwebs, and cleaned debris left when part of the drop ceiling was removed. The troop is researching history of the Scout House for our project.

In 2017, Boy Scout Andy Cook chose the Scout House for his Eagle Scout project. He oversaw the removal of paneling and cabinets that were installed to cover up the original stone fireplace, and he removed more of the drop ceiling. The fireplace will be refurbished into a working fireplace again and serve as a focal point for house concerts.

Athens Arts League is applying for a Dekko Foundation grant to refurbish the remainder of the exterior and is working with the city building inspector and a local contractor to ensure the work meets historical and ADA requirements. Athens Arts League also has inquiries from other Boy Scouts who want to tackle part of the interior renovation as part of their Eagle Scout projects. Athens Arts League has met with Athens City Schools Fine Arts Department to start collaborations on programming for students. Athens Arts League also is working with musicians and songwriters who are natives of Limestone County on workshops they can offer for students. These musicians and songwriters include award-winning songwriter Roger Murrah, who wrote 10 No. 1 hits; Milton Sledge, who is the studio drummer for Garth Brooks; and Lillian Glanton, an up and coming singer/songwriter who works in Nashville.

Athens Arts League will obtain experts to oversee equipment needs and placement for the music lab and house concerts.

The Athens Arts League Board of Directors will manage operation of the Scout Music House and employ part-time staff and coordinate volunteers to operate the facility.

The City of Athens wants to preserve the historic and iconic Scout House and re-purpose the empty structure into a facility that is once again providing a valuable service to citizens.

Athens Arts League desires to provide students a safe haven to explore their interest in music, specifically the business part of music such as marketing, concert scheduling, and recording. Art teachers in city and county schools have indicated a need for space to provide students hands-on experience in these areas.

Athens Arts League also wants to bring cultural events to our community, such as house concerts, music exhibits, and music-related workshops.

In addition, Limestone County has a rich musical history such as the 51-year-old Tennessee Valley Old Time Fiddlers Convention, the Delmore Brothers, Patti Malone, a former slave who sang before Queen Victoria, Roger Murrah, Mike Chapman and Milton Sledge, Alabama Shakes, and more. An author is helping collect information on important musical influences so that we can preserve the history and share these inspirational stories at the Scout House through exhibits and workshops.