Richmond Hill officials announced Friday the city has bought Henry Ford's Community House.
The city paid $904,500, using SPLOST funds "earmarked for historical preservation," according to the announcement. The building is currently the site of Carter Funeral Home.
“An important part of what gives a city character and a sense of community is its history. As the City of Richmond Hill continues to grow, it is vital to preserve this irreplaceable historic asset located in the Ford Avenue Historic District for future generations," Richmond Hill Mayor Russ Carpenter said." There is no chance to renovate or to save a historic site once it is gone. This reality brings to light the importance of saving the Community House – because once a significant piece of our City’s history is destroyed, it is lost forever.”
Henry and Clara Ford had a large presence in Richmond Hill from 1926 to 1951, according to the city, and made a number of improvements in residents' lives during their time here. Constructed in 1936 near Ways Station School, the Community House was a place used as both a gathering place for local residents and also a place where adults and children could learn cooking, home economics, sewing, dancing and other activities, the city said.
The owner of the building, Sanford Carter Jr., will occupy it for another 30 days under an agreement with the city.
Richmond Hill will restore the Community House,, and a committee will determine how it is used once restoration is complete, the city said, and Carpenter said Friday the idea is to turn it into some sort of public space for residents to use.
The city's announcement is below:
The City of Richmond Hill announced today that it has purchased the historical structure built by Henry Ford locally known as the Community House, located at 10512 Ford Avenue.
Outside of their expansive home on the Ogeechee River, this is the single most imposing structure built by Henry and Clara Ford during their sojourn in Richmond Hill from 1926 to 1951. Built by local labor in 1936 near the Ways Station School, the Community House served residents in the enhancement of their educational, social and cultural development. Cooking, home economics, sewing, dancing and other activities were taught at no cost to adults and children alike. Local social activities were held here, many attended by the Fords themselves.
Sanford L. Carter, Jr., owner of Carter Funeral Home, offered to sell the building and property to the City of Richmond Hill at a purchase price of $904,500.00. The sale was finalized on December 29, 2022 and was funded by SPLOST revenues earmarked for historical preservation. Under a temporary occupancy agreement, Mr. Carter will continue to occupy the property for the next thirty days.
Richmond Hill Mayor Russ Carpenter stated, “An important part of what gives a city character and a sense of community is its history. As the City of Richmond Hill continues to grow, it is vital to preserve this irreplaceable historic asset located in the Ford Avenue Historic District for future generations. There is no chance to renovate or to save a historic site once it is gone. This reality brings to light the importance of saving the Community House – because once a significant piece of our City’s history is destroyed, it is lost forever.”
The City of Richmond Hill intends to restore the Community House, and a committee is being formed to determine future use of the building once the restoration is completed.
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Henry and Clara Ford's impact here was one of a kind