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Many years ago – a year before Martin County was formed – a structure was built by the Olympia Holding Company whose intention it was to develop Hobe Sound. Decades later there still is development in Hobe Sound, but the proud building, sadly uncared for and unkempt, is a gentle, physical reminder to us of why we came to this area – simplicity, a sense of community, a sense of grace.
The building was sold to the school district and for generations served Hobe Sound youngsters within its two classrooms. In 1963, when its seams were literally bursting, the schoolhouse was abandoned when the first through fifth graders trekked down Apollo Street, north on Old Dixie Highway and east on Bridge Road to their brand new school on Gomez Avenue.
Probably the single most important building in this or any community, a school is a remembered place, often a revered place, and always a respected place. We would like to ask you to bring respect back to our school.
Our goal is to create in the building a museum and cultural arts center. The building isn’t very big – only about 1,800 square feet – so our goal would be to have a small but extremely well presented visual, physical and verbal documentary of how things used to be. But we would like to go farther. We think the building could be used as a cultural arts center to provide a suitable area for arts-oriented presentations. Classes will be held about tracing our ancestors, Seminole Indian lore, about local pioneers and just about anything else appropriate to a former schoolhouse.
Won’t you send us a donation NOW? Funds are needed for the preservation and renovation of the building and to create an endowment from which the facility’s operating expenses will be drawn. Please send what you can and then pledge your future help. With your support, we can reopen the doors of the Apollo Street School. Once again it will be a focal point of the community.
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