First Georgia Educators Museum to locate in Gainesville/Hall County

GAINESVILLE - A Georgia Retired Educators Association museum to honor Georgia education and its educators is to locate in Gainesville/Hall County.

It's the first of its kind in the state, possibly the nation according to Bill Edmonds, who retired as Admissions Director at Gainesville State College after 22 years.

He says there's never been a museum of education in Georgia, maybe anywhere else in the country.

"We can't find a precedent for this," Edmonds said. " We're really breaking ground for ourselves and for others perhaps."

The new $700,000 building would also house GREA's state headquarters, now located in rented office space in Gainesville.

Edmonds said discussions are underway for a site purchase from the Hall County School Board on land where the Board is not planning to build a school.

It is hoped property can be located and ground could be broken before May, 2008.

Edmonds says state records chronicle the state's education history.

"For that reason we can make the museum very interesting because we can bring education from the past up to date in this headquarters," Edmonds said.

Edmonds added the Association's Archives Committee is prepared to display Georgia's education history and honor its educators.

Edmonds chairs the Association's subcomittee on building financial support and says a funding drive starts in January for the building.

Georgians who want to honor a former teacher may look forward to the museum; Edmonds hopes the biggest contributors will be former students.

Edmonds said the museum will feature a memory book for teachers and educators.

"That's the primary group we hope will remember somebody who has meant something to them, some teacher who has made a change in their lives," Edmonds said.

Edmonds said the museum will also honor those who support teachers, including para pros, secretaries, administrators, principals and school board members.

So far the GREA has raised about $30,000 and is asking Association members to contribute at their celebration of the Association's 50th anniversary.

Contributions may be sent to the GREA State Office, 615-C Oak Street, Gainesville, Georgia 30501.