Keep Athens-Limestone Beautiful is so proud to be a part of the Scout House project in Athens.
Through a $20,000 grant provided by Lowe’s through Keep America Beautiful, KALB has helped kick start the renovations needed to turn the Scout House, also known as the Little Red Schoolhouse, into a place that will bring musical arts in a variety of formats.
The Scout House, located on the corner of Washington and East Streets, was built in 1938 as a place for Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts to meet and have recreation. The building has since been used for other purposes, including housing the Athens City Schools administrative office. Over the years, the Scout House has seen deterioration and is now vacant; however, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places Inventory – Nomination Form and is significant to Athens and Limestone County.
KALB’s grant money was used to complete Phase 1 of the project. This included complete repair and repainting of the front façade, and the addition of xeriscaping to the front of the property.
Xeriscape is a type of landscape that uses plants that will easily tolerate the water conditions in the location chosen. It was also important that the plants used be native and reflect the period in which the Scout House was built. When working with our landscaper, Distinctive Landscaping, Inc., we also asked for plants that would attract pollinators, including butterflies.
Plants selected include wintergreen boxwoods and, low and behold, butterfly bushes, which are varieties that will remain small. Also included are azaleas, endless summer hydrangeas, and a variety of spring bulbs. It should be beautiful once the plants are established.
We at KALB are so grateful to Keep America Beautiful and Lowe’s for providing the grant opportunity, and Scott Brannan of Distinctive Landscaping, Inc. for donating a portion of services to this project.
It has been so exciting to see the work being done and seeing the difference being made. Friends of the Scout House are working to secure additional grants and donations to complete the remaining work on the exterior, as well as improvements to the interior of the building.
KALB is in the business of promoting pride. People who take pride in their country, their state, and their community are more likely to take ownership and work toward a clean, healthy, more beautiful and culturally-rich city and county. We look forward to the day when this building will bring our musical history and opportunities to engage in many forms of music to all who wish to partake.
For information and ongoing progress of this project, visit the Friends of the Scout House Facebook page.
By: Lynne Hart
