Shortly after the public meeting May 21 with the Santa Rosa County commissioners seeking public input regarding future improvements to Fidelis Park, a grant writer for the county contacted Jay Historical Society Presidents Matthew Dobson about the school house.
Santa Rosa County requested a letter of support for a grant application to help with funds associated with the 1925 Fidelis School House. Dobson submitted a letter highlighting the historical and architectural design of the old building, as follows:
Brick arches over the windows; brick columns on the front with a wooden canopy extending over the entrance; Stucco accent base that wraps around the front and both sides of the structure; and raised wood floors (not seen from the outside), among other unique characteristics.
The grant is a matching grant Santa Rosa County is applying for through the state of Florida and if awarded and matched, could be up to $100,000.
The Fidelis Community Center, also referred to as the Fidelis School House Building, is a former school and campus used by the Santa Rosa County School District. The main school house was built in 1925 and used as a school through the mid-1980s when the school was shut down and building was converted to a community center by Santa Rosa County.
A hub of activity for the close-knit residents of Jay, the old cafeteria is reserved and rented by community members for class reunions, family reunions, and wedding and baby showers.
Due to the building's deteriorating condition, it has not been used since 2016 and remains vacant. Considered to be a community landmark with sentimental value to the community, the building has historical character and is eligible for listing on the National Registry of Historical Places under Criterion A for education and under Criterion C for architecture.
“I am excited about the prospect of it being added to the National Historic Registry,” said Dobson. “It’s a long process, but we are going to pursue it.”s
