In 1907, the General Assembly established the Stonewall Jackson Manual Training and Industrial School to house troubled youth who had committed minor offenses. Manual Training School operations have given way to the Department of Public Safety’s Stonewall Jackson Youth Development Center, which serves the most serious youth offenders. Current operations use modern facilities, leaving the School’s original buildings abandoned. The original Stonewall Jackson Training School site is significant because of its history and architecture. Its historic significance has earned the property designation in the National Register of Historic Places. Despite the Training School’s historic value, most of its buildings have been condemned and recommended for demolition, which the State Construction Office estimates would cost the State $3.8 million. Conveying a portion of the Historic Stonewall Jackson campus to Cabarrus County and selling related surplus property reduces the State’s liability and can ensure the rehabilitation and preservation of the historic campus.
Full Presentation with Audio Narration (YouTube)
Relevant Legislation:
- Session Law 2020-63 transfers certain parcels of the Stonewall Jackson Manual Training and Industrial School property to the county of Cabarrus.