Central Georgia News

Dublin-Laurens County Chamber of Commerce issued the following announcement on Nov. 2.

On Friday, October 29, 2021 the Georgia National Register Review Board held its meeting virtually

to consider six properties for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places including

Dublin’s Emery Thomas Auditorium.

The Emery Thomas Auditorium was approved at the statewide level as the only remaining building of  

the first and only 4-H Center built exclusively for African American youth in Georgia. Sponsored by

the City of Dublin, the approval of Emery Thomas Auditorium by the Georgia National Register Review

Board allows the application to pass to the Keeper of the National Register of Historic Places in

Washington for approval. This will allow the building to receive recognition, planning

consideration, eligibility for federal tax credits, eligibility for grant assistance, and technical

assistance.

“The Emery Thomas Auditorium is an important, but often overlooked part of Dublin’s history. The

Georgia Register listing is a great step in getting the recognition it deserves. The City of Dublin

has worked diligently on compiling the application since October of 2017 with the assistance of

Ethos Preservation,” said Lance Jones, Dublin City Manager. “Like all good things, this will take

more time and more patience, but we do not anticipate any issues with the building being listed on

the National Register of Historic Places.”

Rebecca Fenwick with Ethos Preservation, who worked to compile the application is confident, saying

“National Register listing is long and arduous but the site is so very worthy!”

The Emery Thomas Auditorium was constructed in 1956 as an addition to the campus of the Dublin 4-H

Center, which was established approximately 16 years earlier. Until the formation of the Dublin 4-H

Center, there were no comparable sites available for use by African American youth involved in 4-H

in Georgia. Following the construction of the auditorium, dining hall, and three cabins, the Dublin

4-H Center was officially dedicated November 15, 1957. After the Civil Rights Act of 1964, African

American youth in Georgia were integrated, after which all members were invited to attend the Rock

Eagle 4-H Center in Eatonton. As a result, attendance in Dublin declined and in 1968 ownership of

the Dublin 4-H Center site was reverted back to the Dublin Chamber of Commerce.

Named for Emery C. Thomas, Laurens County’s first African American Extension agent, the auditorium

retains many of its original features including milk globe light fixtures and limestone exterior

trim. Today, Emory Thomas Auditorium serves as a special events center, hosting weddings and other

events on the grounds of Riverview Golf Course. For more information about hosting an event at

Emery Thomas Auditorium, please visit dublinriverview.com.

Original source can be found here.