Schaefer Center on National Register

A building that has served as a downtown Toccoa landmark for generations receives national recognition.

Toccoa’s Schaefer Center has officially been added to the National Register of Historic Places.

City and state officials made the announcement in the last few days.

The National Register of Historic Places is the country’s official list of historic buildings, structures, sites, objects, and districts worthy of preservation.

Toccoa Main Street Director Connie Tabor said the designation for the Schaefer Center is great news.

“We are really thrilled that the National Register of Historic Places determined that the Schaefer Center, formerly the Ritz Theater, was worthy of the National Register designation,” said Tabor, who said it was denied once previously because the facade was covered in brick.

Tabor said that being put on the National Register can have many benefits.

“One of the significant items is you are eligible for grant funds that you may not be eligible for otherwise,” said Tabor. “Many people, both locals and visitors, seek out those historic theaters to attend performances at them and appreciate the history that theater has gone through over the years.”

The property opened in 1939 as the Ritz Theater, a single-screen movie theater and was operated by Fred McLendon, who owned and operated a chain of movie theaters.

It closed as a movie theater in 1975 and then re-opened as a performing arts center.

In recent years, the city of Toccoa has taken ownership of the building and re-installed a movie screen to allow the theater to host both movies and other performances.

Tabor said a number of other renovations have taken place and more are planned.

“We have renovated the ticket booth area, the facade, the doors, the next step would be to reconstruct the marquis that was formerly there,” said Tabor.

Tabor said that the city appreciates the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and its Historic Preservation Division for its support of the Schaefer Center’s listing on the National Register.