Cauley-Wheeler Memorial Building
Also known as: Haines Normal and Industrial Institute
Why it's listed
Built in 1924, this small one-story brick veneer school at 1339 Laney-Walker Boulevard in Augusta housed the primary grades of the Haines Normal and Industrial Institute. It measures about 67 by 38 feet, with four classrooms divided by a central hall and a hipped roof. A $10,000 gift from a Northern benefactor, known only as Mrs. Wheeler, paid for it in honor of her nurse, Mary Cauley, a Haines nursing graduate. Haines was founded by Lucy Craft Laney, who led it for 50 years until her death in 1933, and it closed in 1949. The other campus buildings were demolished by 1951, leaving this as the only survivor. It was listed for its role in African-American education and women's history, and for its link to Laney. Plaster walls, chalkboards and wooden classroom doors remain inside. The Haines Alumni Association now uses it for meetings, tutoring and displays.
Significance in brief: It is the only surviving building from the Haines Normal and Industrial Institute, an important African-American school in Augusta founded by educator Lucy Craft Laney. It is significant at the statewide level in black ethnic heritage, education and women's history under Criterion A, and under Criterion B for its association with Laney's 50-year career leading the school.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 08000493, listed June 4, 2008. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1339 Laney-Walker Blvd., Augusta |
|---|---|
| County | Richmond County |
| Listed | June 4, 2008 |
| Reference number | 08000493 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1924-1949 |
| Architectural style | No style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Black, Education, Other |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Currently used by the Haines Alumni Association for meetings, tutoring and historical display space; it retains most historic materials, though several windows are filled in and the doors are modern replacements. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 33.46992, -81.98179 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 08000493.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.