Summerfield School Gymnasium and Community Center
Also known as: Summerfield Rock Gym
Why it's listed
Known locally as the Rock Gym, this granite building at 7515 Trainer Drive in Summerfield was raised in 1938-1939 as a county-sponsored Works Progress Administration project. Local men did the construction, using rubblestone quarried from a nearby farm, while families, school classes and businesses raised about thirty percent of the cost through cash and tobacco donations. The Rustic Revival structure has random-coursed stone walls, a gable-on-hip roof, wood Craftsman details, paired gabled entrances and built-in bleachers beneath wood trusses. A small concrete-block rear addition dates to about 1950. A dedication dinner and dance drew an expected two thousand people in 1939. Since then the gym has hosted high school sports, festivals, square dances, tournaments and voting. It was recognized for its recreation role and as an intact local example of its style, with a period of significance of 1939 to 1962. It remains in use today.
Significance in brief: The building is argued to be an excellent, intact local example of the Rustic Revival style (Criterion C). It has also served as the community's place for indoor sports and gatherings since its 1939 opening, a use that reflects Depression-era federal relief recreation projects and strong local fundraising and labor (Criterion A).
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 12000575, listed August 28, 2012. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 7515 Trainer Dr., Summerfield |
|---|---|
| County | Guilford County |
| Listed | August 28, 2012 |
| Reference number | 12000575 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1939-1962 |
| Architectural style | Other: Rustic Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Entertainment/Recreation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still serves its original function for school athletics and community functions; little changed since construction apart from a c. 1950s concrete-block rear addition and removal of a furnace room in 2011. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 36.20035, -79.90525 (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 12000575.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q18739477
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.