Mountain Rest School

Front: The building across the road was constructed in 1948 to house the Mountain Rest School. Initially staffed by four teachers, the school served local white children in grades 1-6. In 1964, the Oconee County School District closed the school and transferred students to Walhalla. In 1967, the Mountain Rest Community Club acquired the building and made it their headquarters. Reverse: On July 4, 1961, around 75 people attended a barbecue and bluegrass jam at the grounds of the Mountain Rest School. Sponsored by the Mountain Rest Community Club, it grew into an annual event known as “Hillbilly Day” that featured music, games, and contests that paid homage to the region’s agrarian heritage. By the 1980s, as many as 14,000 people attended the event each year.