An open house will be held Thursday at the old Bedford County Training School on Elm Street, which has been converted into a still-unnamed office complex. (T-G Photo by Brian Mosely) [Click to enlarge]

The building once housed Bedford County Training School, Shelbyville's school for African-Americans in the years before desegregation, which took place from 1965-67. It was later Harris Middle School. Now, it has been renovated into an office complex; the large gymnasium is in the process of restoration as well.

The building was bought and renovated by partners Ken Bagwell and Gary Thrash, who say it was constructed in the 1940's. An open house for the new endeavor will be held Thursday.

Longtime residents recognize BCTS as holding the nation's longest high school football winning streak, boasting a 72-2-2 record between 1941-45, Bagwell said.

Bagwell said they were saddened when part of the old school burned in January 2006, which delayed their plans of turning the aging structure into a business center.

The building has been rewired and painted, with new walls and glass. In fact, the complex lacks only a name. Bagwell and Thrash have a list of names they're considering, such as Elm Street Business Complex or Heritage Complex.

Two offices suites measuring 2,200 square feet are now complete with the exception of flooring. Three others are under construction, which the pair hopes will be completed by the first of the year. Other offices to be completed will measure 1,400, 1,800 and 2,700 square feet.

Prospective tenants are already looking at the building. The partners say one is an unnamed state agency. Others that are considering moving in are a local real estate company, an insurance company, a doctor and a mortgage broker.

But the biggest part of the building is the old gym, which the pair say is already being looked at for events. One prospective tenant has offered a considerable amount of free labor to clean up the gym.

There are also plans to include a professional weight room, sauna and showers.

One idea is to use the gym for a "old timers day," where BCTS graduates would be invited to bring photos. Since Bagwell runs Bagwell Office Systems with Thrash, they have access to high quality color copiers which can reproduce and enlarge the rare pictures for placement around the gym.

"We'd love to have pictures of the national championship team, of which we now have none," Bagwell said.

The walls of the gym have been painted the same old school colors, new windows have been installed and Bagwell believes the proposed event will be "neat and nostalgic."

But the work on the offices and gym is just the first step, say the partners. Bagwell and Thrash own much of the property surrounding the old school. One plan is to buy land running along Morton Street and place a similar structure there, facing the new offices.

Other possibilities for development rest behind the current structure on 2.65 acres. Another empty building sits there waiting for ideas such as retail or office space. Refurbishing the area could help to revitalize the neighborhood and increase the value of surrounding property.