The Story of Us:

Townley School

The first school in Townley was built in 1894. It was located on Alabama Highway 24 between Jasper and Carbon Hill.

The school burned down in 1962 and a new school was built in March 1964. Originally it was for first through ninth grade, but in the mid-1980s, it transitioned to K-8th grade. It was later renamed Townley Junior High School.

In 2010, the Walker County Board of Education voted to close several county schools due to budget cuts, including Townley Junior High School, which had 250 students. Within a few years, the vacant building began to deteriorate. Exacerbating its dilapidated condition, vandals broke in numerous times, leaving broken glass scattered on the floors and painting graffiti on the walls.

But the story has a happy ending. Saddened to see their beloved school destroyed, Townley citizens and alumni banded together in 2014 and cleaned up the school. The building now serves as the Townley Community Center, where gospel singings, antique car shows, Halloween carnivals, and other community activities are held. It is also the site of the Walker County Sports Hall of Fame.