From These Roots

Gathering spaces have always been an important part of North Greenville. When the founders constructed the first main building on campus, they designed the building so that the walls could be taken down and the entire first floor could be used as a gathering space for the school. The same concept was used when the second main building was constructed in 1906. However, by the early 1930s, it was clear that the school needed a larger gathering space for fine arts performances, chapel, and graduation. It was the time of the Great Depression, and the school could not afford the nails for the project, but God provided. Local churches sent workers and funds and an auditorium was constructed on the back of the second administration building.

Over time, the Great Depression ended, North Greenville became a junior college, and the campus began to expand with more students. The student population had gotten to the point where chapel services had to be divided where freshmen would attend two days a week and the sophomores would attend the other two days. Graduation ceremonies had to be moved to Greer First Baptist Church because the crowds had gotten so large that there were more people standing outside of the auditorium than were seated inside. It was at their April 3,1956 meeting that the trustees met with architect Harold Woodward of Spartanburg to discuss the construction of a new auditorium. The proposed building was to be 17,000 square feet with an auditorium that would seat 800. There would also be space for 200 chairs to be added, which would give the auditorium a total seating capacity of 1,000 people when necessary. At the rear of the building, there would be a two-story section that would house voice and piano studios as well as practice rooms. The total cost of the new building was estimated to be $200,000.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the new auditorium and music building was held in June 1957 with construction beginning immediately after. The construction company was M.W. Fine Company from Spartanburg. The Alumni Newsletter carried appeals for donations to cover the costs of equipment and instruments. An alumni could sponsor the purchase of a seat in the auditorium for the cost of $10. Construction continued even after students returned to campus that fall and sometimes caused inconveniences. Russ Wimmer, a student reporter for The Skyliner, wrote in the December 1957 edition that the laying of the roof on the auditorium was causing water pressure issues for the campus. According to the construction superintendent, Louie Fine, “The gypsum roof is made of a powdery substance called pyrofill. The pyrofill is mixed with water to form a substance similar to concrete though not nearly as hard. This process requires about 45 gallons of water a minute.” The total amount of water used each day for the roof equaled about 20,000 gallons while the water tank at North Greenville had a capacity of 69,000 gallons. By April 1958, the final touches were being completed in the new building. The auditorium seats were installed, pianos were bought from Case Music Company, and the faculty came together to purchase the stage curtains from the American Scenic Company.

On May 1, 1958, the auditorium officially opened with a concert by the Gaffney High School band. Alumni returned for the event, including Dr. E.B. Crain and T.S. Stroud who had attended services in all four auditoriums the school had used since its founding. The official dedication for the new building was held over Founder’s Day in January 1961. It was at this dedication that the new name of the building was revealed to be Turner Auditorium after former trustee and benefactor Richard Perry Turner, Sr. who had died in 1958.

R.P. Turner founded the “R.P. Turner Company” in 1920 after purchasing a grocery store and turning it into a wholesale business. At the time of his retirement, his company was a $3 million-a-year business. Mr. Turner was a member of Greer First Baptist Church and had served on the board of trustees for North Greenville for 25 years. He frequently stepped in financially when North Greenville needed help and would sign his own name to loans to help the school. Dr. Donnan, the first president of North Greenville Junior College, once said Mr. Turner was one of the reasons North Greenville survived some very trying years. Shortly before his death, Mr. Turner donated a $6,500 Allen Organ for the new auditorium and was named a lifetime member of the board of trustees.

Over the next few decades, new sound systems were added, and small cosmetic improvements were made, but Turner Auditorium changed very little. At the NGC Alumni Council Meeting held on July 19, 1994, the council decided to make Turner Auditorium the next alumni fundraising project. The council felt that Turner Auditorium had been neglected for far too long and since it was often the only building visitors entered on campus, it was important for it to make a good impression. There was also a need for restroom facilities to be added to the foyer. Through money set aside by the college and funds raised by alumni and friends, renovations began in 1995. White columns were placed on the front of the building, restrooms and a new lobby were installed, and a new roof was added. In 1998, more seating was added to the auditorium, which brought capacity up to 1,100.

The next round of major renovations to Turner Auditorium was completed in 2000. Four hundred more seats were added, stained glass windows were installed, a steeple and clock tower was placed on the roof, and the name of the building was changed to “Turner Chapel”. A pipe organ from the Reuter Organ Company, donated by Nesbitt and Martha Cline, was also installed. During this construction, chapel services were held in Hayes Gym. The last renovations to Turner Chapel came in 2007 when 350 more seats were added and a new digital soundboard was installed.