City of Dublin Press Release from November 12, 2021. 

Emery Thomas Auditorium Georgia Register Listing Approved

Application Moves to National Register for Review.

On Friday, October 29, 2021, the Georgia National Register Review Board held its meeting virtually to consider six properties for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places including Dublin’s Emery Thomas Auditorium.

The Emery Thomas Auditorium was approved at the statewide level as the only remaining building of the first and only 4-H Center built exclusively for African American youth in Georgia. Sponsored by the City of Dublin, the approval of Emery Thomas Auditorium by the Georgia National Register Review Board allows the application to pass to the Keeper of the National Register of Historic Places in Washington for approval. This will allow the building to receive recognition, planning consideration, eligibility for federal tax credits, eligibility for grant assistance, and technical assistance.

“The Emery Thomas Auditorium is an important, but often overlooked part of Dublin’s history. The Georgia Register listing is a great step in getting the recognition it deserves. The City of Dublin has worked diligently on compiling the application since October of 2017 with the assistance of Ethos Preservation,” said Lance Jones, Dublin City Manager. “Like all good things, this will take more time and more patience, but we do not anticipate any issues with the building being listed on the National Register of Historic Places.”

Rebecca Fenwick with Ethos Preservation, who worked to compile the application is confident, saying “National Register listing is long and arduous but the site is so very worthy!”

The Emery Thomas Auditorium was constructed in 1956 as an addition to the campus of the Dublin 4-H Center, which was established approximately 16 years earlier. Until the formation of the Dublin 4-H Center, there were no comparable sites available for use by African American youth involved in 4-H in Georgia. Following the construction of the auditorium, dining hall, and three cabins, the Dublin 4-H Center was officially dedicated on November 15, 1957. After the Civil Rights Act of 1964, African American youth in Georgia were integrated, after which all members were invited to attend the Rock Eagle 4-H Center in Eatonton. As a result, attendance in Dublin declined and in 1968 ownership of the Dublin 4-H Center site was reverted to the Dublin Chamber of Commerce.

Named for Emery C. Thomas, Laurens County’s first African American Extension agent, the auditorium retains many of its original features including milk globe light fixtures and limestone exterior trim. Today, Emory Thomas Auditorium serves as a special events center, hosting weddings and other events on the grounds of Riverview Golf Course. 

ETA is located on our Riverview Golf Course.

300 Riverview Dr. 

Click here to download the brochure.