Children’s Hope Alliance Announces Demolition of Historic “Quad” at Barium Springs Campus Organization to honor the donors and generations of children connected to the 1941 cottages

Children’s Hope Alliance (CHA) announced today that the four oldest buildings on its 70-acre Barium Springs headquarters campus — the cluster of 1941 cottages known as “The Quad” — will be demolished in the coming weeks as part of the organization’s long-term campus revitalization effort.

Founded in 1891 as Barium Springs Home for Children, CHA has remained headquartered on this campus between Troutman and Statesville for more than 130 years. Most campus buildings date to the 1960s and 1970s. The four Quad buildings — Wallace, Stultz, Johnston, and Cannon — are the oldest, and after extensive evaluation and consultation, they have been determined unsalvageable for future use. Their renovation and infrastructure needs far exceed what would be required to safely and responsibly redevelop the area.

“Demolition is never a decision we take lightly,” said Brian Fulbright, Director of Facilities of Children’s Hope Alliance. “But it is the most practical and fiscally responsible path forward. It allows us to be better stewards of the resources entrusted to us and to ensure that future facilities truly support the children, families, and communities we serve.”

Preserving Memory as We Move Forward

For generations, The Quad has been a familiar and meaningful part of the Barium Springs campus. CHA recognizes that many alumni, neighbors, former residents, staff, and community members hold fond memories of this space. The organization explored numerous possibilities for preserving, repurposing, or renovating the structures before reaching this decision, and it intends to honor this history as fully as is logistically reasonable — while keeping its primary commitment to thousands of North Carolina’s most vulnerable children and families.

“This decision reflects our responsibility to honor our history while preparing thoughtfully for the future,” said Celeste Dominguez, President and CEO of Children’s Hope Alliance. “The Quad has served our mission for decades, and its legacy will continue to guide us as we invest in spaces that are safe, sustainable, and responsive to the needs of local children and families. We are excited about the possibilities ahead and the opportunity to create something innovative within this space that will continue advancing our mission for years to come.”

Honoring the Donors Who Built The Quad

The Quad exists because of extraordinary generosity during a difficult era. In 1928 and again in 1930, the Board of Regents recommended new dormitories for boys and girls, but construction waited until the Depression had passed. When the search for donors began in the late 1930s, historian Alan Keith-Lucas wrote in Meeting the Needs of the Times: A History of Barium Springs Home for Children, 1891–1991, the donors “were found with remarkable speed.” All four cottages were completed by 1941:

· Wallace Building — given by Mary Wallace Lee and Nancy Wallace in loving memory of their parents, Mary Borden Wallace and Oliver Terrel Wallace

· Stultz Building — donated by W. A. Stultz of Charlotte, N.C., who gave anonymously and was identified only later

· Johnston Building — erected by the Woman’s Auxiliary of the Synod of North Carolina

· Cannon Building — given by Charles A. Cannon, founder of Cannon Mills, in memory of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Cannon

Their gifts sheltered children for decades and later housed the staff and programs that carried the mission forward, including Human Resources and Foster Care. The Cannon Building served as home to the Counseling Center of Iredell County from the 2010s until the Spring of 2026.