A Bit of Our History

When you drive into Clarksville up Highway 15 as if you're coming from the NC Border, the first stoplight causes you to look directly across the road at a strip mall, a veteran's memorial, and our theater. Way back in the day, before the strip mall was built, the Clarksville School stood on this property. 

The main academic building, known as the Clarksville High School, was built in 1915 and stood about where the current Dollar General Market stands. The Clarksville High School was a beautiful brick building with huge windows on the front and west rear side  - it had two floors and a basement; with the first floor containing 6 classrooms, the second floor containing 5 classrooms, a bathroom, and two small offices,  and the basement containing another bathroom, the boiler room, storage areas, and one classroom. Near where the Hardee's stands today stood two smaller brick buildings: the Agricultural Building and the Cannery. The Agricultural Building was constructed in 1933 and contained 3 classrooms, while the Cannery was constructed in 1944 to serve the community as part of the War Emergency Program during WWII. After the Agricultural Building, the next addition to the Clarksville School was the Annex - which is now known as the Clarksville Fine Arts Center. Built in 1934 with funds from The Works Progress Administration, the Annex contained 4 large classrooms, 1 small classroom, and auditorium, and 2 bathrooms. Eventually, the Annex transitioned from being an extension of the High School to serving as the Clarksville Elementary School. Behind the Annex/Elementary School on top of a slight hill stood the Home Economics Building. This two-level brick structure (main floor with steps going down into a basement) contained the cafeteria for the school as well as the Home Economics Department.  

In the spring of 1973, the Clarksville Community Development Council initiated the formation of the Clarksville Community Players. At an organizational meeting in June, officers were elected and plans were made for a production to be presented in the fall of 1973. This play, "Life with Father", was funded by the Development Council, and the three-night run of the show was so successful that CCP was able to repay the funds from the Development Council as well as have some working capital left over for the next production! Come springtime of 1974, CCP applied for and were granted a charter as a non-profit corporation so recognized in the State of Virginia. 

In 1985, the Clarksville High School was demolished, along with several other structures that made up the Clarksville School complex; however, the Elementary School and cupola that sat atop the High School were saved by Town Manager Carl Dean & the Clarksville Community Players. The Home Economics Building was also spared and was converted as the Mecklenburg County YMCA. 

In 2011, CCP restored the cupola, kicking off the extensive renovations that have since taken place. The Sittin' Pretty Campaign also restored the seats that same year. 

In 2013, CCP completed Phase 1 of the Clarksville Fine Arts Center Renovations in the space where the Clarksville Police Department was previously located. 

In 2014, the Clarksville Community Players completed the herculean task of asbestos removable and moisture abatement within our costume room. 

Since completing that task, our theater has slowly and steadily undergone serious renovations; completely redoing the lobby, building a new booth for sound & lights, adding a new HVAC system, upgrading our sound equipment, replacing our old tree lights and over stage lights to an LED stage lighting system, adding a new women's restroom in the lobby, investing in beautiful new curtains for our stage, and most recently, adding professional-level makeup lights around the large mirror in the dressing room.