Bachman Community Center
The Nathan L. Bachman Elementary School, which included eight rooms and an auditorium, was completed in the summer of 1937 for a cost of $35,000. It was named in honor of the late U.S. Senator who lived nearby at what is now McCoy Farm & Gardens. Changes to the original building included the addition of indoor restroom facilities in the early 1950’s, the building of two kindergarten classrooms, and a cafeteria addition. Facilities were modernized in 1975 and again in 1984. By 1999, the Hamilton County Department of Education made plans to build larger schools to serve the growing community and relinquished ownership of Bachman Elementary to the Town of Walden. In 2000, the Bachman Center Council, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, leased the building from Walden to create Bachman Community Center (BCC). Their mission is to foster a sense of community by supporting programs and events that reflect the needs of all residents of Walden’s Ridge, while continuing to preserve the historic building as a community resource. The building was placed on the National Historic Register in 2001. In 2002, BCC received a matching grant from the Community Foundation of Chattanooga, as well as contributions from civic organizations and private donors, to replace the roof. Work continues on the restoration of the historic building, supported by donations and fundraising. Today, the building houses local community organizations such as The Mountain Arts Guild and Mountain Opry theater, a free public library, and a popular thrift store which generates almost 50% of the operating budget.