Some of the oldest buildings still on campus are the Walker Building and the Powell Building. The Jones Building is one many in Milledgeville may be familiar with, as some were born there. Walter Reynolds, Contractor for Central State Hospital Local Redevelopment Authority, is the 4th generation in his family to work with the hospital. “There’s a lot of opportunity for economic development on this campus,” Reynolds said.
He says that’s something they’ve been focused on for the past few years, as well as refurbishing old stuff on the campus. “We try to reuse as much as we can that’s already here,” he said. The Central State Hospital museum was closed down in the 2000s, but there is hope for a new museum. The Old Capitol Museum and Heritage Center purchased the depot on the campus and plan to build a museum in that building that features an exhibit to the hospital.
Reynolds says it’s a special place that they hope to keep going.
“It was a place where good, kind-hearted people took care of the most unfortunate individuals in the state of Georgia, the most vulnerable citizens of the state of Georgia, and our mission here is to create new economic opportunities to bring jobs back to Milledgeville,” he said.