The deed is done.

Charlie Bundy signed on the dotted line Wednesday taking private ownership of the Pike Activities Building, which has been a government-owned building since 1937.

The Rock Building, as it was commonly called, was a Works Progress Administration project. It was owned and operated by the Pike County Commission and housed the county’s community agencies, including the board of education and the health department with a community auditorium on the bottom floor.

The building has been vacant since it was damaged by arson’s fire in 1991. Time and the elements have taken their toll on the historic structure.

Citing the lack of funds to restore the Rock Building, the Pike County Commission offered the building for public action following a recent failed grassroots effort to save the “Rock.” Bundy submitted the only bid at $60,000. The commissioners voted to accept the bid at its meeting on March 28.

Bundy, who owns and operates Charlie’s Auto Repair on the Henderson Highway, said he had no previous thoughts of owning the building because he never thought he would have the opportunity. However, he said he had long appreciated the historical significance of the Rock Building and has great admiration for the craftsmanship of the stonemasons and others who constructed the “masterpiece.”

“The stonework on this building is incredible,” Bundy said. “No telling how many rocks it took and it’s masterful the way it was constructed. I wanted to see it preserved and I thought it was a good investment. But, I haven’t been inside. I need to get in and see what all I need to do to preserve it. First, the county and board of education have got to get their things out. Then I’ll get in there.”

Bundy said putting a roof on the building will be top priority to prevent any further damage.

And, Bundy had good news for those who want to see the historic Rock Building preserved.

“I’m not going to tear the building down,” he said. “You can’t tear it down. If you tried, you’d tear up the streets and the sewer lines and probably damage the buildings around it. And you’d have a big hole to do something with. This building is well built. It’s historic. It’s worth saving.”

The Rock Building was constructed by WPA workers and from field rocks from every corner of Pike County.

Gerald Harden said each and every rock in the building has the handprint of somebody from Pike County on it. Farmers donated rocks turned over by plows in the fields. Women in bonnets gave rocks from their garden borders. Barefoot kids lugged rocks to the edge of the dirt roads to be loaded on wagons and pickup trucks to be hauled to the building site.

“I was one of those little boys,” Harden said. “I picked up rocks all around Enon. My brothers picked up rocks and my daddy, J.C. Harden, hauled loads and loads of rocks to the worksite. The rocks came from all over Pike County. Everybody contributed.”

Harden expressed disappointment that the Rock Building no longer belongs to the people of Pike County, as was its original intent. But he also expressed hope that private ownership will be the salvation of the building.

“I had hopes that people would get behind the efforts to save the Rock Building,” Harden said. “I don’t know what the plans are for the building but, if a top can be put on it, it’s not going anywhere. The Rock Building has deep roots in Pike County. It’s part of our history. It’s our heritage and I want to see it preserved. We all should. I hope it will be.”