History

Who is William Holland?

Our school was named in memory of Mr. William Holland, the third President of the Southeast Federation of Mineralogical Societies (SFMS). His name was chosen for the school by Mr. Harold Sparks, the eighth president of the same organization.

Where is the William Holland School, and what does it teach?

William Holland School of Lapidary Arts was created when Harold C. Sparks and his wife, Mary Lou, saw a need in the community for a school that taught lapidary, the art of cutting and polishing gemstones. While there were workshops a few times a year, the couple wanted something more substantial. They dreamed of a mountain-top retreat where people from all over could join to learn and preserve the craft.

They found a home for their dream in Young Harris, a town in North Georgia.

Now, the school teaches a number of different art forms, thereby introducing them to new generations to preserve these traditional crafts for years to come.

How many buildings are on campus?

There are four main buildings that comprise our campus:

The Seabolt Building (built in 1985)

Initially used for classes and sleeping rooms, the Seabolt Building now houses the George Kasper Memorial Library, the lampwork studio, the photo room, and Gerald’s rock room, as well as shower facilities for our campground guests.

Sparks Lodge (1986)

The centerpiece of our campus, Sparks Lodge has 29 bedrooms, each with its own private bath. The ground-floor level features 13 classrooms, as well as our dining hall and kitchen.

Mary Lou’s Cottage (2002)

This cottage was originally built to accommodate our instructors.

Otto’s Lodge (2005)

Otto’s Lodge was built to add 22 bedrooms, each with its own private bath, to accommodate guests.

In Addition:

• Three additional classroom buildings were added recently: the Learning Center, the Campground Classroom and the Glass Barn.
• A ten-site campground with full hook-up spaces, located just a short walk from the classrooms!

What is the school known for?

Our school has a proud history of volunteerism: from the very beginning, students, teachers, and other neighborly folks came to contribute their time and talents to the cause. We continue to celebrate this tradition to this day!