Built in 1939 under the Public Works Administration and designed by the Greenville firm Beacham & LeGrand, this striking brick building is a standout example of Streamline Moderne architecture in the New Deal era. Its L‑shaped form sits atop a concrete basement, with exterior walls of masonry framed on solid footing and a monumental off-center portico defined by bold monolithic concrete pilasters.

The original 800-seat auditorium is its architectural heart, featuring hardwood flooring and a ceiling adorned with period-style patterned panels and lighting. Tall windows and wood-paneled walls enhance its dramatic yet elegant interior ambiance

Though it served as Fountain Inn’s high school for only 17 years, closing in 1957 when Hillcrest High opened nearby, the building continued its life as an elementary school until 1997. The city purchased it in 1999, transforming it into the Fountain Inn Center for Visual and Performing Arts.

By 2013 it was renamed the Younts Center for Performing Arts, ushering in phased renovations of its theater, lobby, and exterior. Locals embraced it as a revitalized venue for community theater series, musical performances, and arts education—helping anchor downtown Fountain Inn’s cultural resurgence. (It is now often referred to as the Melvin & Dollie Youth Center in community use.)