Articles Printed in The Newberry Observer

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Society eyes building for museum

by Leslie Moses, Staff Writer

Phil Spotts says Newberry is a historical society that should have a historical hub just off Main Street to welcome visitors and display the county’s past and present, as well as current industry.
Otherwise, the current Newberry County museum is somewhat off-the-beaten path and not very viewer friendly, says Spotts, a member of the Newberry County Historical and Museum Society.
Even when Jim Clamp, society member and Historical Museum coordinator gives visitors perfect directions to the museum off Nance Street, they get lost, Clamp says.
“It’s too small and it’s out of the way,“ says Spotts.
That’s why Spotts, Clamp and other members of the Newberry County Historical and Museum Society have their eyes on the old post o ffice on Friend and College streets, which was recently Newberry’s public library before the January completion of the Hal Kohn Memorial Library.
Now, nearly empty except for some downstairs furnishings and books from a recent book sale, the building holds the interest of many that gathered Sunday afternoon for the society’s first quarterly meeting. They would like to see it become Newberry County’s new museum.
“The building that concerns us now,“ said Newberry historian Ernest Shealy of the former library site built by James Knox Taylor. Taylor was chosen by the federal government to oversee construction of all its buildings in the early 1900s.
Taylor also designed the Philadelphia Mint and the Governor’s mansion in Alaska.
“I’ve always known the building was a gem,“ said Shealy. “And further research confirmed it.“
The 7,000 square foot building of brick, granite and limestone with a pantile roof is a “classic building“ th at needs to be used “in a classic way,“ says Spotts.
And with a visitor-friendly, secure museum, Spotts thinks many local treasures will surface.
A lot of historic things in people’s attics and basements will come out of hiding, he says.
“There’s a lot of important history in people’s houses,“ agreed Les Hipp, who is vice president of the society, and currently on County Council.
Now that a museum moment has formed, a committee is in the making.
“I can’t see us ever getting rid of this building and seeing it in private hands,“ said Hipp. “Once it gets into the private sector, you can’t retrieve it.“
Hipp hopes the committee will have “a good objective view of stakeholders from each (Newberry County) municipality“ to establish a good use for the building “not just for Newberry city, but for the whole county.“
By the end of September, Hipp thinks the group will be ready to recommend to County Council the b est use for the building for a resolution.
“It has all kinds of potential here for a great tourist attraction for Newberry County,“ said Jim Lander, former state senator and S.C. Comptroller General.
Lander and Jim Livingston toured the old post office building before the meeting, and both saw room for varied displays.
If the building becomes a museum, Livingston thinks it would be great to let industries like Louis Rich “and all the good corporations here“ showcase their business.
Lander, a longtime Boy Scout leader, would like the Boy Scouts to have a display too.
The county’s need is “focal, easy-to-get-to, visible museum,“ said Lander, “and this is just the place for it.“
Shealy, overhearing Lander promote the building, agreed.
“Keep going,“ Shealy told him.
Newberry businessman Owen Holmes, also on the self-guided tour, noted areas needing improvement.
“It would be very useful to us, with some mainte nance and upkeep,“ Holmes said.
After the tour and before Shealy’s presentation, many gathered around papers showing historic Newberry.
There were pictures of Newberry’s Pope School, the “Graded School“ and one showing heavy horse and buggy traffic in front of the old courthouse.
But Jenny Carlisle and Ann Hunter found the “gem“ Shealy mentioned.
“I just love that building,“ said Hunter looking at the old post office.
“I do too,“ Carlisle echoed.

by Cindy Pitts, Staff Writer

“Too valuable to lose or misuse,“ is the phrase being used by locals wanting to research how to best use the old library building on Friend Street.
As the new library opened its doors in early January, the building that has housed the post office and then library became vacant.
Newberry County Museum Society President Randy Berry and Museum Coordinator Ernest Shealy asked County Council Wednesday night to allow them to set up a committee to research how to best use the historic empty building.
“It is a rare opportunity when a historic building becomes available,“ said Shealy.
Councilman Les Hipp agreed that the building should stay in the public sector.
“It is not just your average building,“ said Councilman John Cal dwell. “It helped put Newberry on the map and should be kept and preserved.“
Hipp voiced concerns that other county building projects and remodels have not always been the best approach in the past.
“What’s best for the long-term use?“ he asked.
Councilman Bill Waldrop voiced concern about the building having roof problems, but Shealy said the committee would look into the cause of the leaks.
County Administrator Wayne Adams said the building may be needed to free up space in the courthouse for an office for a resident circuit judge and this would cause the Assessor’s Office to be displaced.
But all the council members agreed to let the Museum Society set up a committee to research options for the building.
The committee will be made up of members of County Council, municipal representatives, the School District, the Opera House Foundation, Newberry College, local industries, organizations and civic leaders.
— File photo

BUILDING MUCH MORE THAN A BUILDING

The Newberry County Historical and Museum Society presented a program on the history and distinctive importance of a presently vacated building. This presentation was approved by county council with the understanding county would not incur any expenses and the results would be in the form of recommendations without obligation by County Council to implement the recommendations. County Council has responsibility of the building and its future use.
What is felt to be an important aspect of this investigative process is the welcome by our historical society for input from all who would like to provide such in order to prevent the loss or misuse of this building designed by James Knox Taylor in 1911, serving initially as the Newberry post office then the library, hereafter referred to as the Taylor Building.
Taylor was supervising architect of the United States Treasury Department that was responsible for the design of many notable buildings including that of Ellis Island where so many in the 19th century entered our nation.
Earlier, a good number settled here in Newberry in Colonial times, mid-18th century and fought for our Declaration of Independence. Their descendants still abundantly present here understandably love and feel sacred the dedication of their ancestors and that which has been left to our care.
Being on the National Register of Historic Places, it is unlikely the Taylor Building will yield to another parking lot or some such modern contrivance. To safeguard against such we need realize and stress the ideal location of this building to serve the public as an instructional and educationa l depository. It is within the historic district of downtown Newberry, a block from the splendid new Hal Kohn Memorial Library, and a couple blocks from the world famous Newberry Opera House.
Realize that while most likely the preceding points are understood, appreciated and supported by our council, a big understandable concern by council and citizens alike is the expense required to make this building serviceable and to keep it that way which includes any maintenance, utilities, oversight and staffing. There are a number of ways to work with this. The Landmark Group responsible for reclaiming the original Newberry hospital, comes to mind. I encourage all to review this group and the local outcome at the Web site http://www.landmarkdevelopment.biz/cmt/111.html along with searching elsewhere on the Web for additional such assistance.
It appears the Taylor Building can be put to great use without considerable restructuring of the interior. The exterior so well-const ructed seems solid and only one leak against an outside wall was noted.
The main floor upstairs could easily serve as display areas for important county industries in addition to historic display booths, both permanent and rotating.
It needs be stressed how limited, remote and insecure the current County Museum is.
Consider, it is well known that several persons with important artifacts and such would like to donate to the Newberry County Museum but are not willing to do so to the hard to find, poorly secured area now in use.
Downstairs at the Taylor Building are many existing room which can be saved as depository places and meeting areas for such groups as the Boy Scouts, Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution and additional civic groups.
Additionally downstairs more open space around the foot of the stair and what once served as the children’s area could serve admirably for what I call flat art display such as paintings, prints, old f lags, and such.
Already it is known of one Newberry citizen eager to donate paintings ranging from 17th century to modern, including some well known international artists as well as S.C. artists, this along with such as medieval plainsong, Coptic textiles and other artifacts. It stands to reason that with a secure and convenient place to showcase, many treasures will deservedly find themselves before the public.
Let not this seem merely idealized expectation for the Taylor Building. It so much belongs to the community which fully deserves a good secure central location for depository and meetings to satisfy residents of the best county in the best state within the best nation, all such having been here longer than our free nation.
Like so many others here, I’d love for the Taylor Building in year 2011, its centennial, to become a place to treasure, a place much more than a building.
Jim Livingston
Newberry