Opinion

Editorial: Eudora Welty Library

Opinion

AFTER STANDING FOR NEARLY 80 YEARS, IT IS TIME TO BID FAREWELL TO THE OLD EUDORA WELTY LIBRARY. MANY JACKSONIANS RECALL MEMORIES OF READING, STUDYING OR MAYBE EVEN JUST HANGING OUT AT THE STATE STREET LOCATION. SHE'S BEEN STANDING TALL SINCE 1946. YOU MAY BE SURPRISED TO HEAR THAT THE LIBRARY ORIGINALLY WAS A SEARS DEPARTMENT STORE. IT WAS IN THE LATE 80'S THAT THE BUILDING BECAME THE DOWNTOWN PUBLIC LIBRARY AND WAS NAMED AFTER JACKSON'S OWN PULITZER PRIZE WINNING AUTHOR EUDORA WELTY. JUST AS IN THOSE TIMES, AGAIN WE MUST ADAPT. AFTER DECADES OF WEAR AND TEAR...THE BUILDING IS SLATED FOR DEMOLITION BY THE END OF THE SUMMER. WHILE WE CAN REMINISCE ABOUT THE GOOD OLD DAYS...THIS IS NOT THE END OF THE EUDORA WELTY LIBRARY STORY. THE BOARD VOTED TO MOVE THE LIBRARY TO A DIFFERENT LOCATION DOWNTOWN. IN PLACE OF THE BUILDING ARE PLANS FOR A BEAUTIFUL PARK AND GREEN SPACE. A FITTING UPDATE CONSIDERING ONE OF EUDORA WELTY'S PASSION WAS GARDENING. TRULY SIGNS OF PROGRESS, AS A ONCE EYESORE IN TH

Opinion

Editorial: Eudora Welty Library

After standing for nearly 80 years, it is time to bid farewell to the old Eudora Welty Library.Many Jacksonians recall reading, studying or maybe even just hanging out at the State Street location. She’s been standing tall since 1946. You may be surprised to hear that the library originally was a Sears department store. It was in the late 1980s that the building became the downtown public library and was named after Jackson’s own Pulitzer Prize-winning author Eudora Welty.As in those times, again, we must adapt. After decades of wear and tear, the building is slated for demolition by the end of the summer. While we can reminisce about the good old days, this is not the end of the Eudora Welty Library story. The Jackson Hinds Library Board voted to move the library to a different location downtown.In place of the building are plans for a beautiful park and greenspace. A fitting update, considering one of Welty’s passions was gardening.Truly signs of progress, as a one-time eyesore in the Capital City is being remade to show Jackson’s beautiful potential.

JACKSON, Miss. —

After standing for nearly 80 years, it is time to bid farewell to the old Eudora Welty Library.

Many Jacksonians recall reading, studying or maybe even just hanging out at the State Street location.

She’s been standing tall since 1946. You may be surprised to hear that the library originally was a Sears department store. It was in the late 1980s that the building became the downtown public library and was named after Jackson’s own Pulitzer Prize-winning author Eudora Welty.

As in those times, again, we must adapt. After decades of wear and tear, the building is slated for demolition by the end of the summer. While we can reminisce about the good old days, this is not the end of the Eudora Welty Library story. The Jackson Hinds Library Board voted to move the library to a different location downtown.

In place of the building are plans for a beautiful park and greenspace. A fitting update, considering one of Welty’s passions was gardening.

Truly signs of progress, as a one-time eyesore in the Capital City is being remade to show Jackson’s beautiful potential.