By Staff
MEMORIES n Chase Casper of Calvary Christian School presents an item to Fonda Rush for the Memory Tree's time capsule, as classmates Joshua McQueen, Kendall Carpenter and Morgan Ratcliff wait their turn.Photo by Steve Swogetinsky/The Meridian Star.
By Steve Swogetinsky/The Meridian Star
April 28, 2001
The Memory Tree Foundation now has a home in the old Meridian School of Music building, located on the corner of 28th Avenue and Ninth Street behind Judge Little Co..
Now its founders must find a way to raise about $250,000 to renovate the building and convert it into a museum dedicated to patriotism and people who have served in the armed forces.
Rush is the executive director Habitat for Humanity and the city of Meridian's former historic preservation specialist.
The Memory Tree Foundation celebrated gaining title to the building Friday with a special ceremony. The building was built in 1909, and served as a music school until sometime in the mid-1980s. It has had other uses since, but has been vacant for the past four or five years, Rush said.
David Purvis purchased the building about four years ago without any specific plans for its future.
Part of the ceremony was to have been the opening of a time capsule that was placed inside the building when it was constructed in 1909. However, it discovered that the time capsule had been removed.
Another time capsule will be placed in the building. Local students have prepared different items to be placed inside; these items will be stored until the rededication of the building.
Foundation members also announced two Memory Tree scholarship winners. Stacy Douglas of Meridian High School and Chad Nicholson of Lamar School each received a $500 scholarship. Faye Edwards, who directed the competition, said 55 students applied. To enter, each interviewed a veteran and wrote about his or her impressions.
Steve Swogetinsky is regional editor of The Meridian Star. Call him at 693-1551, ext. 3217, or e-mail him at sswogetinsky@themeridianstar.com.