Please note that this post contains affiliate links and any sales made through such links will reward MageeNews.com a small commission – at no extra cost to you.
A group of local citizens, under the wing of the Chamber of Commerce, appeared before the City of Magee Board of Alderman Tuesday night to request the Board to accept the downtown Trustmark building as city property if funding can be secured.
Lee Maddox, past Chamber President and Whitney Baker, present Chamber President, explained to the Board the vision the local group had for the building.
“The old Trustmark building is a cornerstone of Downtown Magee,” stated Lee Maddox. “If we were somehow able to acquire the building, the use of the building would benefit and enhance Magee’s downtown area.”
The committee and the Mayor have been in contact with Trustmark personal as a means to keep the historical building a part of our city. Trustmark is working with the committee and from all indications some form of action will be achieved.
Several committee members, the Mayor, city employees, and a local contractor took a tour of the building. The contractor said the building was in good shape. The roof has been repaired and the cooling/heating unit was replaced about a year ago. Committee member Jean Allen feels strongly in the preservation of downtown Magee. The building will not require major repairs, but will need paint and minor repairs. The committee is interested in utilizing the building as is with a few minor changes.
Suggested use of the building was to move the Chamber of Commerce and the Magee Museum to the area. “We have a wonderful museum that people cannot even visit because there is no money to pay someone to manage the museum. If the museum is housed with the chamber, the Executive Chamber director would be present to keep the building open…a media area…a meeting area…there are so many things the building could provide,” stated Maddox.
No definite decisions have come from the Trustmark Jackson office as to price or if the building could even be donated to the city.
The Board agreed to have a work session to study the feasibility of accepting the building as part of city property.
Sue note: Ya’ll, we need to push to get this building! I feel having the chamber and museum on Main Street would be awesome. If you agree with proceeding on this path, contact your alderman! Again, this is a work in progress…something that was begun a year ago and now the wheels are turning! Special thanks to Lee Maddox, Whitney Barnes, Jean Allen, James Smith, Jimmy and Rosemary Stuard, Patsy Ates, Doris Tullos, Diane McPhail, Mayor Jimmy Clyde, Jan Magee, Nelda Ham, and Doris Adcocx (and me!) who began work on this project in 2014.
