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 educational 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-constructed 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 flags, 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