Dear Editor:
Within the next few weeks, the community of Melrose will lose one of its most precious, historic buildings; the Mediterranean Revival Historic School House that sits on the corner of 26 and 21. This building has stood as a reminder of the importance of education and historic pride of the Melrose citizens. It is said that North Florida writer Marjorie Kannan Rawlings the author of the beloved book “The Yearling,” would speak to the students in the auditorium. Generations of the community’s children’s voices have echoed in its halls. One of those voices was my sons a few decades ago. The building holds fond memories for many of us, especially for the Melrose High School Alumni before the school consolidation of the 1960s. The last senior class graduated in 1968.
The building was originally built in 1927. It burned in 1945 and was rebuilt using the original plans. A historic plaque was placed by the alumni in 2016. In the marker application signed by the school principal at the time, it states that the school is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
So then why is this building facing destruction? It has been in public hands since 1927. The community is proud of this building! It is an anchor of Melrose’s historical heritage. Would not the best care and maintenance be a primary concern of the citizens and our publicly funded schools entrusted with its care? In reality, many of us believed we were doing all we could to protect this piece of Florida’s history, only to discover that our efforts were inadequate. Our public officials did not properly care for our school, either because the money and expertise were not available or other expenditures took priority.
Tuesday, Jan. 6, a lone member of the Melrose community pleaded with the Putnam County School Board to reconsider their decision to destroy the building. Other options could and should be considered, with more voices as part of the process. Yes, it was a late plea. Yes, there were rumors in the community. Yes, I am sure the Sunshine State Law was followed and notices were someplace. But so many of us were unaware that it did not feel like the school board had made a true effort to inform the community. Some residents have been given an opportunity to tour the building, grieve and take photos. But how do we process this permanent loss? Where can we go from here? How do we prevent a similar situation from happening again? How can we help other communities across the state who are losing their historic, public buildings every day? Our experience is not uncommon; I was told by the Florida Historic Preservation staff in Tallahassee.
We have some hard choices ahead of us. What do we truly value, and are we willing to stand up, speak our hearts and act on our values? There is much work ahead of us if we choose to protect our historic places. Many hands and hearts are needed in this important cause. Are you with me?
Putnam County School Board Representative for Melrose is Linda Wagner. You can reach her at 386-546-7867.
Historic Melrose Inc. meets at 2 p.m. on Jan. 25, at the Homemakers Club. Their website is www.historicmelroseinc.org.
A special thank you to County Commissioner Josh Alexander for his inquiry into if the school board could reach out to the local historic society to repurpose the building. Apparently, the building is so deteriorated, it would not survive being moved from the property. I truly appreciate your efforts on behalf of the Melrose community.
You can reach Mr. Alexander at 386-329-0206 or email him at [email protected].
Sincerely,
Sheree Sims
