The historic Orange Mound neighborhood in Memphis is celebrating the opening of its very first public library, a development nestled within the walls of the old Melrose High School building. According to Action News 5, the landmark $17-million project not only marks a beacon of hope but a significant victory for alumni and residents who have long awaited the revitalization of the site that shuttered in 1981.
With recent violence marring the community, the library stands out as a symbol of progress. At the grand opening, alumni from as far back as the 1950s attended the ceremony, where U.S. Congressman Steve Cohen commemorated the event. Cohen, who secured a crucial $3 million for the renovations, said, "Saturday night was not Orange Mound Tennessee," emphasizing the transformative potential of the library even amidst sorrowful times.
The library boasts a genealogy center aimed at connecting people with their ancestral roots. “It’s really a place where you can come and learn about your ancestors. You can scan documents. You can do research around all things geneology not just in memphis but around the country,” Memphis City Director of Housing and Community Development Ashley Casy told Action News 5.
Nika Sewell Smith, a professional genealogist, highlighted to FOX13 the significance of understanding one's heritage for personal growth and community kinship. Even with the building's opening, the project is only partially completed. Efforts for erecting senior residential units on the top floors continue, amid plans for a parking lot and landscaping to be finalized this summer. The grand vision extends beyond books; as a bastion of community gathering and historical reflection, it endeavors to foster a safer, more educated environment. "This was the hub," Melrose Alumni President Denise Williams Greene mentioned to FOX13, underlining the building's central role in community events and social life.
The library's design pays homage to its history, retaining the Melrose High's maroon and gold colors, along with replicas of the original light fixtures and photographs commemorating its days as a high school. The library will serve as a cornerstone of Orange Mound's legacy, providing resources from Monday through Saturday, as reported by Action News 5.
