I've been walking downtown neighborhoods campaigning to save the historic former Methodist church on N. Church and East College Streets. The city is buying the block to package it for redevelopment. Two councilmen have spoken up for trying to save the church, which dates from 1888, but the general tenor of the debate has been that only the bell tower can be preserved. Councilman Eddie Smotherman has said the building is to Murfreesboro what Big Ben is to London. I talked to a deveoper, who said the floor slants and that adding a second floor would cut off the windows. I don't think either problem is insurmountable. All over the U.S. people are saving these former churches and finding uses for them -- like restaurants and museums. I hope our city councilmen will a least try to do as well with this building. The council will hold a workshop on plans for this block at 5 p.m. on April 7th. If you want to try to save the church, I hope you will attend. If you can't, please go to the city website and contact the city council members via email or phone. Their phone numbers and email addresses are listed on the city council page.
I thank you. My tired feet thank you.
Keith Jones
dowkeith@yahoo.com
My website at www.gaspchoke.com also lists the council members' email addesses in a lead story on the church.