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Buchanan proposes Mark Watson Park as library site
By Lynn Hotaling
The county's top elected official announced Tuesday (April 6) that he plans to propose constructing a new Jackson County library on the site of the old Sylva High School at Mark Watson Park.
Commissioners' Chairman Stacy Buchanan told assembled local government representatives the idea had occurred to him when he noticed a picture of the old school during a recent visit to Jackson County Schools' Central Office.
Looking at the framed image made him wonder about the possibility of building a library that looked like the old school and siting it at Mark Watson Park, which is located within sight of the county's historic Courthouse.
Buchanan pointed out that members of a joint county/town of Sylva task force charged with evaluating potential downtown library locations have been asked to explore county-owned real estate first to avoid the expense connected with purchasing additional property.
Buchanan touted the advantages of Mark Watson as a library location by pointing out that the facility is mostly used by children since the construction of new Recreation Department softball fields in Cullowhee.
The Jackson County Rescue Squad building is currently located next to the old school site, but plans are already under way to move the squad into a larger facility, Buchanan said. A county-owned maintenance building at Mark Watson could also be relocated or removed, he said.
"That area could be a real nice location (for a library)," Buchanan said. "And we could add a building with the look of the old school whose memory is precious to many."
Buchanan made brief mention of the controversial year that preceded the formation of the current library study group, but said divisiveness seemed to be in the past and the community has now come together with one goal.
The old Sylva School, closed during the 1973-74 school year, has seen its share of controversy.
The building was torn down in 1990 after grassroots efforts by community members and former students failed to save the beloved building.
High school students ceased using the building after the 1959-60 school year when Sylva and Webster were consolidated to form Sylva-Webster (now Smoky Mountain) High School.
Sylva Elementary occupied the old school from 1960 until 1973 when it was consolidated with Savannah and Webster to form Fairview Elementary.
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