The Murfreesboro Post, July 29, 2015
Bradley Academy Museum and Cultural Center
The City Council is set to consider a memorandum of understanding Thursday with the Bradley Academy Historical Association transferring operation and management of the historical building to city government.
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The City Council is set to consider a memorandum of understanding Thursday with the Bradley Academy Historical Association transferring operation and management of the historical building to city government.
If approved during a Thursday vote at City Hall, the transfer would take effect Aug. 1, enabling the city’s Parks and Recreation to run the building on South Academy Street.
The Bradley board, which has overseen the building since it was rescued from decay in the 1990s, would become an advisory/friends group, helping to raise money and provide volunteers for programs and events.
“The main thing is the historical significance of the Bradley in the community,” said Mayor Shane McFarland. He noted the Bradley board would become more of a partner with city government.
Bradley was founded in the early 19th century as a school for white males, and President James K. Polk was one of its earliest students. From 1884 until the 1960s, Bradley was an elementary and secondary school for black students. Constructed in 1917, the building is an example of early 20th century schoolhouse architecture, according to the city.
For many years, however, it was used for nothing but storage and fell into disrepair until the late Willie McGowan and other residents worked to renovate the building and double its use as a historical center for community events. In recent years, the Bradley board has struggled to pay bills and, once again, the building ran into problems with repair.
Already owned by the city, Bradley underwent $112,500 worth of renovations this year, all of which was funded by the City Council. That included a new roof, new front door, window work and electrical improvements. Lead paint also was discovered, increasing the cost by $5,000.
The City Council approved $145,000 in the fiscal 2016 budget for operations and 2.5 part-time positions to put city personnel at historic Bradley.
“We would still run basically as a historical museum and offer programs that reflect the history of the facility and the community,” said Lanny Goodwin, Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation director.
Bradley would be placed under the direction of the department’s recreation division and be run much like it handles Cannonsburgh Pioneer Village, which is also owned by the city, according to Goodwin.
Museums historically are underfunded, said Dr. George Smith, a Bradley board member, and coming up with enough visits to attract visitors and meet financial obligations is difficult.
“Bradley struggled financially for several years, so there comes a point when we’re going to need help to keep it going,” Smith said. “I personally see it as an opportunity to bring some programs and activities to Bradley that we didn’t have the resources previously to do.”
Giving up control to city government may be difficult for some people involved with Bradley, he said, but pointed the city of Murfreesboro already owns the building and was leasing it to the board for a tiny amount.
The new arrangement would raise Bradley’s visibility and enable more opportunities to display previously untold history, in addition to integrating it more with other historical sites, he said.