Conversion of the old Attucks High School building into the new home for the African-American Museum of Southern Illinois and the Carbondale Convention and Tourism Bureau could begin as early as November, said Corene McDaniel, councilwoman and co-founder of the museum.
The property was purchased by the city for $150,000 in 2005 and leased to the African-American Museum, now located at the University Mall, for $1 a month for 10 years, McDaniel said.
McDaniel said construction on the roof of the building could start in the next few weeks, and expects the new African-American Museum to open by Memorial Day weekend.
The Carbondale Convention and Tourism Bureau awarded the museum a grant of $122,131, but the museum can’t use the funds until it matches the amount through fundraising, McDaniel said.
The Convention and Tourism Bureau did not return several calls for comment.
Fundraising efforts to match the grant are making little progress, but McDaniel said she knew the amount of work involved when the museum leased the property from the city.
“We also knew it would take a great amount of money to renovate,” she said. “It was a big help and a blessing for the city to even purchase the building. If the city hadn’t saved the building, it may not be there now.”
The museum maintains the property and pays insurance and taxes on it, said Milton McDaniel, museum volunteer and husband of Corene McDaniel.
Attucks High School opened in 1948 as an all-black school but was closed in 1964 when its students were moved to Carbondale Community High School under desegregation laws, said Milton McDaniel, who graduated from Attucks’ adjoining grade school in 1963.
Carbondale resident and Attucks graduate Richard Hayes supports the museum’s efforts to restore the property.
“The building will be utilized, and it will no longer be an eyesore,” he said.
Community activist the Rev. Sidney Logwood said he knows how much the building means to those who graduated from Attucks.
“I think it’s a great idea,” Logwood said. “I’m hoping they have the (money) they need to go ahead and get it going so they can have a permanent home for the African-American Museum.”
Milton McDaniel estimates the total cost of the project will be between $900,000 and $1 million, with much of that money obtained through grants through the Convention and Tourism Bureau.
He said he thinks the community will be proud to see the building back up and running.
“We hope for it to be a multi-culture community center that will not just house the former Attucks memorabilia, but be a very uplifting welcome to people passing up and down main,” Milton McDaniel said.
The restored museum will try to emulate the interior of the old building as much as possible, Milton McDaniel said.
“We talked about former students walking down the halls and getting chills,” he said.
Museum to convert old Attucks High School building
Published: Thursday, October 22, 2009
Updated: Thursday, October 22, 2009
 "Photo: Julia Rendleman ~ Daily Egyptian.")
Julia Rendleman ~ Daily Egyptian.
Attucks High school sits dormant and in disrepair on Carbondale’s north side. Annette Brooks, of Carbondale, walks by the old high school on her way home Tuesday. “My mother and friends went here before high schools were integrated,” Brooks said. Brooks said she would like to see something happen at Attucks to benefit the community. “A museum would be nice,” she said.
 "Photo: Julia Rendleman ~ Daily Egyptian")
Julia Rendleman ~ Daily Egyptian
The old Attucks High School has sat dormant on the north side of Carbondale since 1964 desegregation laws transferred students to Carbondale High School.
