Douglass School Becomes Area Arts Hub After Integration
The former Douglass School in Murphysboro, once the city’s black high school, has been repurposed as Douglass School Art Place. Jan Thomas and Gretel Chapman transformed the building into an arts center hosting theater, exhibits, and studio spaces, preserving a key community landmark with input from former students and neighbors.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Douglass School
Murphysboro
Douglass
Frederick Douglass
Myrtle McKinnie
Carver School
Gretel Chapman
Thomas
Apple Festival Returns to Murphysboro With America the Beautiful Theme
Murphysboro prepares a week long Apple Festival September 11 to 15 featuring a parade queen contest children activities fiddle and banjo contests and stage shows. Events include live music carnival midway craft sales petting zoos and car shows with volunteer-run activities and a new Arts at the Liberty program offering performances by the Southern Illinois Children's Choir Ac Rock Nike basketball performers and more.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Liberty Theater
Southern Illinois Children’s Choir
Ac Rock
Nike
Naegele
Murphysboro
Myrtle McKinnie
Hospital Auxiliary
Auxiliary
Marion Wright Cavitt
Beautiful
Murphysboro’s Volunteer Spirit Builds Community Landmarks
Murphysboro’s long civic tradition is visible in the Smyser Plaza and Liberty Theater restorations, Main Street projects, and the John A. Logan Museum. Led by Di Riley and Lois Murphy, locals fund and labor renovations, while the Key Club and John A. Logan Museum youth programs fuel ongoing community pride. Smysor Charitable Trust funds support major projects, and volunteers from all ages sustain the town’s landmarks and services.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Murphysboro
St. Joseph Memorial Hospital
Walnut
Liberty Theater
John A. Logan
Main Street
Key Club
Murphysboro Main Street
di Riley
Illinois
Montgomery Ward
J.C Penney
P. N. Hirsch
Smysor Plaza
Riley
Lois Murphy
Walnut Street
Liberty
Smysor
Elizabeth Smysor
Ava
St. Joseph Hospital
Grant Douglas
Bob Hall
Hall
Also Mentioned on This Page
Linda Rush
McKinnie
Carruthers School
Carruthers
Carl Lee
Robert Thorpe
Earlene Sanders
Sanders
Jan Thomas
Art Place
The
Festival Committee
Michael Dann
Katyla Oetjen
Emmanuel Luthern
Tanner
Southern Illinois Unlimited
Southern Illinois
List Cellular
Firstcellular.com
Fieiall
Benton
Carbondale
Harris Wiinois Centre Mall
Marion Mt. Carmel
Mt.Vernon
Olne University Mall
West Frankfor
Wal-Mart
Anna
Carmi
Harrisburg
du Quoin
Fairfield
Marion
Mt Vernon
Olney
Sparta
Judy Greer
Barb Kinnear
Mike Nolen
Brendan Tolan
Thorized
Clearwave Communications
Dave's Telephone
Gill's Sales
Hamilton County Communic Communications
ITA
Kesel
Novacom Inc
Onawnee
Wabash Telephone
Edith Street
Mike Jones
Jones
Logan
Edith St. Jones
Bostick Earlene Sanders
Tennessee
Thesouther
Jouuiet
Mary Belle Melvin
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