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Working with the Friends of the Central
Library of Wilcox County the Rural
Library Project Inc. has developed an
adaptive re-use plan for a new 4000
square ft library in a historic building
in Rochelle. Located on Gordon Street
downtown, the brick building was
constructed in the 1920’s and has been
used as a car dealership, sewing factory
and antiques warehouse over the last 90
years. This innovative project restores
the exterior facade of the building and
creates new affordable interior space by
creating a “shell within a shell” rather
than restoring at considerably more
expense the interior of the building.
This project should have broad appeal to
rural cities seeking to revitalize
downtown areas by locating this quality
of life amenity in a suitable
underutilized building. Fundraising for
the project has begun in the fall of
2009.
Building
Before Renovations
Lions Club Treasurer Matt Estes presents
to Judy Willcox Treasurer of Friends of
Patriots Public Library a check for
$2000.00. The Rochelle Lions Club is
pleased to support the project to build
a public library in Rochelle. Lions
members James Lee (in his truck), Mark
Rhodes, and Jim Fitzgerald represent the
Club in the presentation.
On Sept 11, 2010 at the Rochelle Lions
Club Farmers Day in Rochelle
Georgia, Dan White of Rural Library
Project presents a check for $3000.00
to Jim Fitzgerald, President of Friends
of Patriot's Public Library. The check
is a grant from The Betty and Davis
Fitzgerald Foundation of Atlanta and
the funds will be used to pay for
architectural drawings for the library
to be built in Rochelle as well as for
underwriting fundraising efforts. Judy
Willcox Treasurer of Friends of
Patriot's Public Library is also
pictured.
Update:
February, 2012
WINDOWS INSTALLED ON THE PATRIOT PUBLIC
LIBRARY BUILDING
With the financial help of the Georgia
Pacific Foundation, new windows have
been installed on the front and north
facade of the Patriot Public Library
building, which was constructed in the
1920’s. These energy- efficient, low-e
windows have been customized to shade
the interior lobby from the western sun
while allowing abundant natural light
into the building. These new windows
have been installed in historically
accurate window frames built by local
craftsmen that mirror the original look
of this building in downtown Rochelle.
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