The pink library in downtown Lewisburg will soon receive a facelift.
During the April 19 meeting of the Lewisburg City Council, a lease was approved for what the historical society officially called “the 1834 Supreme Court of Appeals of Virginia Law Library and Study building,” locally referred to as the pink library.
Greenbrier Historical Society board vice president Al Emch was present for the approval, explaining the society’s intentions.
“I would, on behalf of the society, like to thank the mayor and city manager for all their cooperation, and the council for approving this lease,” said Emch. “We have great plans for the pink library, one of which might be trying to change the name.”
On Monday, April 25, the Greenbrier Historical Society Executive director Brent R. Murrill Sr., on behalf of the board of directors, officially announced the plan for the building in a blog post.
“Having acquired the long-term lease of the Pink Library and adjacent property from the City of Lewisburg, the Greenbrier Historical Society is now embarking on a labor of love to bring the building [up to date],” explained Murrill. “[The building] is very near to original condition but in need of substantial study and careful restoration, back as closely as possible to what it was in the first half of the 19th century. … We will soon begin our work to restore these magnificent historic structures by assessing and accomplishing some critical maintenance. Thereafter, we will have the necessary engineering and architectural studies done to lay the groundwork for our restoration efforts, which will be guided by our continuing research into the history that lies within these buildings that we will bring back to life for the public to see, understand, and appreciate. As always, we are deeply appreciative of your continuing support and encouragement in this endeavor.”
According to the “lease assignment and assumption agreement,” the city, New River Community and Technical College, and the Greenbrier Historical Society entered into a lease lasting until February 28, 2030.
The agreement does not include rent but does come with the historical society having “full responsibility for financing, coordinating, and completing any outstanding maintenance items relating to the leased premises.”
The college will be allowed to “exclusively occupy, possess, and control the buildings … while it arranges for and accomplishes the relocation of its physical library functions … and other College-owned items.”
The historical society’s press release also explains its interest in the building.
“[The building] was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972,” wrote Murrill. “Next to it is a smaller structure (moved there in 1976) that originally served as quarters for the enslaved people of the Johnson Reynolds family, who lived on Chestnut Street. … This wonderful building is significant for both Virginia and West Virginia, juxtaposing the judicial histories of the two states and providing a platform for telling the story of how our state developed, including the story of the Civil War (the building was used as a hospital during the Battle of Lewisburg in 1862, and some of the graffiti that the soldiers wrote upon its walls has been beautifully preserved). As noted above, the property also includes a separate building constructed in 1835 as quarters for the enslaved people of the Johnson Reynolds family, which provides a backdrop for educating the public about how enslaved people lived and worked in the first half of the 19th century. We are excited by the opportunities for educating that this building presents as well.”
Once the project is complete, a dedication ceremony will be held.
“The College will vacate the property in June or July of this year and we plan to hold an initial ‘grand reopening’ and ‘rededication’ of the building as a public museum on August 1, 2022 – the 191st Anniversary of the date that the Supreme Court of Appeals of Virginia first met in Lewisburg to conduct the appellate business of what is now West Virginia,” Murrill wrote. “Fittingly, the current Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia, the Honorable John A. Hutchison, has agreed to be the principal speaker at this auspicious event. … Together, the North House, Pink Library, and Enslaved Quarters will compose a museum complex that we believe will be unparalleled in West Virginia.”
The project will also not touch the downtown Lewisburg confederate monument, which was once again recently a topic for online community discussion. During the council meeting, city manager Misty Hill noted, “this lease does not contain all of Horton Park, they just leased the library and the building behind it.” The Confederate monument has remained in place despite calls for its relocation to the Confederate cemetery behind Greenbrier County Public Library in 2020. Although plaques explaining the statute’s historical significance were expected to be placed beside the monument during these discussions in 2020, these signs are not currently on site.
Ultimately, the pink library project is expected to bring new life to a long-standing staple of downtown Lewisburg.
“We’re excited to see all that will happen there,” said Mayor Beverly White during the council meeting.
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| The pink library and its companion building, with the North House Muesum peeking out from between the two. |
