The Miss Jane Library and Museum Foundation
Beckville Town HistoryCompiled by Mickey Dorman, Sally Dawson and Susan Calomino
Submitted by Marylee Knight
In 1997, two sisters and a cousin decided the 1918 Beckville Continental Bank building would make a great home for a local library and museum. The building, which originally housed a bank and later the post office, was one of the few building still standing on Washington Street at that time.
Jane Metcalf, a 1940 graduate and retired elementary school teacher, her sister Phyllis Martinson, a 1942 Beckville ISD graduate and their cousin Ruby Harris Smith, spearheaded the project. They had talked about the concept for years before following up with the family of Albert Key, who had owned the building for years prior to his death.
The bank building belonged to Key's widow and a grandson and was being rented for storage by Adams Oil Company. The Key family agreed to sell the building for the value carried on the tax rolls, $6,000. Mrs. Metcalf paid for the building while Mrs. Smith paid the first year's insurance.
Sam Moseley, a Marshall attorney, drew up the papers to establish the museum. Mrs. Martinson suggested naming the museum after her sister, who was called "Miss Jane" by her students, since she had been interested in preserving local history and had published A Pictorial History of Beckville Schools 1888-1978, some 19 years earlier.
In order for the museum to belong to the community, it was incorporated as a non-profit foundation, The Miss Jane Library and Museum Foundation, Inc.
Eleven local residents met on March 31, 1997 at the First United Methodist Church in Beckville to approve the by laws written by the three original organizers and Mr. Moseley. The first slate of officers was also elected at that meeting.
Since the museum was started, many improvements have been made. The roof was repaired and the white trim repaired and repainted. Phillip Briggs replaced the rotted floor on the second story. Bricks knocked off by the wind were replaced and aluminum ridge caps and gutters were installed. Electricity has been rewired on the first floor and will soon be added upstairs. A breaker box large enough to carry the necessary electricity has been installed. The existing bathroom was replumbed to make it useable.
In February 2002, Gerald Bratz, historical architect, presented designs for the renovation of the building, with projected costs to exceed $300,000.