Wechsler celebration this weekend
To celebrate the history of the Wechsler School, the Wechsler Foundation is inviting everyone to a weekend filled with fun and entertainment.
“This weekend represents the celebration and bringing the community together, particularly those who are alumni of the school. It’s somewhat of a homecoming,” said Eugene Boger, a member of the foundation.
The school has historical significance as the first brick public-school building in Mississippi built for African American students using public funds… and this weekend will try to keep that history alive.
“In the City of Meridian, we’ve had several monuments for our community. The Carnegie Library was demolished in 2006. Another building was demolished downtown. This is the only standing building for the African American community that reflects the history of the community is this city,” said Boger.
The weekend kicks off Friday with a play and blues concert, a morning parade on Saturday, and ends Sunday with a gospel concert. Boger said the weekend will also bring attention to the foundation’s restoration efforts of the school.
“The first phase of this project is to repair the roof of the building. The second phase is to repair the electrical on the inside of the building, as well as protect the windows of the building.”
The foundation plans to turn the building into a community center for entertainment performances, meetings, and job training.
“There’s going to be opportunities for after school programs. We want to make this building relevant to the community today and not just a museum or a monument, but it’s going to impact our younger and older members of the community,” said Boger.
To learn more information about the Wechsler celebration this weekend, you can visit the Wechsler Foundation website.
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