Plans underway to convert Old Courthouse into museum

Project expected to take several years to complete

By DONALD WILBURN

donaldfwilburn@gmail.com

Plans are in motion to transform the Bollinger Building, colloquially known as the “Old Courthouse” on Broadway in West Memphis into a new Crittenden County Museum. The project, spearheaded by Main Street West Memphis Director Raymond Whiteside, has been in the works for some time and is now moving forward with signi_cant progress.

In June of 2023, Representative Deborah Furguson, who is credited with getting the ball rolling on the project, contacted the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) about available Brown_eld funding for the inspection and abatement of lead and asbestos in the old courthouse.

See COURTHOUSE, page A3

Lead in the cell bars and asbestos in the walls are currently being removed or isolated.

Photos by Main Street West Memphis COURTHOUSE

From page A1

This funding was secured at no cost to the city, thanks to Rep. Furguson’s efforts. Inspections and preparations took place throughout the fall, winter, and spring of the following year.

On June 19, 2024, staff from Clement Architecture, based in Little Rock, visited the Old Courthouse to _eld measure the building. Subsequent meetings were held with Gary Clement, representatives from ASU Mid-South, KWEM, and the West Memphis Chamber of Commerce to discuss the vision for the museum. Plans include meeting spaces, of_ces, and a possible cafe within the museum. Renderings and cost estimates are expected to be _nalized in the coming weeks.

“This is just the beginning.” said Whiteside, “It will be a long road yet. I don’t want anyone to get their hopes up and think next year they will look up and this will be done. It’s going to take a long time. Many many years.”

Abatement of lead and asbestos in the Old Courthouse began on August 19 and is projected to cost a total of $197,621, with no expense to taxpayers as aforementioned. Whiteside did clarify, however, that a negligible amount will be allocated by the city for the removal of old furniture, computers, and shredding of old _les.

In addition to the museum project, Whiteside provided an update on the restoration and repainting of the historic water tower on Broadway. The designs have been _nalized, and the project will be carried out by Viking Industrial Painting for approximately $50,000, with $25,000 funded by the city and $25,000 funded by an external source. Work on the water tower is set to begin in late fall or early winter, pending optimal weather conditions with cooler temperatures and lower humidity.

Some of the items left behind in the old courthouse raises more questions than answers.

The final design of what the water tower on Broadway will soon look like.