Restoring the Masonic Temple in Grenada 06-24-08

THE CITY OF GRENADA IS IN THE PROCESS OF RESTORING THE MASONIC TEMPLE IN DOWNTOWN GRENADA. THEY PLAN ON USING THE BUILDING AS AN ARTS CENTER. THE MASONIC LODGE BUILT A NEW BUILDING OVER A DECADE AGO AND SOLD THE BUILDING DOWNTOWN TO A MAN FROM OXFORD. THE MAN IN OXFORD HAD PLANS TO TEAR THE BUILDING DOWN. SEVERAL CITY OFFICIALS WANTED TO KEEP THE BUILDING BUT DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO BUY IT.  THEY FINALLY ASKED FORMER ATTORNEY JOHN T. KEETON JR. TO BUY THE BUILDING SO THAT THEY COULD RESTORE IT. KEETON DECIDED TO GIVE 150 THOUSAND DOLLARS TO THE CITY TO BUY THE BUILDING. HE DID IT ONLY UNDER THE CONDITION THAT THE CITY PRESEVE THE TEMPLE AND USE IT AS A HISTORICAL SITE. JOHN T. KEETON, JR., A RETIRED ATTORNEY AND FORMER STATE SENATOR, SAYS, "I'VE LIVED IN GRENADA ALL MY LIFE AND I HAVE A GREAT RECOLLECTION OF DOWNTOWN GRENADA AND HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS. AND A BIG PART OF THAT WAS THE MASONIC LODGE." THE CITY OF GRENADA IS IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING GRANTS TO CONTINUE RESTORING THE BUILDING. SO FAR THEY HAVE FIXED THE ROOF AND AS OF RIGHT NOW THEY ARE SAND BLASTING THE BUILDING AND WATER PROOFING IT. KEETON'S WIFE, MARGARET, SAYS, "ITS A WONDERFUL OLD BUILDING AND I'M JUST GLAD THERE WERE CIVIL MINDED FORWARD PEOPLE IN GRENADA AND I FEEL BLESSED THAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO IT AND THAT WE MADE THE DECISION RATHER QUICKLY" GIRAULT JONES WITH JONES ZANDER ARCHITECTURE IN GRENADA IS THE ARCHITECT. THE BUILDING IS LISTED AS ONE OF THE HISTORIC PLACES IN MISSISSIPPI. EVERY TIME THE CITY WORKS ON IT THEY HAVE TO GET IT APPROVED BY THE STATE. MAYOR BILLY COLLINS SAYS THEY PLAN TO HAVE IT UP AND RUNNING IN A YEAR.