The New Plight Of Demopolis Citizens

dave · 01-27-2003

With 2003 kicking into gear, the Demopolis has a new problem facing its citizens; what are we going to do with the Old Main Street School? Let’s be real here. If the Council wants to fix the roof, fine. $10,000 to keep the structure alive till it’s adopted wouldn’t be that big a burden on the city. The proposed one million dollar renovation on the other hand, is just ridiculous. The school is in fact a part of Demopolis history. I know folks used to go to school there back before the floors became unsafe to walk on. (Though looking around the building parking must have been a nightmare.) Being from the “Generation X” era, all we can remember of the facility is where you went when you got suspended. The Canebrake Players perform there a few times a year. The Girl Scouts do their thing there a few times a week. Otherwise…

One thing about Demopolis that hasn’t changed is its love of old things. It seems most of the new blood coming up through the school systems move off for careers elsewhere. What we have left are over-the-hill “old-school” folks running the show. Instead of investing in something new for the town, they would rather fix something old. Demopolis is filled with historical landmarks, old slave mansions, and antebellum homes. If you were first to do it in Demopolis, your business will be safe for generations. When the prospect of Demopolis having a new cable service came up years back, the mayor simply signed a 20 year contract with the only one we’ve ever had, effectively shutting out any competitors. When Wal-Mart decided they would build us a Supercenter here, the council opted for a smaller, crap version so Food World wouldn’t be forced to do better or close down.

How will Demopolis ever go forward when it’s constantly chasing the past? If you want to spend a fortune on something, do something for the children of this community. Give kids a place to go besides boat landings and gas station parking lots to hang out. Create scholarships designed to keep the brilliant minds of Demopolis <> Demopolis. There are too many small towns in the Black Belt that never grow. The rich keep there part of the town clean and beautiful, and the poor scoot in where they are allowed to. As far as the Old Main St. School goes, what purpose to keep it other than nostalgia? Knock it down, build up a new structure. Demopolis has 4 very nice schools and one “Academy”; it could live without “the old one”.

coach35 · 01-28-2003

I'm sorry dude I do not feel the same way. Demopolis has destoryed more of the old town than most. Drive to Eutaw, Selma, Greensboro.or even Uniontown. Just take a look at the old houses. We had those at one time. We have knock them down to build a power company office. Knock one down a couple years ago because the owner didn't want it on his lot. You are like the rest of Gen-x. Just want to live for the monent. We must remember the past to keep from reliving it.
There was no better school in town in the early 70's. Mrs. Susan Lott ran a tight ship at that school. We had the best years of our lives there. She made us learn but we had fun doing it.

Brian · 01-28-2003

Remebering the past and keeping around old buildings are two diffrent things. As a whole, Demopolis has rejected progress at every step. Keep the old, worn out stuff instead of moving forward and progressing to better buildings, facilities, ect for future generations. Remembering the Past is great, But it's in the past, those moments are not coming back, and will never be relived again. We have pictures and stories and memories to keep those cherished moments alive, We don't need to hang on to the past by trying to keep old "things" on life support. Look ahead, look at the Younger generation LEAVING Demopolis because it refuses to progress. From an antiquated cable monopoly, Rejecting a brand new state of the art post office, to keeping larger buisnesses from developing stores that would bring untold number of dollars to the town. Demopolis continues to shoot itself in the foot for the sake of old "things".

dave · 01-28-2003

If you look at Greensboro, Selma, Uniontown, etc., you see nothing but typical black belt towns and cities with great growth potential just sitting stagnant. Lets be honest, excuding those few old structures you refer to, most parts of Selma, Eutaw, and Uniontown are too unsafe to drive through, much less live in. It a cycle of spending money on the wrong things.

Bebo · 01-29-2003

What in the hell is going on in Demopolis? Thats right people lets spend millions and fix up all the old buildings in town and lets shut out any new businesses that want to come to Demopolis this is the best way to run the town straight into the ****ter!

dave · 01-29-2003

There is no way Demopolis could come up with a Million to fix that building.

Peacemkr23237 · 01-29-2003

I remember going to that school when it was the Jr High. The building needed serious renovations then and didn't get half of what was needed.
I left Demopolis about 14 years ago and now my main way of keeping up with the city is the oft updated Times site:-) From what I understand there is a hold up of funds for a new higher education building in Demopolis. Seems to me it would make more sense to trash the old building and put a little more effort into educating people there instead of sending them elsewhere to learn how to survive.
It's time to face the facts. The world is changing fast. If Demopolis doesn't learn to change with it, it will fall by the wayside.

LPL · 02-04-2003

I dissagree, what makes demopolis great is that its like your grandmother's house, old and comfortable. Sure we have old buildings that need to come down but that is part of our history. if we tear them down to build a starbucks or burger king it would be a waste. because now a days those businesses come and go so quick that we're left with nothing. i want my kids to walk in front of the same old buildings i walked in front of when i was their age. who needs change? is it so bad to let demopolis be? sure we could turn in tuscaloosa or bham, but what fun would that be? i don't know i just like a small town.

GRACE · 02-04-2003

I COULD SIT HERE AND ARGUE ABOUT THIS ALL DAY, BUT I AM NOT.
IF YOU ARE NOT OPEN FOR CHANGE AND ACCEPT SOME CHANGE DEMOPOLIS WILL DIE OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!