More visions coming into focus for former MacMurray College campus
Samantha McDaniel Ogletree, Journal Courier
March 4, 2021
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Months after much of the former MacMurray College campus was sold at auction, some of the plans for the closed school are starting to come into focus.Journal-Courier
More plans are in the works for the buildings that were recently sold on the former MacMurray College campus, as the new owners take over responsibility for their purchases.
The MacMurray College Board of Trustees received just over $1.5 million from the auction of the 18 parcels last year following the school’s closing.
Since then, several of the buildings have found purpose for their new owners, while others are being developed or in the process of being discussed for zoning by the Jacksonville City Council.
By Jeremy Coumbes on February 23, 2021 at 6:26pm
A pair of new businesses in Jacksonville may lead to the eventual creation of new forms of liquor licenses.
The Jacksonville City Council approved the first reading of an ordinance that would increase the number of liquor licenses by two for the new Waters Edge Winery on East Morton Avenue and the Cork and Crown Boutique at the corner of Main and College.
Mayor Andy Ezard says the new license for the winery has been in the works for a while now.
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We’re looking at that closely. City Attorney, Beard has been working with local developer Mike Hayes on what he’s been doing as far as the winery and his other building out there. They need two separate liquor licenses because they have two different addresses. Which is disqualified with the state.
2 small colleges were only a mile apart. Only 1 survived.
David Jesse, Detroit Free Press
Published
9:39 pm UTC Feb. 13, 2021
JACKSONVILLE, Ill. – The steeple stretches into the sky, towering above the trees just beginning to show fall colors. Around the chapel are other buildings fronted by columns that stretch two stories up, with ornamental arches and crests atop doorways. These are the halls where students once slept, ate and studied for decade upon decade.
But the steeple of Annie Merner Chapel, like leather seats in an old car parked in the sun, has cracks. The paint on the chapel is peeling. The woodwork needs repair. Students no longer cross the threshold to pray, worship or get married.
By Gary Scott on February 4, 2021 at 6:50am
The new owner of a couple of the more prominent buildings on the former MacMurray College hopes to begin using those facilities this spring.
Mike Hayes owns several buildings on the Mac campus, including Annie Merner Chapel and McClelland Dining Hall.
Hayes says he is working with the owners of a local catering service to use the chapel and dining hall as an ideal wedding setting.
Hayes says he is working with George Hamilton at Hamilton’s to provide catering service at McClelland.
Annie Merner can seat up to 11-hundred people.
Hayes had worked with MacMurray College to help stage maintenance of the buildings.