Staff Writer
Cordele Dispatch
Cordele —
CORDELE — St. Paul Gillespie-Selden Rural Life Board of Directors (RLCC) along with the Gillespie-Selden Alumni (GSI) hosted a fundraiser recently for the improvements to the Gillespie-Selden Administration Building located at 601 W. 15th Avenue here.
Once the improvements are complete, the facility will be available to the community as an event venue and will have office space to rent as well as the auditorium.
The fundraiser, dubbed “How to Eat an Elephant” Tea, was well attended. Although it did not boast any actual elephants, it did have plenty of delicious southern tea. It also served as an important milestone for the administration building, as it was the first event open to the public at the facility since the 1980’s.
Fundraiser attendees toured the facility and viewed the work that has been completed to-date. Many were pleasantly surprised by the architectural design and condition of the building, as the Rural Life Board of Directors has worked diligently to restore this building to its original splendor.
A video presentation was delivered outlining the vision, future programs, and phases of the overall renovation of the Gillespie-Selden Administration Building. Stage 1, Phase I of the renovation should be completed by late September.
Although a portion of the renovation is completed, the project is an “elephant” to complete. St. Paul Gillespie-Selden Rural Life needs community cooperation and financial support to help “eat this elephant” a little at a time.
Anyone who would like to own a piece of history may purchase a portion of the original stage curtain, which has been beautifully framed for lasting quality.
For more information or to donate to St. Paul Gillespie-Selden Rural Life Community Center (RLCC), please contact Mary Beal, secretary of RLCC at 276-1501, beal1910@bellsouth.net or Ida Rose Oliver, secretary of GSI, 273-4375.
Donations or inquiries may be mailed to P.O. Box 104, Cordele 31010-0104.
