Abilene Public Library and Grace Museum to celebrate past and future of Abilene Heritage Square

Adam Singleton
·3 min read

The community is invited to a special event at the future site of Abilene Heritage Square (AHS), located at 1699 South 1st St., on Monday, April 29 at 4:30PM. Join staff from the Grace Museum, the Abilene Public Library, and members of the site’s foundation, as we celebrate 100 years of learning and education at the future home of your Main Library.

Park outside the fenced area and then join us on the front lawn for a host of activities. Your library will host STEAM fun for youth and families starting at 4:30PM and we’ll be having fun with bubbles. Come make your own and see some special bubble demonstrations too. Plus, the official mascot for AHS will be at the event when the official kick off for the Owl Naming Competition will begin that the whole community may participate in.

Local historian Jay Moore will be in attendance to provide a presentation on the history of the site, as well as where it will progress in the future at 5:15PM, followed by refreshments and photo opportunities with a 1923 Dodge Brothers Touring Car.

Although there will not be a tour of the facility, this will be the first community event offered at this site. The building currently being renovated was constructed in 1923 by architect David S. Castle, as a centrally-located high school on South 1st St to show Abilene’s dedication to public education. The school would later open in 1924, remaining as Abilene High School until the new school was built in 1955.

After the high school was moved, the building became Lincoln Junior High, and then after the integration of schools in Abilene in 1969, black students joined the ranks of white and Hispanic students at the school. In 1986, the building changed names to Lincoln Middle School until it closed in 2007. Remaining vacant ever since, that building has stood for over a century as a center of education and showing the importance of learning in the community.

As we look to the future, new life will be given to this campus and learning will commence again through the introduction of several community organizations to serve the public including a new Spark Science Center from the Grace Museum, a new Main Library facility for the Abilene Public Library, the Stone Owl Institute for student learning, restored auditorium for public use, and much more.

Don’t miss your chance to be a part of the celebration of education at this historic campus once again on Monday, April 29 at 4:30PM. All activities again will be hosted on the front lawn of the campus. In case of bad weather, this event will be relocated to the Grace Museum. Hope to see you there!

Abilene Heritage Square Centennial Celebration Itinerary

  • 4:30 pm – 5:15 pm: STEAM Activity offered by the staff of the Abilene Public Library and The Grace Museum, kick off of the Owl Mascot Naming Competition

  • 5:15 pm: Remembrance of our past & looking toward our future – Jay Moore

  • 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm: Refreshments and photo opportunities with a 1923 Dodge Brothers Touring Car

*The rain plan is to move the event to The Grace Museum’s
Garage at 102 Cypress Street

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