Tuscaloosa Moves Forward On $44K In Improvements For Murphy African-American Museum​

TUSCALOOSA, AL — With February being Black History Month, it made it all the more appropriate on Tuesday when the Tuscaloosa City Council's Finance Committee voted unanimously to move forward on $44,000 in funding for much-needed improvements to the historic Murphy-Collins House, which is home to the Murphy African-American Museum.

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District 1 Councilor Matthew Wilson told Patch on Tuesday that the repairs will consist of a complete roof replacement, in addition to repainting the entire exterior of the house. He went on to say the colors would remain the same, in order to maintain its historical context.

"The house suffered water intrusion in various parts of the house, therefore parts such as the walls will be plastered, as well as working to stop the water intrusion of course," he said.

The home is owned and maintained by the Tuscaloosa County Preservation Society and is located at the intersection of Paul W. Bryant Drive and Lurleen B. Wallace Boulevard. The Preservation Society operates and maintains five historical landmarks across the city of Tuscaloosa, including the Jemison-Van de Graaff Mansion, the Old Tavern, The Battle-Friedman House and the McGuire-Strickland House.

The Murphy-Collins House is a two-story craftsman bungalow that was once home to Tuscaloosa’s first Black licensed mortician Will J. Murphy. It was built in the 1920s as his private residence, in-part with materials — such as bricks and window sills — from the old Alabama state capitol building a few blocks away after it burned down in 1923.

Click here to take a virtual tour of the property.

The funding for the improvements at the museum will come solely from the city's Facilities Renewal Fund, thanks to a surplus carried over from the prior year's Federal Programs Department operating budget.

City of Tuscaloosa Chief Financial Officer Carly Standridge said while the city's finance team did consider allocating money from Elevate Tuscaloosa funding, it was decided to keep the full $44,000 coming from one funding source. When talks of the funding began, officials initially looked to supplement $27,000 already set aside.

"Just talking to staff, one of the best things is to keep it altogether in the Facilities Renewal Fund," she said. "$17,000 is not going to make or break that fund and it is a lot easier for staff to track a project when it's all kept together in the same funding source. Especially when it's going to be going to an outside agency."

After the measure received a favorable recommendation from the Finance Committee, Standridge said the city's finance team will create an agency funding contract for the allotted amount that will then be sent to the full City Council for consideration.

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