Preservation of Temple Theater on Broad Street being discussed

By Keri Baldwin

The Temple Theater is a prominent structure on Broad Street in Leland. Sherry Smythe recently approached the Board of Alderpersons at their last meeting to discuss the status of the Temple Theater located in the Historic District of Leland, as the building is currently in despair.

Although Smythe does not own the property, she stated “that the Temple Theater was built in the 1920s and that she would not like to see the building torn down.”

She continued by stating she “had some Mississippi State University architect students that came to Leland to look at old historic buildings to make a recommendation to re-do the building.”

There was a student that took special interest in the Temple Theater and who will be submitting recommendations for renovations and preserving the building’s history.

Smythe also stated, “The professors at Mississippi State stated that the old Temple Theater could be nominated as one of the top 100 buildings in the Historic District and could be eligible for grant money.”