Jacksonville, AL – As first reported by The Chanticleer’s Editor-in-Chief, Madeline Ricard, Jacksonville State University (JSU) has announced plans to sell the historic Forney Hall, a building with deep roots in the university’s history. Jerrod Brown, a local historic homeowner and JSU alumnus, recalls the building from his time at the university in the 1990s.
“It was a dorm for married students,” Brown said. “I had friends who stayed there.”
Forney Hall, named after JSU’s fifth president, Jacob Forney IV, was originally constructed in 1927 as an all-male dormitory. In 1930, it transitioned to house married students. However, the building has been vacant since its closure in 2003.
Nearly a century after its creation and two decades after its closing, JSU issued a notice on May 29 indicating that they are accepting sealed bids for the sale of Forney Hall. The bidding process closed on Tuesday, June 18 at 11 a.m.
University Counsel Greg Harley emphasized that JSU aims to sell Forney Hall to a buyer who can restore the building, rather than demolish it. “We want the building to be renovated in a manner that will honor the historical aspects of the building,” Harley said.
This requirement aligns with the Alabama Memorial Preservation Act of 2017, which prohibits the relocation, removal, alteration, renaming, or other disturbance of any monument on public property that has been in place for 40 years or more. The Alabama Historical Commission supports this act, stating its goal to protect significant historical monuments.
Interested bidders were instructed to submit their sealed bids to JSU’s Office of Procurement and Fixed Assets. The chosen bidder must agree to renovate Forney Hall in a way that preserves its historic character and prove they have the necessary funds for the renovation.
Although Forney Hall has been vacant since 2003, it has not been forgotten by the Jacksonville community. Brown nominated Forney Hall to the Places in Peril list in 2015. This list, compiled by the Alabama Trust for Historic Preservation, highlights endangered historic properties across the state.
“There are only a couple buildings left of the original campus of JSU,” Brown noted, stressing the building’s significance. “It’s one of the original buildings.”
Harley mentioned that the decision to sell Forney Hall was made to benefit the campus. “We started giving this hard consideration a year or two ago,” Harley said. “We decided to take action… to enhance campus now.”
Brown hopes that JSU will select a buyer experienced in preserving historic buildings. “They should look for someone… who has a track record of like-minded reservation,” Brown said. “Hopefully they can find someone to put the money into it.”
Forney Hall stands as a testament to JSU’s history, and the university’s commitment to preserving this legacy will play a crucial role in its future. The hope is that the new owner will bring the building back to life while honoring its storied past.
Photo Credit to JSU Chanticleers’s Austin Tackett, Sports Editor
