But, reading the Times Daily today has provided some encouragement for hope for Sheffield. The paper announced plans for a Riverside Resort that would be located out by the road to the Village that would include a Jack Nicklaus Golf course, Resort, Marina and Shopping area. There is beautiful land out along the river here and this would make a great facility that would be great for the city of Sheffield. The area would also include development on the other side of Spring Creek and would include using Sheffield’s Park West that has been closed for several years.
Also in the paper was more encouraging news about developments in Sheffield recently. Mayor Billy Don Anderson, husband of Elizabeth Brown (class of 59) has announced plans to remove dilapidated properties, both commercial and residential, in the city and has already demolished a half-dozen homes. Another project is to funnel 2nd street traffic back into downtown Sheffield instead of by-passing it as has been done for many years.
The area around the Ritz Theater on Third Street has received a grant for improvements and the theater itself will be renovated as part of the project. The Ritz Theater has served recently as home for local play performances. Mary Settle Wright Cooney (Class of 1960) has faithfully served to make the Ritz an important part of Sheffield.
Other positives include: a new medical complex is being constructed near the Keller Hospital on land inside Sheffield City Limits; Sheffield restaurants with proper licenses can sell draft beer anytime and alcohol on Sundays (what a difference since we grew up in a “dry” county); and Sheffield voters are supporting education with a new 5-mill property tax to support city schools.
Again, the Class of 57 should be proud of the $3,700 it donated for city schools.
Sheffield may never be the same as we knew it. In fact, today’s population at 9,200 is less than when we were in school, but maybe there is some hope for our old “home town”.
Frank V.