09/07/2022
Cheyney University is bringing new purpose to one of its oldest campus buildings—Melrose Cottage. Built in the late 1700s, the cottage will be restored and transformed into a Welcome Center to celebrate the legacy of the nation’s first Historically Black College and University (HBCU).With support from a $500,000 Semiquincentennial Grant from the National Park Service, the university will renovate both the exterior and interior of the historic building. The new Welcome Center will include a gift shop, space for archival exhibits, and house the Admissions office. Staff and students will be trained as guides to share Cheyney’s powerful story with visitors. Melrose Cottage has a deep history, originally home to Quaker landowners who opposed slavery and later serving as the president’s residence. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986 and played a key role during the leadership of Dr. Leslie P. Hill, an influential figure in Cheyney’s evolution. The university also plans to establish a “Friends of Melrose Cottage” fund to help maintain the site long-term. This project is part of a larger national effort to commemorate America’s 250th by preserving important historic places. As President Aaron Walton said, “We want this Welcome Center to be the first stop for every visitor—a space to understand where we’ve come from and where we’re going.”
Learn more at www.cheyney.edu.