A Carnegie Library building recently acquired by Danville Area Community College from the Veterans Administration now has a new name. During a dedication ceremony today (Thursday) the building was officially named the Alice Marie Jacobs Hall Carnegie Library.
Local philanthropist Julius W. Hegeler II had requested that the past college president’s name be placed on the building. Hegeler, who was present for the ceremony, is giving the college a $2-million dollar planned gift that will be used to renovate the building so that it can be turned into a fine arts center.
Current DACC President Stephen Nacco called it a great day for the college. ‘’This is one of the milestone events in our seventy-one year history. And we look forward to many, many years of our students and staff and faculty enjoying this building as part of our performing arts, and visual arts, and dramatic arts, and musical arts. This will be a center for all of that for clubs and for academic programs,’’ said President Nacco.
As for a timetable for completing the renovation work, Dr. Nacco says that is yet to be determined. ‘’Well, we’re going to work that out – the Board of Trustees overseeing it. We see there’s two phases. One is renovation so that we can get beneficial use. The second part will be more enhancements – so there will be two phases. The first phase,’’ added the DACC President, ‘’we’ll get it so that we can start using it for things like a dance studio, for Black Box theatre, for classrooms, for any musical bands and practices and things like that – that will be the first phase.’’
Former President Jacobs, DACC Foundation members, along with current and past DACC Board members and staff were among those on hand for the dedication ceremony. The current DACC Board of Trustees actually met in the middle of the ceremony and voted in favor of naming the building after former President Alice Marie Jacobs.
