<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3xH6bC_1GvSYTEC00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3xH6bC_1GvSYTEC00" width="1169" height="658" ><figcaption>The front exterior of the Old Stone Fort Museum on Stephen F Austin’s campus. The museum recently celebrated its 90th birthday in October.</figcaption></figure>On Oct. 17, the Stone Fort celebrated its historic 90th birthday. However, per the campus master plan for the university, where the site is located, any future birthday celebrations are currently up in the air.“It’s unknown to me,” said Carolyn Spears, longtime curator of the Stone Fort Museum.Earlier this year, on Feb. 19, the University of Texas System Board of Regents approved a new master plan for Stephen F. Austin State University. The 10 year plan includes new residence halls, an improved Homer Bryce Stadium, an expanded science building, as well as other features. With that expansion, the 90 year old replica appears to be missing from the map.Since, worries have arisen that the historic site will simply be torn down. Students as well as many other supporters in the region have started petitions to save the Stone Fort, or made generous donations in hopes of finding a solution to preserve the museum.The City of Nacogdoches has expressed interest in taking over the Stone Fort, a plan in which the building would be moved to a lot off campus, one closer to the original building’s site from 1779. However, doing so would come with many complications.“You’d have to disassemble it piece by piece,” said Scott Sosebee, executive director of the East Texas Historical Association. “Number those pieces and then put it back together at the site you move it to. That’s a lot of money that I don’t think the city of Nacogdoches has to spend. But this whole talk of moving the building doesn’t do anything with what’s inside the building.”The artifacts, a collection of hundreds of historical items donated by the community, seem to be a primary concern for both Sosebee and Spears.Rotated periodically, the museum contains pieces that provide insight into the life of early Texas, and particularly, Nacogdoches. In addition, the artifacts are often used as a learning tool for those studying history or interested in preservation.“I have donors that are very concerned about what will happen to the artifacts that they entrusted SFA with,” said Spears. “The building and the collection are two different things, and the collections were given to SFA. If there’s a plan, I have not been included, so I have no idea.”Currently, there is no publicly expressed plan in place for the building or its contents.In the meantime, the museum remains open for public visitation during its operating hours and students are encouraged to take advantage of their access for the time being.For Spears, she fears the uncertainty of the building’s future is a sign of something beyond the campus expansion. “It’s a place that has substance, and I fear the substance is being stripped from SFA. And I don’t mean just the museum. I fear there will be a loss of character to the campus.”For more information on the Stone Fort and the campus master plan, visit www.sfasu.edu.</div></body>

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On Oct. 17, the Stone Fort celebrated its historic 90th birthday. However, per the campus master plan for the university, where the site is located, any future birthday celebrations are currently up in the air. “It’s unknown to me,” said Carolyn Spears, longtime curator of the Stone Fort Museum....

University master plan raises questions about Stone Fort's future

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On Oct. 17, the Stone Fort celebrated its historic 90th birthday. However, per the campus master plan for the university, where the site is located, any fu

University master plan raises questions about Stone Fort's future

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