Murphy – The Cherokee County Historical Museum will be given room to grow following a decision by the town council to divide space inside the old Murphy Police Department downtown headquarters.
The space, located on the street level of the former Carnegie Library on Peachtree Street, became available when the police department moved into a newly renovated headquarters building on Hill Street in 2024.
At its Feb. 3 meeting, the town council voted to allow the museum to occupy the majority of the old police station except the former conference room, evidence locker and storage room, all accessible behind the building.
“This plan balances the town’s needs while still providing the museum with ample space to grow,” Mayor Tim Radford said. “I expect the museum will be pleased with this generous allocation and the opportunity to expand their presence in the community.”
In a letter to the council, Director Terrisa Carringer said the museum hoped to move the main entrance to the previous police department entrance to avoid using the front steps. Officials also would move retail sales of books, jewelry, pottery, etc., to the bottom level at that new entrance.
“We would like to make on area for a Research Room for those doing genealogy,” according to the memo.
Other spaces would be used for storage and overstocked retail items, allowing the museum to vacate a storage unit it pays $85 per month to rent. The added space would also enable more room for Native American displays and exhibits.
Space the town will keep will maintain secure storage for the police department downstairs, provide a dedicated space for the town to relocate and securely store contents from the filing room and map room, provide a secure the entrance to the stairwell leading to Murphy Electric Power Board’s storage downstairs, and allow town staff to access these spaces independently through the rear entrance, without interfering with or walking through the museum’s designated area.