Where Are They Now?

Newsweek DrliSC III 22 Nov 71 WHERE ARE THEY NOW? The Depository's Fate "Old Red," the massive brick building at 411 Elm Street on the western edge of downtown Dallas, is locked and barred these days and festooned with "No Tres- passing" signs. The notorious sixth floor is completely empty, save for a stack or two of bricks that scavengers have pried out of the ledge beneath the window from Which, eight years ago next Mon- day, Lee Harvey Oswald fired the shots that killed President John F. Kennedy. But even now, as many as 4,000 people AP come each day to gaze in awe at the Depository in 1962 and path of Oswald's shots at JFK Texas School Book Depository. And once again the 68-year-old building is em- broiled in controversy. In the surreal aftermath of the assas- sination, officials in the shocked and sad- dened city were understandably reluc- tant to deal with various suggestions for the depository's future. Some citizens in- sisted that the building should be turned into a Kennedy memorial or museum, but others felt just as strongly that it should be torn down altogether. Thus, for years the only official commemoration of the tragedy was a pair of engraved marble slabs in Dealey Plaza, directly acro, street from the depository. Evenh. iy, a JFK memorial cenotaph, designed by architect Philip Johnson, Clint Grant was erected some 200 yards away from `Old Red' today: Unofficial shrine Mayhew at the sixth-floor window the depository. Shortly before that, how- belong to anybody but the people of street to buy a memento or two—a JFK ever, the building's owner, a Texas oil- Texas," he asserts. "They could have one ashtray, perhaps, or a cigarette lighter. man named D. Harold Byrd, put the of the great museums of the world." Al- Others intently pace around the deposi- depository up for sale. though he is less emphatic about what tory, taking innumerable snapshots and Bitter Battle: Just after the assassina- the museum would contain, McKool does plaintively asking bystanders if there is tion, Byrd reportedly had been offered suggest that, among other things, "the any way to get inside. Even if they could more than $1 million for the building. U.S. Government has many items, such enter the building, however, many of the But last year, in a dramatic indication as the death weapons, that it would of the extent to which local interest in probably be willing to give." the depository had waned, the building Complicating the situation even more, was purchased for the remarkably low a nine-man commission appointed by the price of $650,000—and by an outsider at State of Texas to explore various possi- that. The new owner, 43-year-old Au- bilities for a Kennedy memorial now brey Mayhew, is a flamboyant recording- seems far more interested in the deposi- company executive and Kennedy buff tory's site than in the building itself. from Nashville, Term. MayheW said he "The building isn't in very good condi- had no idea what he would do with the tion," contends Raymond D. Nasher, the depository, and suddenly worried Dal- prominent Dallas cultural leader who is lasite-5 began to manifest an interest in chairman of the commission. "If you the building. Today, a bitter battle is could create something on the site that festering over the depository's fate. would help the people of this area, it Mayhew has recently hired a Dallas would be much more meaningful than architectural firm to remodel the deposi- just keeping that red brick building." tory, and he is openly seeking financial Determined Resistance: For his part, support to move his formidable collection Mayhew is determined to resist any at- of Kennedy memorabilia from Nashville tempt to wrest the building from his C lint Grant to Dallas. "What I want," he says, "is a grasp. In fact, since a lengthy legal and Official Kennedy memorial tasteful, meaningful museum and li- legislative struggle would precede any brary." What feisty Texas State Sen. state take-over, many observers are con- tourists would be bitterly disappointed. Mike McKool wants in the depository, vinced that Mayhew will forge ahead For since 1963, the trees between the however, is a state-owned and -operated with his own plans and some day present depository and .the spot where President museum. Fully aware of the enormous Dallas with a fait accompli. Kennedy was killed have grown so bushy income potential represented by the con- In the meantime, thousands of visitors that, today, 0/swald could not even see tinuing fascination the building, holds for continue to descend upon the depository that part of the motorcade route from tourists, MeKool is waging a determined every day. Some of them wander over the sixth-floor window where he waited campaign. "The depository should not to the gaudy concession stand across the fatefully with his mail-order rifle:- .

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