A Hattiesburg woman is converting the historic drugstore on Walnut Street into an art gallery

HATTIESBURG, Miss. (WDAM) – Kelly White is taking steps to revitalize a historic pharmacy in downtown Hattiesburg.

The two-story building that formerly housed the Walnut Street Drugstore was built around 1915.

For many years, the family-owned pharmacy was open from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m

“If you didn’t have money for medicine, they would trade it for eggs and other necessities,” White said.

But in the last 20 years that White has been in the Hub City, the building has sat largely abandoned.

Until White made the decision to buy it in late October.

She said she plans to reopen the building, not as a pharmacy, but as an art gallery.

“She works very closely with the preservation society,” says realtor Kelleigh Touchstone-Cleveland. “I knew she would do the right thing with this building, that she would value its historic integrity and really work on it.”

Most of the work on the building has been completed and it is planned that an architect will complete the facade.

Most of the gallery pieces were crafted by local artist Andrea Kostyal.

“I’m excited to share my friends’ art and open this building that was a mystery to Hattiesburg so people can see the rich history that was empty and veiled by curtains,” White said.

White said her ultimate goal is to make the gallery a permanent fixture in the area.

The gallery is just one of several downtown buildings that White believes has the potential for revitalization.

“I hope and wish that it's something like the Lucky Rabbit, that they come down and enjoy the experience and are happy to be in downtown Hattiesburg,” White said.

White said she expects the gallery to be open for business in January.

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