Key Park

Key Park. . James Henderson Key (1863-1946) and Meredith Jane Roark (1869-1962) were married in 1886. Sometime after their marriage, they came into possession of the parcel of land that is now located at 208 Church Street., Meredith Jane was the great-granddaughter of John B. Johnston (1789-1848) and Mary (Gresham) Johnston (1801-1865). The Johnstons being the former landowners and early settlers of Lafayette and Macon County. The Keys raised their two daughters, Lassie Lynn (Key) East (1887-1960) and Delia Diana (Key) Beasley Jackson (1889-1975) in this home., After Meredith Jane's death in 1962, Delia and her daughter, Virginia Key Gresham Beasley (1907-1966) came into possession of this land. Virginia's wish was that the land and the original Johnston cabin, which had been relocated to the back of the property, could be given to the city of Lafayette and used as a park to benefit the community., Due to Virginia's untimely death in 1966, her wishes fell to her mother Delia to fulfill. At Della Jackson's death in 1975, she stated in her will, that it was her "wish and desire that four acres of land be converted into a public park, to be known and named the "Key Park" to be owned by the City of Lafayette for the use, pleasure, and recreation of its citizens and the citizens of Macon County for all times to come." She also bequeathed funds for the establishment of the park and to provide amenities., In 2004, the city purchased two additional acres of land adjoining the park from the heirs of Mary Judith (Parker) Reagan (1925-2003), thus allowing more area to host larger events for the community. , Research by the Macon County Historical Society , Funded by Dr. Delroy Hire, lifetime member of the Historical Society.