MDAH Board of Trustees Elect 5 Members to Hall of Fame and Award Over $2 Million in Grants

At a special meeting on December 2, the Board of Trustees of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History elected five new members to the Mississippi Hall of Fame and awarded over two million dollars in preservation grants to nineteen projects across the state through the Community Heritage Grant Program, authorized and funded by the Mississippi Legislature.

New Hall of Fame members are physician Arthur Guyton, civil rights leader Fannie Lou Hamer, Judge Lucy Somerville Howorth, writer Walker Percy, and blues legend Muddy Waters.

The Hall of Fame was established in 1902, the department’s first year of existence. Early inductees included U.S. Supreme Court Justice L.Q.C. Lamar, U.S. Senator E.C. Walthall, and president of the Confederacy Jefferson Davis. Now the Hall of Fame contains over 122 distinguished Mississippians, including Gulf Coast ceramicist George Ohr, newspaperman William Hodding Carter II, civil rights hero Medgar Evers, Choctaw chief Pushmataha, and literary giants Eudora Welty and Richard Wright.

The Community Heritage Preservation grant awards are as follows:

Margaret Martin School Preservation Project, Natchez, Adams County—$176,000

For repairs, corrective measures, and preventive maintenance to the school.

West Point Colored High School Rehabilitation, West Point, Clay County—$76,800

For reroofing of the connector wing (four classrooms), auditorium, and the addition of storm windows to stabilize the structure.

Clarksdale Civic Auditorium, Clarksdale, Coahoma County—$350,000

For the full study of the existing facilities, conditions and user needs, along with repair/restoration of currently deteriorated interior and exterior building elements.

Lowry House, Jackson, Hinds County—$134,500

For the rehabilitation of the interior of the Lowry House including electrical work, plumbing installation, high efficiency HVAC system, and floor refinishing for future use by Mississippi Heritage Trust as office and Preservation Resource Center for the state.

M. W. Stringer Grand Lodge, Jackson, Hinds County —$216,000

For restoration of the interior structure due to water damage.

Burns Church, Oxford, Lafayette County —$62,000

For rehabilitation of interior space that will be used for meetings, community events, and exhibition focusing on the African American experience in Oxford.

Lauderdale County Courthouse, Meridian, Lauderdale County —$108,000

For completion of existing facility analysis and master plan of the county-owned buildings in the downtown area.

Soule’ Steam Feed Works, Meridian, Lauderdale County —$75,529

For replacement of aging, leaking roof on the Soule’ Steam Feed Works machine shop and the adjacent Hemmings Building.

Lawrence Civic Center, Monticello, Lawrence County —$50,640

For replacement of 3,042 sq. ft. of wood flooring in the second floor auditorium.

Elizabeth Cottage, Brookhaven, Lincoln County —$113,207

For the creation of a literary writing retreat, costume shop, community meeting space, and small residence for guest artists.

Stephen D. Lee House, Columbus, Lowndes County —$30,400

For the restoration of wood windows, replacement of missing or rotted wood elements, replacement of failing or missing glazing, repainting and installation of wheel chair lift to comply with ADA standards.

Chalmers Institute, Holly Springs, Marshall County —$49,156

For the stabilization of the exterior envelope including the restoration of the doors and windows as well as restoration of the west wall structural failure and interior rehabilitation of wall and ceiling plaster, bead board and wood flooring and floor structure.

Immanuel Church, Winona, Montgomery County —$39,804

For the restoration of the interior plaster, interior wall paint, electrical wiring upgrades throughout and stained glass window restoration at two windows.

Founders Gymnasium, Decatur, Newton County —$80,000

For restoration of the south arcade by removal of the walk through infill.

McComb Fire Station, McComb, Pike County —$199,924

For the rehabilitation of the exterior and interior of the station, including the bricks, doors, eaves, soffits, and other elements of the building.

Greenville Y&MV Railroad Depot, Greenville, Washington County —$108,000

For the rehabilitation of the Greenville Y&MV Railroad Depot.

Doss Building, Eupora, Webster County —$117,000

For roof repair or replacement, demolition of moisture damaged interior finishes, and masonry cleaning and repointing.

Oakes African American Cultural Center, Yazoo City, Yazoo County—$80,400

For the restoration of the Oakes African American Cultural Center.

Pugh Blundell House, Yazoo City, Yazoo County—$79,040

For the stabilization of the building through necessary repairs and preventative maintenance.

The Mississippi Department of Archives and History is the second-oldest state department of archives and history in the United States. The department collects, preserves, and provides access to the archival resources of the state. In addition, the department administers various museums and historic sites, and oversees statewide programs for historic preservation, state and local government records management, and publications. For more information call 601-576-6850.