The Alpha Center’s history dates back to 1910 when it was founded as the first school for Black students in McComb, according to Mayor Quordiniah Lockley, who led the effort in getting the new facelift for the center located at 414 McComb St.
“It was an old wooden frame building back then. But at some point during the 1950s, that school was torn down and the current structure was built and was named the Universal School,” Lockley said.
Initially, that school went from first to eighth grades but it soon expanded to include the Pike County Agricultural School. In the 1960s, however, the Universal School moved to a new location and left the old building vacant. And at that time it was owned by the McComb Public School System,” Lockley said.
“In 1961, under the leadership of Mrs. Frankie Bethea, the building was leased out again, this time to her organization called The Community Development Club,” Lockley said. “It was she who actually renamed it as the Alpha Center. They proceeded to run the building as a community center, where it was used for various events like weddings, dances and other social gatherings. It was very popular.”
After her passing, the center was left to the oversight of a committee in McComb and the library stayed in place.
“In 2019 however, it was discovered that, based on the original wording of the building’s deed, the Alpha Center still belonged to the McComb School System,” Lockley said.
It was around the time of this discovery that former Selectman Shawn Williams, who was representing Ward 4 where The Alpha Center is located, decided on a goal of revitalizing the center and began initiating the process, Lockley said.
“He came to me for assistance, and I agreed to help. The first thing I did was have Dr. Cedrick Ellis of our public school system tour the building to see if it had been properly maintained. And it had not been.” Lockley proceeded to ask Ellis for the McComb School System to give the building to the city at no cost, which it did.
The Pike-Amite-Walthall Library System had a satellite facility/library in the building and Pike County was paying the property’s overseer $900 a month for maintenance, general upkeep and utilities.
“I asked Chuck Lambert, who was a member of the Pike County Board of Supervisors at the time, to assist us with upgrading, or totally renovating, the center,” Lockley said. “The board agreed to give the city a five-year advance on the $900 monthly maintenance cost and we took the resulting $54,000 and repaired the roof. But much more work needed to be done.”
When federal American Rescue Plan Act money arrived, Lockley requested using $1.2 million of the city’s $3.2 million share to pay for “quality of life” projects, including renovating the Alpha Center, and the city board devoted $200,000 to the project.
“That, in highly condensed form, is how we began the whole renovation process,” lockley said.
The new Alpha Center has upgraded bathrooms, a new roof, central heating and air, a bigger parking lot with lights, as well as many additional upgrades.
“It’s an impressive transformation, and something the community and the tenants can certainly be proud of,” Lockley said. “The center can be used once again for various social events as it was in the past, and the library is returning with its inventory of books, as well as 10 new computers and other modern amenities.”
The Alpha Center also houses the Brenda Travis Historical Education Foundation, named after the well-known civil rights activist born in McComb and now living in California.
“Brenda is currently dealing with an illness, but I understand that she is preparing to have all of her historical papers, documents and collections moved here to the center,” Lockley said.
The NAACP’s branch office in McComb also has an office in the center.
Mamie Manning Kettle, who has been the president of the McComb NAACP since 2019, said she is ecstatic about the new offices for the organization and the renovations to the center.
“This has been a longtime dream come true, not only for me, but also for the kids and their parents who will be coming back when the library reopens, the members of the community, as well as for Ms. Travis’ foundation,” she said. “The McComb NAACP is certainly glad to be back home in the center. We do so much more for the community than I think we’re usually known for and now we can operate out of an office and building that we’re very proud of.”
The architect for the project was Steve Cox of McComb and the contractors were Twin Construction of Pass Christian, M&P Construction of Richland and Smith Heating of Brookhaven.
The Alpha Center is being run and managed under the auspices of the McComb Recreation Department. Department director Joyce Smith said the city board is expected to approved new rental fees this month.
“The library should be totally moved in by late October, or early November, and open during the regular hours they will set. Michele Brister will also be returning as the head librarian,” Smith said.
“The new and improved Alpha Center means so much to this part of McComb,” Lockley said. “You have to remember that, at one time, this was the place to meet and get together, have weddings, dances, baby showers and many other memorable activities, so it’s no understatement to say that, with the renovations and upgrades now completed, this center can again be what it once was to the community. And I can tell you people in the area feel good about it.”
