Zion Chapel donates property for Hiram Rhodes Revels Plaza

By Roscoe Barnes, III, Visit Natchez
Natchez, MS, USA / ListenUpYall.com
Jan. 27, 2024 | 10:28 a.m.

A rendering: The City of Natchez is working to develop a portion of the M.L.K. Triangle into a community park that will be called Hiram Rhodes Revels Plaza. This rendering shows the planned statue of Hiram R. Revels, who became the first African American to serve in either house of the U.S. Congress.

NATCHEZ, Miss. – Officials of Zion Chapel A.M.E. Church donated a portion of the church’s M.L.K. Triangle property to the City of Natchez in a special ceremony Thursday, Jan. 25, at the church. The property will be dedicated to the memory of the late Rev. Hiram Rhodes Revels, an early pastor of Zion Chapel who became the first African American to serve in either house of the U.S. Congress. He was also the first president of Alcorn State University.

Zion Chapel A.M.E. Church officially donated a portion of its M.L.K. Triangle property to the City of Natchez on Thursday, Jan. 25, at the church. The church officials and Mayor Dan Gibson signed the required papers for the donation during a special ceremony. The property will be used for the Hiram Rhodes Revels Plaza. From left are Rev. Birdon Mitchell, pastor; Norma West, trustee pro tempore; LeVera Allen, secretary for the Trustee Board; Herman Sidney Ransom, trustee; Ernest Tony Fields, trustee; and Gibson.

Pastor Birdon Mitchell and members of the church board of trustees joined Mayor Dan Gibson in signing the property over to the city. Mitchell and Gibson were joined by Norma West, trustee pro tempore; LeVera Allen, secretary for the Trustee Board; Herman Sidney Ransom, trustee; and Ernest Tony Fields, trustee.

West presented the official offer of the property on behalf of the church and its trustee board.

Norma West, trustee pro tempore at Zion Chapel A.M.E. Church, signs legal documents to transfer a portion of the M.L.K. Triangle property to the City of Natchez. She is pictured here with the Rev. Birdon Mitchell, left, pastor; LeVera Allen, secretary for the Trustee Board; and Herman Sidney Ransom, trustee.

“We consider it an honor to give this gift, a portion of the Martin Luther King Jr. Triangle property, to the city of Natchez for the purpose of creating a community park in honor of Hiram Revels to be called Revels Plaza,” she said, noting the park will be “a place that our community and city will be proud of.”

Mitchell said he was thankful for the opportunity to honor Revels. He expressed gratitude to the church and to the city.

“Our bishop and board of trustee for the Mississippi conference are all on board with this, and they voted unanimously that we could do this along with the city,” he said. “I think this is a new day for Revel’s Plaza.

The donated property is located at N. Dr. M.L. King and St. Catherine streets. It is across the street from the church, which is at 228 N. Dr. M.L. King. Though currently known as “The M.L.K. Triangle,” the new and improved site will be called “Hiram Rhodes Revels Plaza.”

Mayor Dan Gibson, right, signs legal documents to transfer a portion of the M.L.K. Triangle property to the City of Natchez. He is pictured here with Ernest Tony Fields, trustee at Zion Chapel A.M.E. Church. The property will be used for the community park, Hiram Rhodes Revels Plaza.

According to Gibson, it will be a” future city park at the gateway to Historic Downtown Natchez.”

The white two-story, historical building that sits on the west side of the property, will remain under the ownership of the church, according to church officials. The building houses Don’s Barber Style Shop on the first floor. It is owned by Don Gordon, who attended the ceremony at Zion Chapel.

According to Gibson, Gordon is one of many who supported the project from the very beginning, “even though it could affect the parking for his barbershop.” Gibson assured everyone that Gordon’s business will not be leaving.

“Don Gordon is not going anywhere,” he said. “He’s going to continue giving haircuts. The church is holding on to that building because Don’s barbershop has to continue.

“But just in front of that barbershop, Revel’s Plaza will now take shape. They may not have mention of Revels in Washington, D.C., yet, but we will have a major park dedicated to him right here at the front door of this church.”

Transferring the church property to the city is similar to how property was deeded to the city by the heirs of Stephen Duncan for what is now Duncan Park, Gibson explained.

“Just as with Duncan Park, the city can never sell this piece of property,” he said. “The property has to be used for the good of the people as a park honoring Hiram Revels. And if at any time the city goes back on that agreement, then this property will revert back to the church.”

The park will include a statute of Revels. The planned development of the site is part of the city’s official 2018 Downtown Master Plan, which was initiated to help revitalize the historic downtown area.

Several groups have been working on the project since 2018. They include Downtown Natchez Alliance and Natchez Friends of the Riverfront.

Mitchell thanked Chesney Doyle who was instrumental in organizing the city’s downtown master plan effort.

Speaking after the ceremony, Doyle said there were many who played a role in the city’s master plan.

“The visioning process for what ultimately became the city’s downtown master plan began in 2015 with a group of about 25 people, some of whom are here tonight,” she said as she noted the attendance of Darrell White, Alderwoman Sarah Smith, Monroe Sago, and Eddie Burkes, among others.

“It was under Mayor Butch Brown’s administration, after a motion and a second made by former city Alderman Tony Fields and Alderwoman Smith that we got the unanimous greenlight to proceed,” Doyle said.

“Sometimes sustainable development, growth, and change is a marathon, not a sprint, and always, always it must involve community engagement. The marathon is not over yet, but thanks to Mayor Gibson and the current city Board of Aldermen – I see Ben Davis, Felicia Irving, and Valencia Hall  here tonight — the finish line for Revels Plaza is truly in sight!”

See more here: https://listenupyall.com/2024/01/27/zion-chapel-donates-property-for-hiram-rhodes-revels-plaza/