The annual Oakes Center Banquet returns to the community next month, and organizers will also begin a variety of fundraising efforts to re-open the historic home to the public.
The Yazoo County Fair and Civic League Board of Directors and The Oakes African American Cultural Center will host its Oakes Center Banquet on Saturday, November 5, 2022.
Willye N. Thomas, a member of the Oakes African American Cultural Center Advisory Steering Committee, said the theme for this year’s banquet will be “Hidden History in the Hills of Yazoo.”
“When the home was deeded to the Yazoo County Fair and Civic League, some of the memories include events held at the Oakes House, such as weddings, concerts, book signings, and family reunions,” Thomas said. “Our theme, ‘Hidden History in the Hills of Yazoo,’ fosters a new story of how we are connected as a ‘people.’ We all have a story that connects us to our past and future.”
The Oakes House is filled with a rich history that spans over a century. The Oakes House was home to the Oakes family for 125 years. It began as a one-room structure located on a lot purchased in 1866 by John Oakes, a free man, and his wife, Mary, a former slave, from South Carolina, who settled in the Yazoo area around 1859. That one-room structure eventually grew into a regal two-story home.
The Oakes family moved from South Carolina to Yazoo City in 1853 after John Oakes bought the freedom of his wife Mary and her two children. In 1866, the family purchased a lot with a one-room structure that would remain the home of members of the Oakes family until 1989. By 1930, the one-room structure had grown to the regal two-story home that stands today.
The careful restoration of the Oakes House, which occurred during the 1990s, preserved the uniqueness of the construction and it is now listed on the Mississippi and the National Register of Historic Places. The house has many architectural features that are unusual and remarkably well preserved. The leaded-glass entrance doors, original mantels, chimneys, walls, and stairs are especially interesting. The house stands high on a hill overlooking historic downtown Yazoo City.
A.J. (Gus) Oakes, III, deeded the Oakes family home to the Yazoo County Fair and Civic League in 1990. Mr. Oakes died in 2001.
The Oakes African American Cultural Center’s most impressive exhibit is the home itself, along with the family letters and business papers that span several generations. The historic site stands as a testament to the remarkable 136-year history of the Oakes family and the numerous outstanding contributions of other African Americans to the history and heritage of Yazoo City.
The Oakes House was even featured on Mississippi Roads by Walt Grayson earlier this year.
“This exposure fostered a renewed interest from viewers across the state,” Thomas said. “We, at the Yazoo County Fair and Civic League, are working tirelessly to restore the Oakes House to its original grandeur. The architectural features of the wood craftsmanship, stained glass windows, along with original furniture will be prominently displayed. The Oakes African American Cultural Center will also display historical artifacts donated by local residents, that include quilts, baskets, and African sculptures.”
Organizers are also excited to announce a variety of fundraising efforts. The Mississippi Department of Archives and History Board approved a Community Heritage Preservation Grant to the Yazoo County Fair and Civic League, which required a match of $31,250 that had to be raised by local fundraising efforts. The Yazoo County Fair and Civic League Board of Directors, along with the Oakes Advisory Board, is seeking the continued support from the community as they embark upon an initiative to re-open the Oakes African American Cultural Center by announcing “The Brick Project,” a year-long fundraiser with the goal of raising $100,000 to be used as matching funds for future grants.
This year’s event will be held at the Dr. L. T. Miller/H. A. Scott, Sr. Community Center, 930 Lamar Avenue, at 3:00 p.m. Tickets are available for $20 and can be obtained by contacting Juanita Lear or Willye Thomas at (662) 746-7984. The guest speaker is Mr. John Spann, Program and Outreach Officer for the Mississippi Humanities Council.
