NATCHEZ — Kingston residents hope to bring back the Kingston Community Center, destroyed by fire last week, better than ever.

County supervisot David Carter, in whose district Kingston is located, said the community has reached out about raising funds to help rebuild the former schoolhouse, which had been recently renovated and served as a community center.

“The community definitely wants to see this building rebuilt,” Carter said. “You need something in the south of the county where people can get together, and that was it.”

Kingston resident Donnie McIlwain was tasked with heading a committee to plan the process moving forward with community input.

“We are going to try to get a group together out in Kingston and let them have a say in it,” Carter said. “I believe in community input.”

McIlwain said the building was important to many people in the community.

“The center was basically the most historical landmark that the Kingston area had,” he said. “As far as most people are concerned, it was the heart of the community, where a lot of weddings and parties took place. Most of our meetings were held there, and it was used by a lot of churches, especially for Easter services.”

McIlwain said one of his goals is to keep the design of the new building consistent with the old school.

“What we are hoping to do is try to keep the historical integrity to the building in tact with a few updates to help make the building a little more efficient,” he said.

The outside might see some improvements. Carter said he would like to see a pavilion placed on the site along with a playground for children.

To rebuild the structure with improvements, McIlwain projects it will cost between $150,000 and $180,000. Insurance is expected to provide approximately $92,000 for the loss of the old structure, Carter said, and the rest would have to be gained through fundraising.

The county was alerted to a possible Mississippi Department of Archives and History grant that could pay out up to $200,000 for structures on the National Register of Historic Places. The county had begun the paperwork to get the building listed on the National Register before the fire, but the application had not been completed.

However, Lynette Smith, a grant writer for Southwest Mississippi Planning and Development, said Friday because the building was a complete loss, it would not be eligible for the grant.

“I will go back and talk to them some more,” Carter said. “I’m not going to give up just yet.”

McIlwain said he would appreciate any contractors, plumbers or electricians who would be willing to reduce costs during the rebuild.

Carter said he has been encouraged in the response from the community and is glad to see people willing to help monetarily or with raising funds.

“I appreciate everyone reaching out and wanting to see it reestablished,” he said. “We plan to do that.”

For more information, contact Carter at 601-597-4717 or McIlwain at 601-807-0955. McIlwaincan also be contacted ny text message and asked that people send their name and their inquiry via text for a quicker response.