The recent capital campaign efforts to raise a matching $750,000 fund for a $3 million challenge gift from a donor has paid off for Rust College. The historically Black college is the new owner and landlord of Airliewood, an antebellum former slave plantation estate in Holly Springs.

A few blocks away from the campus, this is no ordinary antebellum home built in 1858, but also where the Union Army commander Gen. Ulysses S. Grant stayed during the Civil War.

At a press conference Dec. 28, 2011, to announce the ownership transfer, Rust College president, Dr. David L. Beckley, said the college will use the property in furthering its academic and community outreach programs. He said the 9.5 acres estate will serve as extension facility of the college, in particular, as annex to the campus Leontyne Price library, to house the various special collections and artifacts, serve as official cultural museum, hospitality center, guest house, and for limited public and community events.

“It creates the opportunity to expand our contribution and involvement in the community; to keep historical sites in Holly Springs, owned by a Holly Springs entity, and for the Holly Springs community and Rust College.” Beckley said funds derived from the use of the property will go to enhance and support the educational programs of students at the college.

According to the donor family, Kathy and Joe Overstreet of Germantown, Memphis, Tenn., Rust College, is considered a worthy beneficiary in the community that will put the $3 million estate property to good use. “We will always have the connection to Holly Springs community ‘cause some of our closest friends are here. We are now part of the history,” said Joe, referring to the linear ownerships of the estate over the decades. The estate up until the transfer to the college has been a private residential home for the Overstreets since 2002 when they purchased the gothic historic house.

On the historical connections of the former plantation property now owned by the college, Beckley highlights the fact that the house is built with slave labor in the cotton fields that generated the money to build the sprawling estate in the 1850s. The other connection is that when General Grant is in Holly Springs, his troops encampment site is located on the present Rust grounds which previously served as slaves auction market during slavery.

In another response to a reporter’s question, Beckley hesitantly agreed that the estate donation to Rust could be inferred as redemption of the past. “Our fore parents labored in the cotton fields that enabled the money to build the place, our fore parents labored to build the place without recognitions. Now one hundred and forty five years later, the estate is now owned by a historically black institution. In a sense, it is redemption,” said Beckley.

Nevertheless the connection with the past, Beckley said this transaction, however, has nothing to do with that. “We want to move forward together with the community, to be a good participant in keeping up historical community here in Holly Springs. There are about forty properties built prior to the civil war to include this house in Holly Springs, and from this day forward, we have become part owners of one of such historical facilities.”

Holly Springs mayor, Andre DeBerry, present at the press event expressed his delight in the transition of ownership. DeBerry said rather than having the property torn down, the transaction is also a great deal for the city as well. “We think it is altogether fitting as one of our major historical properties that is been kept in the city, owned by residents of the city and Rust College.”

According to Dr. Ishmell Edwards, vice president and chief development officer of the college, it is gratifying that the college alumni, friends, and supporters join with Rust in the fundraising process to achieve the goal. “It is a tremendous asset to the institution that will have a long term benefits to the college and the community,” said Edwards.

The Airlewood antebellum addition is the third property owned by the college listed on the National Register of Historical sites, which include the Oakview Mansion and the McCoy Administration buildings on the campus, and the former campus of the Mississippi Industrial College property across from Rust.

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