On Dec. 5, 1953, a tornado severely damaged St. Paul Catholic Church and the congregation decided to demolish it and build a new church.  A “Committee of One Hundred,” composed of men and women of the parish, was created as an advisory board to direct the rebuilding of the church and, at the same time, the construction of a new gymnasium at St. Francis Xavier Academy.  The committee set a goal of raising $500,000: $350,000 for the new church and $150,000 for the gym.  Monsignor D. J. O’Beirne, pastor of St. Paul, spoke at the committee’s first meeting, stating that “It’s a big challenge, but we are big and brave enough to meet it.” 

Construction of the church could not begin until 50% of the funds were secured. C. J. O’Neill, chairman of the committee, suggested the funds be raised on a five-year pledge basis. R. C. Wilkerson, a member of the steering committee, reported that a $150,000 disaster loan could be secured from the Small Business Administration (SBA) with terms of 3% and 20 years. He also reported the Knights of Columbus had donated $10,000 and that $20,000 was already in the gymnasium fund.

Architect James Canizaro of Jackson was chosen to design the new cafeteria and by March, the plans were complete. The building would be two-story, concrete frame construction throughout, except the roof which would be steel construction with steel joists. The exterior walls were brick with tile back-up. The roof was to be a 20-year built-up roof with slag and the windows were to be steel. The first floor was designed to contain the kitchen, dining room and toilet facilities that could be used separately from the gymnasium area for parish affairs. Also on this floor were to be the girl’s toilet room, locker room and shower for both visiting teams and the girls of St. Francis. The second floor was to contain showers, locker and toilet rooms for visiting boys and the boys of St. Al and St. Francis, with public toilets and bleachers. There were to be two types of bleachers, one to be built in and to seat 320 persons, and the other a removable type to seat 200 people. The basketball floor was to have two practice courts and one main court. The gym was to have brick interior walls, Northern Maple Flooring on sleepers and exposed painted ceilings.

When the bids were received, the lowest one was $35,000 more than was expected and changes to the initial plans had to be made. In the new plans, the girls’ locker room would be “roughed in,” and there would be only one regular sized basketball court, and no built-in bleachers, only removable. Jordan Construction Company of Jackson was the low bidder at $89,760, which, when added to the other costs, made the total construction cost to be $114,984.20. Grading for the building to be located on the northwest corner of Clay and Adams streets began on August 6, 1954. The steel girders arrived on site Dec. 1, 1954. By May, 1955, the gymnasium was nearing completion and the Sisters of Mercy sent a letter to Monsignor O’Beirne stating that “for a long time we have been trailing a rainbow. At last the pot of gold is almost in sight. As the end of work on our beautiful gymnasium draws near, we feel that it is time to select a name to which it will be designated. In view of the fact that the gym will be open for general use by both of our schools and by the parishioners of St. Paul’s it is our opinion that it should not be called the St. Francis Xavier Gymnasium. Since your foresight and zeal for the welfare of your children, and your constant concern for the best interest of your people have been such great factors in the restoration of this dream. We believe that no more fitting line could be inserted into our ‘Ode to Progress’ than one which would give to this building the name of our progressive Pastor.  We have already conferred with His Excellence, Bishop Gerow, and we have his hearty approval of the idea- in fact, his paternal blessing upon ‘O’Beirne Gymnasium.’ May the lambs of your flock always find a welcome under its roof.”

The building was in limited use by May 1955 and was dedicated on Oct. 2, 1955. Nearly 70 years later, the gymnasium continues to be used for the programs and events of the Southern Cultural Heritage Foundation, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. 

– Nancy Bell, Vicksburg Foundation for Historic Preservation.