DUBLIN, Ga. — After a renovation done by the city, the historic Emery Thomas Auditorium in Dublin is open once again.
The building was used for a 4-H Club during segregation when African Americans weren't welcomed in many public places.
Now, the city hopes people walk through the auditorium's doors and remember that chapter in Dublin's history.
"This facility has served a great purpose in our community," Councilmember-at-large Tess Godfrey said.
In fact, Godfrey said it was one of the first projects she, the mayor and other councilmembers wanted to tackle when they were elected about two years ago.
She said in the 1980s, it used to host talent shows and the city wants to host events like that again there.
"To show the young kids that you could do something besides video games. You can show your talent, and you can show it right here," Godfrey said.
Former Dublin Mayor Julie Driger worked with Emery Thomas, who was Dublin's first African American council member.
Thomas helped organize the 4-H Center when African Americans weren't allowed into all public spaces.
"All of this was in the Black community, and this — the 4-H Club — was the only one here in the state of Georgia," Thomas said.
Because it was the only 4-H for African Americans, people traveled to Dublin from all over the state.
Today, the only thing left from the camp is the auditorium building. It's been developed with a golf course, which the City of Dublin owns.
But Driger said despite the changes, the history of the land still draws people from all over.
"We have so many people today, Black and white, coming from various other cities, counties to play at this golf course," Driger said.
The City of Dublin consulted Thomas's family members in the renovation process, to honor his story.
"We thought [it] was very thoughtful of them to let us participate in such an important decision," Tonay Berry, Thomas's granddaughter, said.
She thinks he would be speechless to see the city keep the history of the building alive after all these years.
"He would be so ecstatic because he loved Dublin," Berry said. "He wanted to make sure that when the 4-H camp closed, that it wouldn't be lost and forgotten. And it could be something that the community and the state could use."
She hopes people continue to use the space because she said it's important people don't forget their history.
"So that no one will be lost and left behind, and can remember. So that we could pass it on to let everyone in the community know, and everyone who passes through Dublin, know the historical value that was once here during the time of segregation," Berry said.
In 2022, the auditorium was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
The City of Dublin plans to use the space for programs and rent it out for private events.
To book events, you can contact the city.