Past, present and future students converged on the WhitworthCollege campus Saturday as the Mississippi School of the Artshosted open house activities for the community.

Many former students from when Whitworth was a women’s collegeor a private school were among a steady stream of visitors Saturdaymorning.

Houston Case, a graduate of Whitworth College in 1936, got hisfirst glimpse of the restored buildings that are now in use as artsschool classrooms. He said he has been watching the arts schooltake shape and the campus transform over the last few years.

“This is the best thing that could happen to it,” Case said.

Others also were glad to see the buildings brought back tolife.

“They did a beautiful job,” said Mary Ellen Case, who attendedWhitworth from 1937-1939.

After 1937, Whitworth became a private school, but the campusgradually began to decline and was abandoned. Case commented on theunsuccessful efforts to keep the campus flourishing.

“It’s been through a lot of changes, but nobody was ever able tokeep it open for long,” Case said. “Hopefully, the state will beable to keep it open.”

Celeste Robbins, who taught piano and music theory at the schoolfrom 1946-49, lived in Enochs Hall during her tenure. She recalledthe deteriorating building conditions.

“The condition of the building was getting bad when I was here,”Robbins said. “Every time the heater came on, it rumbled.”

Walking through Johnson Institute Saturday, Robbins said she was”absolutely amazed.”

Robbins said she was impressed with all aspects of therestoration and the people who handled it. She said the work was”carefully, thoughtfully, and beautifully” done.

Other visitors also admired the transformed campus.

“I think it’s great,” said District 2 Supervisor Bobby J.Watts.

During his visit, Watts when to the top of the eight-storyStudent Life Center. The newest building on campus serves as a dormand activities center for the residential MSA students.

“When I was growing up here, I never thought Brookhaven wouldhave a skyscraper and that I would be looking at the interstatefrom downtown,” said Watts, commenting on the view from an eighthfloor window.

Claire Johnson and her mother Joy, of Wesson, visited the campusduring the morning session. Claire is hoping to be a part of nextyear’s junior class.

“I’ve always wanted to go to a school for the arts,” Clairesaid.

Claire has been dancing since she was three, she said she wouldmajor in vocal music if she attends MSA. Programs for dance,literary arts, media arts and instrumental music will be added infuture years as proposed MSA construction projects arecompleted.

“If they had dance, I would definitely be coming for dance,”Johnson said.

Other potential students and their families visited Saturdayafternoon for tours of the MSA campus and the Brookhaven HighSchool campus. They also received a presentation on the arts schooland had a chance to ask questions of school administrators.

Jennifer Jackson, MSA director of development and publicrelations, did not have a total on the number of people who visitedSaturday. However, she said it was a steady crowd and a busyday.

Throughout the day, current MSA students served as guides andinteracted with visitors while explaining arts school activities.Jackson applauded the students’ efforts.

“They did a wonderful job,” Jackson said.

The next open house for prospective students and families isscheduled for Saturday, Nov. 15.