A few days ago I made the incredibly long trip up to the Far North, to Union and Tippah Counties and Holly Springs. When you have to make such a trip, you’re always torn between scheduling as much as possible so as to make it all worth it and  just getting there and back at a decent hour. The day was gloomy, and gusty winds kept my hand tight on the steering wheel–certainly not the pleasant weather I had on my trip to Columbus last week. I left at 7 AM (ok, I admit it was closer to 7:15. Well, 7:20ish, if you insist) and didn’t get home until close to midnight–a looong and tiring day.

I saw lots of interesting sites along the way up, though–an abandoned dogtrot I had surveyed a few years ago, the downtown historic district in New Albany, the historic district in Ripley, a few old schools, and of course the amazing Holly Springs.

I was happy to see lots of activity in downtown New Albany and on the courthouse square in Holly Springs–a few vacancies, but not many. One man asked me how much I would pay him for permission to take a picture of his building on the square: I laughed; he didn’t. I made sure to continue smiling as I walked away. Taking pictures of old buildings always brings you into contact with . . . interesting people.

Here is some of what I saw:

Union County Courthouse (1909, H.E. Ostling, archt.). Usually it’s almost impossible to get a decent picture of this building because you’re facing the south, so the gloominess worked in my favor and actually brought out some of the details.

Categories: "To . . . and Back", Cool Old Places, Courthouses, Historic Preservation, Holly Springs, Schools