It’s hard to believe the end of January is already here. Seems like just yesterday, I was sitting looking at my Christmas tree. Oh, actually, it was just yesterday. Hey, what can I say–I am not bound by the strict rules of the calendar.
Speaking of the calendar, February marks the completion of one year of Preservation in Mississippi. To begin the celebration, we’ll hold our fourth annual Name This Place contest. Be ready for the first photograph to post at 9:00 Monday morning. I trust you will all spend the weekend studying.
Well, what’s been going on around the state while we’ve been reading about the construction of the New Capitol?
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“Historic Meridian theater given new life” sends us good news about the Temple Theater, which has been bought by a new owner who is trying to restore it and has continued its life as a downtown movie theater. I’m trying to think of another active downtown movie house in Mississippi–can’t think of one. Anyone out there know of another? The Temple, built in the mid-1920s, is listed individually on the National Register and was designed by New Orleans architect Emile Weil. I might have to make movie night plans to go to Meridian.
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If you tried to watch the PBS documentary Benjamin Latrobe: America’s First Architect the Monday before last, you probably saw instead Governor Barbour’s State of the State address on MPB. Instead, you can watch it at your leisure (and at a much smaller scale unless you have one of those huge computer screens, in which case, I’m envious) at the PBS website: http://video.pbs.org/video/1386799719/
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“Arlington owner misses deadline” reads the January 23rd Natchez Democrat. If I might, I’d like to take as my own the succinct sentiment expressed by Ben Cole at 12:02 PM:
This long-running story and the many comments illustrate that there’s no cure for stupid.
Amen brother!
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Good news! The American Institute of Architects (AIA) announces that Beauvoir has won an Honor Award for Architecture for its meticulous restoration after massive damage in Hurricane Katrina. Read all about it and see before and after photos of the damage and the restoration at http://www.aia.org/practicing/awards/AIAB082053
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If you’ve been following the ongoing Gulfport Library saga, you remember that back in October 2008, the city removed the Captain Joseph T. Jones monument that had stood in front of the building, facing the beach, but which had been damaged in Hurricane Katrina. Well, as of last week, according to the Sun-Herald, “Capt. Jones stands again“:
At long last, Capt. Joseph T. Jones is home.Co-founder of the city, Jones built what is now the state port. His monument overlooked the port from 1942 until Aug. 29, 2005. Hurricane Katrina toppled the statue, whose marble base was then damaged when movers chipped it apart for storage.
Harrison County has paid for the statue’s restoration, which is being finished on site this weekend. The bronze statue was hoisted back onto its carved marble base Friday morning.
Welcome back, Capt. Jones–we missed you!
Categories: Biloxi, Gulf Coast, Gulfport, Hurricane Katrina, Meridian, Natchez, News Roundups, Theaters
Preservation in Mississippi 
U r 2 b congratulated E.L. 4 a very successful and informative web resource. Thanks 4 all ur efforts. I liked the redo on the foundation due to Yazoo clay by the State House Commission. The foundation must b at least 30 feet below the surface…!?! Wow.
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Congratulations Sir! Here’s to many more years of insightful, informative and, last but not least, entertaining discussion of all things relating to preserving historic Mississippi architecture!
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Well thanks y’all! And thanks even more for your contributions and regular comments–that’s what keeps me going!
Charlie, that was probably my favorite part of this passage too. I remember a couple years ago we were talking with a man who helps maintain school buildings in the Jackson area, and he was saying how back in the 1950s, the architects just didn’t realize there was this Yazoo Clay, but nowadays we knew better and could fix the problems. I had to laugh because that’s the same thing they were saying in the 1950s when they built the schools :-)
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