Well we are past the half way point this week but with plenty more posts to come it’s any reader’s game!
martin seigrist was able to identify the columns of the Lyceum designed by William Nichols on the Ole Miss campus in Oxford. crpiii shared information about when the north and south additions were built. Kathleen Jenkins shared some great information about William Falkner’s time at Ole Miss, and his admiration of the Lyceum. JRGordon picked up extra points with the additional information regarding its National Historic Landmark status due to its association with African American student James Meredith and the racial desegregation of the University of Mississippi in 1962. W. White shared more information about the day Meredith attempt integration.
Lyceum University of Mississippi Oxford, MS c. 1847
JRGordon was able to identify the next post accurately as the Original First Baptist Church in Jackson, and W. White picked up extra points by naming the other buildings the congregation has built over the years.
(Original) First Baptist Church Jackson, MS c.1844
Current Standings
W. White: 7 points
JRGordon: 7 points
martin seigrist: 6 points
Kathleen Jenkins: 2 points
Tom Barnes: 1 point
Susan Allen: 1 point
Levi Weeks: 1 points
crpiii: 1 points
Keep checking in, MissPresser, as you never know where the contest will take us next!
Today’s First Challenge:
Categories: Architectural Research, Contest, Historic Preservation
Preservation in Mississippi 
This looks kind of like Jackson City Hall built, to its current form circa 1855. The architect was Joseph Willis I think. Originally the Masons and Oddfellows had lodge halls on the second floor; tne Masons still do. The elevation usally shown in the paper and on the news is the rear with its portico added circa 1930.
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hmm this response kind of sounds like you were fishing but your information was spot on. 2 points
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?!?!?!?
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Sorry I though you were first also. But the comment filter had held up martin’s answer.
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City Hall, Jackson, MS
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designed by Will Gibbon, designed 1846/completed 1847
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Used as a hospital for Union & Confederate soldiers during the War of Northern Aggression.
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William Gibbons was the architect for the first Jackson City Hall which was demolished c. 1854. The building featured in the contest was designed by Joseph Willis c. 1854.
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Joseph Willis is the architect I’ve always heard is affiliated with the building – and that the completion was 1853 because of difficulties during construction in the 1840s. Willis was involved in renovated the Gov’s Mansion in the 1850’s and he also did the Madison County Courthouse.
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The building’s front faces President Street – this is the side that has the tetrastyle portico with the fluted Doric columns. The rear portico that faces the garden & congress street wasn’t added to the building until 1928 (although my understanding is that is the side that most think is the front).
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On May 13, 1863, Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston arrived in Jackson from Middle Tennessee and ordered the evacuation of the city the next morning under the defense of Brig. Gen. John Gregg – due to the imminent arrival of two Union army corps from Tennessee under Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman and Maj. Gen. James B. McPherson. They had crossed the Mississippi River south of Vicksburg and were intent on cutting the Vicksburg-Jackson railroad connections (the First Battle of Jackson). Jackson mayor Charles Henry Manship surrendered the city to Sherman; there is a debate over whether Sherman spared City Hall from flames because of its use as a hospital or because it housed a Masonic Temple. Sherman oversaw two days of destruction in Jackson before moving on to Bolton, and the Confederates returned to the city and built defensive earthworks (including one along “Fortification” Street that ran through the yard of Manship’s house). After the fall of Vicksburg in July, Sherman returned to clear Confederates from Jackson once again, and a one-week siege of the city ensued (remnants of earthworks for Union encampments remain at University Medical Center and at Millsaps College). More torching of buildings ensued after the city’s surrender.
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Although there is occasionally some confusion about this, Jackson City Hall did not have much civil rights activity, at least not the antebellum structure with the interesting columns. Civil rights protestors were incarcerated in newer city government buildings.
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Oh, since this answer was so successful before, the City of Jackson will be renovating it within the next year or two, depending on the funding situation. (Unlike Lee Hall, this comment isn’t true)
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I just though of all the buildings in the contest Lee Hall might be the one you would be a fountain of information on. If I can’t hold the current reigning Mississippi Preservationist Extraordinar to a higher standard who can I?
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