Let’s jump right in to this week’s news roundup.
From Oxford, there is a story about ongoing efforts to contextualize the Lyceum.
http://thedmonline.com/university-reacts-ongoing-efforts-contextualize-lyceum/
In Meridian there is a story that an extension of the Mississippi Children’s Museum “will be located on the site where an old Sears department store was at 403 22nd Ave. in Meridian.” The Jackson Free Press Article does not elaborate on whether or not the historic Mid-Century Modern Sears will be demolished, remodeled, or restored. You can learn more about this former Sears from this previous MissPres post.
http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/2017/nov/28/mcm-meridian-myles-taco-shop-and-travel-addict-veg/
From Jackson, another week, another story about demolitions as the new definition of progress …
http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/2017/nov/22/crank-it-taking-action-against-blight/
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While at the same time we have stories that building restorations are bringing boom times to downtown…
https://northsidesun.com/front-page-slideshow-news-breaking-news/downtown-jackson-booming
From Hattiesburg we have good news that a group is interested in restoring Eaton School. Not much other information is provided as to the possible project outside of the comment that the group is “interested in investing historic tax credits in it.” Probably this means leveraging the preservation tax credit which Congress is currently debating whether or not to keep (read more about this important issue in yesterday’s post). Despite the good news that the school might be saved, I do take two issues with the article.
Issue #1.”The stucco finish provides the smooth walls expected in buildings of this [Romanesque Revival] style.” FALSE, on two points; first that smooth surfaces are not expected of the style, rough faced masonry can almost be the sole defining character of the style. Secondly, the stucco finish on Eaton School was applied long after the building was built.
Issue #2. City engineer Lamar Rutland vaguely comes across as blaming MDAH, rather than the roofing contractor who did not following plans for the incomplete 2010 roofing project.
No harm, no foul, in either comment. It is just important to set the record straight.
MissPres has covered the long discouraging plight of the Eaton School in several posts:
Eureka School, Sixth Street near Mobile Street (1921) after the February 2013 torando collapsed the right half of the roof.
The other news from Hattiesburg is a nice story about the restored Eureka School. You might remember that the 2013 tornado took off a good portion of the roof. The Building looks to be in good shape these days and now serves as a civil rights museum.
In Biloxi, we have news that the future of Mississippi’s oldest golf course in question. The site of the Great Southern Golf Club could become a housing development if the club that owns the course sells it. An offer has been presented to the stock holders of the club, who have taken it under consideration and will vote whether or not to accept the offer during their January meeting. The Sun Herald article offers up a bit of the course’s history.
The course dates back to 1908 when a nine-hole course designed by Donald Ross, a famed designer of the era, was built at the site for guests at the Great Southern Hotel in downtown Gulfport, according to the club’s website. It sits on land once owned by Confederate States of America President Jefferson Davis. Bert Jones built the original clubhouse and the course was named the Great Southern Golf and Country Club in 1910.
In 1921, the club, then owned by the Stewart family, bought land north of the railroad tracks to expand the course to 18 holes. That expansion, designed by Donald Ross, was finished the next year.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/local/counties/harrison-county/article186785163.html
http://www.wlox.com/story/36967853/future-of-mississippis-oldest-golf-course-in-question
So what is your pick: real or fake tree? Or does your family have a different tradition?
If you know of any preservation-related news items not mentioned, or if you have more information about a story above please let us know in the comments below.
Categories: Building Types, Civil Rights, For Sale, Hattiesburg, Historic Preservation, Jackson, Meridian, Museums, News Roundups, Universities/Colleges
Preservation in Mississippi 
What mid-cen joy that quondam Sears emits!
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We have a similar Sears building here in Decatur where I now reside.
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