The defunct river town of Rodney, Mississippi is one of our favorite places here on MissPres, and while it has continued to decline over the last several years, at the same time, a group of other people interested and willing to get involved has formed around the Facebook group “Rodney, Mississippi Remembering” to research Rodney’s history and try to save some of the few remaining structures located in the Rodney Historic District.
Last November, we found out that the photogenic but declining Rodney Presbyterian Church had been put up for sale by the longtime owners, the United Daughters of the Confederacy, who could no longer maintain the remote building, constructed in 1829. That spurred the informal Facebook group to start organizing more formally; they formed a board and have now announced the exciting news that they’ve achieved 510c(3) status as a non-profit organization. The new Rodney History & Preservation Society also has a new website: https://rodneyhistory.org/
RODNEY HISTORY & PRESERVATION SOCIETY
PO BOX 312 LORMAN, MS 39096
rodneyhistorypreservation@gmail.com
https://rodneyhistory.orgPreserving Rodney History; accomplished by education, preservation and advocacy.
Our Mission: Dedicated to fostering partnerships and educational opportunities that will enhance, preserve and promote the heritage of Rodney, Mississippi for today and future generations.
The newly formed Rodney History & Preservation Society is a 501c3 non profit that is now ready to help preserve the history of Rodney, MS. The catalyst for the formation of the non profit related to the structural decline of Rodney Presbyterian church and its needs for a new non profit to address the emergency structural support that the current owners can not provide.
Fundraising has begun so as to be prepared to begin the structural work should a transfer of the church property to Rodney History and Preservation Society take place.
We hope to enter in to discussions with United Daughters of the Confederacy, MS Chapter soon. A donor has committed to us $31,000 in matching funds per $1000 raised with restrictions one being that the church is under the ownership of Rodney Historical and Preservation Society.
What happens if we can’t obtain the church? We certainly hope this won’t be the case, however, please note our mission statement above. Funds will be used to help elsewhere within Rodney along with educational outreach.
Rodney is fading fast. Your donation is appreciated. If you include your email address with your donation you will receive a quarterly newsletter, The Rodney Telegraph, full of society updates, history, and more. First edition June 2018.
If you’ve been keeping up with the weather lately, you know that Mississippi and many points north have gotten a lot of rain in the last month (I logged 15 inches in the span of 10 days in early March). All that water eventually finds its way to the Mississippi River, and when that happens, Rodney tends to get inundated. Rodney had a major flood in 2011, and then again in 2016, and now from pictures on the Rodney Facebook page it appears that as of late last week, the water was inside the Baptist church, which is lower than the Presbyterian church, had risen at least to the bottom of the windows, and pews were floating (again).
If you’re interested in saving what remains of this almost-mystic Mississippi town, visit the new Rodney History & Preservation Society website and consider joining and donating your time and/or money to this important cause.
More about Rodney . . .
Categories: Historic Preservation, Preservation People/Events, Rodney
Preservation in Mississippi 
Ashleigh’s photograph with the reflection of the church window in the standing water is impactful and brings awareness of the importance of preservation. I am so glad I found this site. Thanks to all.
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Thank you so much for sharing this!!! We must get the word out about Rodney…. every share, like and mention helps. I’m on the newly founded board and we have some amazing people on it. We want to get the Presbyterian church as it needs immediate stabilization, but our broader goals is to protect all of Rodney…..help us save this Mississippi treasure!!!
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