Recently, I saw these images of the construction of the Catholic Diocese of Jackson Chancery Building in the Mississippi Digital Library’s Bishop R. O. Gerow Collection. While the building’s contractor is not documented in the MDAH HRI, I believe, based on these photos, the builder may be Jordan Construction Co. The images are dated as having been made while the foundation was under construction in January of 1948.
Jackson, Catholic Diocese of Jackson Chancery Building;Jan 1948 From the Bishop R. O. Gerow Collection Mississippi Digital Library
Jackson, Catholic Diocese of Jackson Chancery Building;Jan 1948 From the Bishop R. O. Gerow Collection Mississippi Digital Library
Jackson, Catholic Diocese of Jackson Chancery Building;Jan 1948 From the Bishop R. O. Gerow Collection Mississippi Digital Library
Jackson, Catholic Diocese of Jackson Chancery Building;Jan 1948 From the Bishop R. O. Gerow Collection Mississippi Digital Library
Jackson, Catholic Diocese of Jackson Chancery Building;Jan 1948 From the Bishop R. O. Gerow Collection Mississippi Digital Library
Jackson, Catholic Diocese of Jackson Chancery Building;Jan 1948 From the Bishop R. O. Gerow Collection Mississippi Digital Library
Jackson, Catholic Diocese of Jackson Chancery Building;Jan 1948 From the Bishop R. O. Gerow Collection Mississippi Digital Library
Jackson, Catholic Diocese of Jackson Chancery Building;Jan 1948 From the Bishop R. O. Gerow Collection Mississippi Digital Library
Jackson, Catholic Diocese of Jackson Chancery Building;Jan 1948 From the Bishop R. O. Gerow Collection Mississippi Digital Library
Jackson, Catholic Diocese of Jackson Chancery Building;Jan 1948 From the Bishop R. O. Gerow Collection Mississippi Digital Library
Does anyone recognize any of the folks in these photographs? Jack Canizaro was the architect for the Chancery Building. Here is what the building looked like when it was completed.
And the building is still standing in downtown Jackson.
Below is the info on the company that is available in the MDAH HRI database. You’ll notice some structures that have been discussed on MissPres before, such as the Lyle Cashion Company building and St. Richard’s Catholic Church, both in Jackson.
| Jordan Construction Co. |
| Builder/Contractor, Jackson, MS |
| Mississippi members of The Associated General Contractors of America in 1955. Bid unsuccessfully for St. Mary Catholic Church, Jackson, 1953. |
|
Date |
Inventory# |
Name of Property |
Role |
Description of Work |
Location |
| D |
1947 |
089-TOU-1006-NRD-ML-X |
Brownlee Hall (Gymnasium), Tougaloo College |
Builder/Contractor |
Original building |
Tougaloo, Madison Co. |
| D |
1955 |
149-VKS-0135.5-DNC-ML |
O’Beirne Gymnasium, St. Francis Xavier School & Convent Complex |
Builder/Contractor |
Original Building |
Vicksburg, Warren Co. |
| D |
1955 |
049-JAC-7180 |
Lyle Cashion Co./Warren A. Hood Building (Southern Lumber Company) |
Builder/Contractor |
Original building |
Jackson, Hinds Co. |
| D |
1955 |
049-JAC-0014.2-NRD |
Parish House of St. Andrew’s Cathedral, 305 Capitol Street, East |
Builder/Contractor |
Addition facing West Street |
Jackson, Hinds Co. |
| D |
1957 |
049-JAC-4729 |
Mississippi Industries for the Blind |
Builder/Contractor |
Original building |
Jackson, Hinds Co. |
| D |
1958 |
049-JAC-0917 |
Franklin Hall, Millsaps College |
Builder/Contractor |
Original building |
Jackson, Hinds Co. |
| D |
1958 |
049-JAC-6180-X |
First Church of Christ, Scientist (II) |
Builder/Contractor |
Original Building |
Jackson, Hinds Co. |
| D |
1958 |
049-JAC-7118.2 |
St. Richard’s Catholic School |
Builder/Contractor |
“Final annex” (4-classroom addition/youth room) |
Jackson, Hinds Co. |
| D |
1966-67 |
049-JAC-7118.1 |
St. Richard’s Catholic Church |
Builder/Contractor |
Original building |
Jackson, Hinds Co. |
| D |
c.1973 |
049-JAC-4570 |
Mississippi School Supply |
Builder/Contractor |
Original building |
Jackson, Hinds Co. |
| D |
1980 |
049-JAC-0027-NRD-ML |
Mississippi Fire Insurance Company, MS Baptist Convention HQ (Heber Ladner Building) |
Builder/Contractor |
Renovation |
Jackson, Hinds Co. |
|
If Jordan Construction Company can be credited with the Chancery Buildings construction, that would make it the earliest building constructed by the firm extant.
Other cursory research into the firm did not turn up much other information, other than the fact that they built a temporary building in Grenada in association with the war effort in 1943 and that R.E. Jordan was the company president, at least in the late 1970s.
Biloxi Daily Herald May 19, 1943
Can’t get enough builders?
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Categories: Architectural Research, Churches, Grenada, Historic Preservation, Jackson
Tags: Featured
Preservation in Mississippi 
Jordan Construction Co. of occours frequently in the James T Canizaro collection in the MSU Library.
My dad used this building as an example of quality brickwork. I have always credited
Jordan Construction Co as the contractor.
Bob Canizaro
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