Author Archives
Thomas J. Rosell
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Roadside Mississippi: Pizza as Architecture
A comment on last week’s post about the fast-food chain Burger Chef, along with the company’s news in August 2019 that they would be closing five hundred of their dine-in restaurants got me thinking about Pizza Hut. The brand’s iconic… Read More ›
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Who remembers Burger Chef?
Who remembers the fast food chain Burger Chef? A few years ago, I passed through Laurel and saw a relatively intact Drive-In that was being used as a coin laundry it had a distinct look, one that I couldn’t place… Read More ›
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New research available on Mississippi’s oldest building
Yesterday, a colleague pointed out to me that two new reports on the de la Pointe-Krebs House in Pascagoula were now available online. If you’re unfamiliar with the state’s oldest standing documented building, the MDAH Historic Resource Inventory Database entry… Read More ›
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Beat The Heat: Aerolux Shades and Awnings
Despite it being more than a week into Fall, its still too dang hot for me! Is anybody happy it’s still this warm? If you’re like me you might be trying to beat the heat with some roll-down shades for… Read More ›
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Historic Natchez Foundation Unveils New Website
Although MissPreservation has gotten sleepy this summer, there are still other doings on the internet related to preservation in Mississippi. Yesterday the Historic Natchez Foundation sent out this press release announcing a long awaited revamped website. Be sure to visit… Read More ›
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Two preservation related events this week
There are two preservation related events taking place this week at opposite ends of the state. On Thursday in Gulfport will be a presentation on the Phoenix Naval Store plant, a circa 1909 industrial site that produced turpentine. The sole… Read More ›
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Who Designed Biloxi’s Peoples Bank?
If you’ve ever been in downtown Biloxi, or even just seen photos of the historic business district, you’ve likely laid eyes on the former Peoples Bank Building. Its iconic turret is used in Biloxi Main Street’s logo. The Romanesque pile,… Read More ›
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Exhibit on builder Carroll Ishee on display
I recently learned that there is an exhibit about Gulf Coast builder Carroll Ishee going on now in the Ocean Springs Museum of History at the Mary C. O’keefe Cultural Center down in Ocean Springs. Current Exhibit Ocean Springs History… Read More ›
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Top 11 MissPres posts written in 2018
Before we get too far into 2019, or just plain float away from all this rain, let’s take a look back at the most popular posts written during 2018. If you missed any of these posts now would be a… Read More ›
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2018 Last Minute Holiday Gifts For The Preservationist On Your List
It’s that time of year again. If you’re like me you haven’t got any of your shopping started yet, or you might just be stumped about what to get the Preservationist in your life. Here are a few book ideas…. Read More ›
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A news roundup before the weekend
Just a quick news roundup of a story and an event taking place this weekend. First off there will be a clean up of the MS River Basin Model Cleanup Saturday December 8, 2018 at 8:00 am – 12:00 pm which is… Read More ›
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News from Natchez
Last week several news stories from Natchez popped into my inbox, both of which contain good news for two iconic, and fire ravaged buildings. Firstly, after sixteen years, the Natchez Preservation Commission is moving forward with a legal battle to save… Read More ›
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Mississippi Builders: Christian (Chris) Thompson
Today’s post is about a builder from the Coast’s early boom period when Gulfport was first established, and Biloxi’s hotel trade was really taking off. Christian Thompson was a younger brother of Builder/Architect O.E. Thompson. The elder Thompson is likely… Read More ›
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Friday is a Gas: Rejecting Teague & The Icebox
This edition of Friday is a Gas is somewhat unique because from what I can tell this station is a one-off design and not of the usual corporate designs I’ve highlighted in the past. Keeping with yesterday’s Highway 82 theme,… Read More ›
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Lucky 13: Hurricane Katrina’s Anniversary
It’s hard to believe it has been 13 years. Trying to think of something that is Hurricane Katrina related we’ve not yet shared, I came across this presentation by Mississippi Heritage Trust’s past Executive Director, David Preziosi. It is an… Read More ›
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Beat The Heat: Patio Roofs
In my searches for the history of beating the heat, I came across something I had not put much thought into the history of; covered patios and carports. Today’s examples come from 1960s ads of the Hattiesburg company Davis &… Read More ›
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Did N. W. Overstreet ever live in the N. W. Oversteet house?
Several years ago, Malvaney posted some pictures of the beautiful house at 831 Gillespie Street in Jackson. According to the Belhaven Historic District National Register nomination the house was built c.1916 for Overstreet as his personal residence. The National Register nomination… Read More ›
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Happy 130th Birthday, N.W. Overstreet!
Happy Birthday, N.W. Overstreet! Just like Yankee Doodle Dandy, he was born on the 4th of July. Today would be N.W. Overstreet’s 130th birthday, as he was born on July 4th, 1888. Overstreet has left an indelible imprint all across… Read More ›
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Architect Pics: Elaine Carbrey
While searching newspaper archives for architecture awards from between 1965-1978 for our Mississippi’s Best Buildings series, I ran across an award to a student from Columbia, Mississippi who, in 1966, was studying at LSU. Architecture Award — Elaine Virginia Carbrey, daughter… Read More ›
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Tournalayer House in Vicksburg
A friend sent me this clipping from the Emporia Kansas Gazette, which shows a house made by the Tournalayer machine that was manufactured by LeTourneau. GIANT MACHINE POURS HOUSES LIKE THIS — Strolling up the walk for an inspection visit, a GI… Read More ›
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MissPres News Roundup 5-29-2018
Let’s jump right into today’s roundup.
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Mississippi’s Best Buildings of 1975
This post is a follow up to a series begun a few weeks back that stimulated quite a bit of conversation about the appreciation of buildings from the late 1960s and early 1970s that are now reaching the golden fifty-year mark… Read More ›
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MissPres News Roundup 5-22-2018
Even thought it doesn’t look inviting, let’s jump right into today’s roundup. It is to hot already for this much bad news. To hopefully put everyone in a better mood, I’ve decided to share the bad news first and end with the good news stories.
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Beat The Heat: Pan and Cover Metal Awnings
While these awnings might have reached their popularity in the 1950s, the originally filed patent date is 1935, indicating that the awnings were commercially available during the 1930s. Seeing this date has changed my perspective as to when these awnings might have… Read More ›
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From Bauhaus to Our House: Tom Wolfe 1930-2018
You might have heard the news that author Tom Wolfe passed away on May 14. Among the many tributes, Wolfe’s assessment of Modern architecture in From Bauhaus to Our House receives at least a brief mention. Personally, this book gave me… Read More ›
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MissPres News Roundup 5-14-2018
Let’s jump right into today’s roundup. Starting in Tupelo, there is news of new Historic District zoning. The district would include a small portion of the Downtown Tupelo National Register Historic District, and link the downtown district to the Highland… Read More ›
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Beat The Heat: Attic Fans
To commemorate turning on my attic fan for the first time this season, I thought it would be fitting to share some pre-war ads for attic fans. From the June 11, 1941 edition of the Hattiesburg American. The Hattiesburg Material… Read More ›
