Today’s end-of-year list is of all the buildings that the Mississippi Department of Archives and History designated as Mississippi Landmarks. Often confused with the National Register, which is administered by the National Park Service, the Mississippi Landmark designation is completely under the control of the MDAH Board of Trustees, and it is the stronger designation because it gives MDAH the authority to review any proposed alterations to the landmark, including demolition.
It’s time to start our traditional MissPres end-of-year lists for 2014 and as usual, we begin with a sad list of lost historic buildings. Some of these have gotten attention through the year, some haven’t, but I think it’s important… Read More ›
In case you haven’t been in yelling distance of the state of Mississippi, the biggest news is that for the first time ever, both Ole Miss and Mississippi State are in the Top 5 with undefeated records six games into… Read More ›
News from Jackson, West Point, Meridian, Philadelphia, Columbus, and did I mention Meridian?
Although the Union County Training School for African Americans got its start in 1912, when the New Albany School Board purchased the site, the school operated from the former Baker home. That building burned in 1943. The old gymnasium, constructed… Read More ›
I notice from this picture that the formal name of Belzoni’s great burger and malt shop is “The Varsity Restaurant,” but like all icons, it’s real name is simply “The Varsity.”
This Friday, the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Board of Trustees will consider requests to demolish two Mississippi Landmarks and delist another, which pretty much amounts to the same thing.
Angie Barker of Meridian sent these sad pictures of Saturday’s demolition of the COFO building where Mickey Schwerner, James Chaney, and Andrew Goodman worked. To read more about the COFO Building and the recent unsuccessful effort to save it, read… Read More ›
The Eugene P. Booze house, a “two-story American foursquare” with Colonial Revival detailing provides an excellent illustration of preservation fail, and thankfully, correction on inauthentic renovation (Mississippi Department of Archives & History, Historic Resources Inventory). The c. 1910 home in… Read More ›
Last Monday, January 20, was Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, during which people in Mississippi and the rest of the nation remember Dr. King and the cause to which he gave his life and for which he lost his life –… Read More ›
I bummed myself out with the demolition post for 2013, so I thought I would follow up with a run-down of landmarks we almost lost but didn’t because a few or a bunch of Mississippians held on tightly and brought… Read More ›
Mississippi State University’s Homecoming weekend in Starkville, several days of celebration, partying, football, and…demolition. Well, not most Homecoming weekends, but the 2010 Homecoming weekend was a weekend of demolition. Griffin Chapel Methodist Church, the oldest African American congregation in Starkville,… Read More ›
A quick news roundup this week–I admit I haven’t done my homework, so this is not comprehensive. The Sun-Herald ran a nice story “Historic Ocean Springs house makes a comeback; agencies ponder future” about the Charnley House restoration, which MHT’s Lolly… Read More ›
I’ve recently picked up the book The Land Was Ours: African American Beaches from Jim Crow to the Sunbelt South by Andrew W. Kahrl. It’s been a revelation. More than just a history of segregated beaches, the book explains the… Read More ›
While we’re starting our twitter-like news feed on the MissPres page, I’ve been off a couple weeks so we’re due a traditional round-up as well. The biggest news the past couple of weeks have been the municipal elections around the… Read More ›
The other day I was surfing the Society of Architectural Historians Digital Resources webpage scoping out all the neat links. When checking out the pages I always keep my eagle eye out for Mississippi connections. So I was very excited… Read More ›
Just because I took a week off from doing a roundup doesn’t mean that the news took a break. Events are still on the calendar – and I hope that in the next round up we get to share a… Read More ›
March 22 is to be observed as Rosenwald School Day in Mississippi in the 3,416 negro schools of the state, when special programs covering all phases of negro education and community endeavor will be presented.
If the calendar full of events didn’t tip me off that Spring was just around the corner, the delightful layer of yellow on my car assures it. Before everyone gets out to enjoy the weather and visit our favorite historic… Read More ›
The National Trust has announced a new round of grants up to $20,000 for Rosenwald Schools. Applications are due April 15, 2013.
February flew by – and now that it’s March, we’ll expect to start seeing news about Spring Pilgrimages and other festivals in historic downtowns popping up around the state. I didn’t see any of these stories this week, but here’s… Read More ›
Two preservation related events are coming up this next week: If you are going to be New Orleans adjacent this Monday Feb. 18, the Louisiana Landmark Society is hosting a panel discussion entitled “Fight Blight”. While this discussion is taking… Read More ›
We’ve seen a few pictures of damaged historic buildings in Hattiesburg, and today we’ve got a broader view of the damage, which takes a relatively straight line from I-59 northeast along Hardy Street, clips the corner of USM, and heads… Read More ›
According to the African American Military History Museum Facebook page, the USO Building that houses the museum and the former Eureka School down the street both sustained heavy roof damage that is now being exacerbated by the rain that’s expected… Read More ›
After a period of slow news weeks, for the second week in a row we have a lot of news stories to share with MissPres readers. Starting this week in Tupelo with a story that we have been following for… Read More ›
Work is continuing to move forward on the former Burns Methodist Church in Oxford. The …brick vernacular Gothic Revival church with two asymmetrical front corner towers…(Mississippi Department of Archives & History/Historic Resources Inventory) was constructed in 1910 on the edge… Read More ›
Preservation in Mississippi 