A month or so ago, that weekend in August that was . . . well “cool” isn’t the right word, but “not as hot” as previous weekends, I decided to take a photographic pilgrimage through Jefferson and Claiborne counties. The… Read More ›
Building Types
New Deal and 101 Places in One: Church Street School
Remember the “101 places in Mississippi to see before you die” list? It’s been a while since we have stopped by to see one on Suzassippi’s Mississippi, what with hunting down all the New Deal Administration buildings in the state. … Read More ›
New Deal in Mississippi: Louisville Post Office and Mural
In another of the series of 32 post offices built in Mississippi with help from the New Deal Administration funding, Louisville stands out. This Colonial Revival building was constructed in 1935 by Dye and Mullings from Columbia-Hattiesburg, under the Office… Read More ›
MissPres News Roundup 9-23-2013
Here’s a whirlwind view of Mississippi’s preservation news of the last few weeks with thanks to MissPreser Theodore for sending a number of stories my way. On the Coast, the eighth anniversary of Katrina was commemorated with a memorial service… Read More ›
Mississippi Architect, Nov. 1964: MGCCC, Jackson County Campus
Junior College Project JACKSON COUNTY CENTER MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST Junior College District WILLIAM R. ALLEN JR., A.I.A., Architect, Jackson GRACE and GUILD, A.I.A., Associate Architects, Mississippi City MAGNANOS & YOUNG, Structural Engineer JOE A. ALLEN, Mechanical & Electrical Engineer DR…. Read More ›
New Deal in Mississippi: Old Philadelphia Library
I love a story with a happy ending, and this one might not have if not for the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. The building is the old Philadelphia Library constructed in 1935 as part of the New Deal… Read More ›
Madness in Mendenhall
Sheer, utter madness. You are probably going to think this is a typo, but, sadly, I assure you it is not. At the September 12 meeting of the Simpson County School Board, board members voted unanimously to accept a $350,000… Read More ›
Preservation as Reconcilation
Today’s guest author Rosalind Lee has been leading the fight to save Mendenhall’s historic school. While the MDAH Board of Trustees recently backed down in the face of political pressure and granted a demolition permit for the 1938 building, the… Read More ›
MissPres News Roundup 9-9-2013
A big thank you to JRGordon for dishing the dirt in a news roundup almost every week through rain, snow, sleet and dead of night since November 1, 2010. JR has recently returned to hometown Texas , and I’ll be brushing off… Read More ›
Flock to Flora for Trade Day September 7
Flora is a town that gets preservation. From the lovely main street to the historic depot and Chip Estes’ super cool cotton gin, the people of Flora are committed to saving what makes their place so special. On Saturday, September 7, visitors… Read More ›
New Deal in Mississippi: Somerville and Barnard Halls
Somerville Hall and Barnard Hall are the final two dormitories built with New Deal Administration funds on the campus of the University of Mississippi. They were not the final buildings–we still have a few more to go, including one that… Read More ›
The New Deal in Mississippi: Hedleston, Mayes, and Garland Halls
Along with three other new dormitories, Garland, Hedleston, and Mayes Halls were dedicated October 21-22, 1938 (Gerald W. Walton. 2008. The University of Mississippi: A Pictorial History. Nashville, TN: The Booksmith Group). Built with funds from the Federal Emergency Administration of Public… Read More ›
Mississippi by Air: Biloxi Waterfront Before Casinos
I’m not sure of the date of this postcard, but it’s after 1964, when St. Michael’s landmark shell roof took its place on the landscape and probably before Hurricane Camille in 1969. Maybe a Biloxian will be able to tell… Read More ›
Webster County Courthouse Update
You may recall that N.W. Overstreet’s 1915 Webster County Courthouse suffered major damage from fire earlier in the year. The Webster Progress-Times is reporting that an engineering report has just been turned in to the board of supervisors: The fire-damaged courthouse is… Read More ›
MDAH’s Popular Grant Program Now Open!
According to the Mississippi Department of Archives and History’s website, the popular Community Heritage Preservation Grant (CHPG) program has been funded this year, after skipping a year in 2012. Three million dollars is available for brick-and-mortar renovation projects around the… Read More ›
New Deal in Mississippi: Old Batesville Post Office
The former post office in Batesville is in the town area known as Public Square, and is one of the more imaginative and attractive post office buildings constructed under the New Deal administration. The slight arch of the recessed windows… Read More ›
Architect Pics: Leon C. Weiss
Leon Charles Weiss was a busy man. In addition to an independent practice, he was a partner in four other firms throughout his life. So busy he had to pose for this photograph while catching up with his correspondence. I… Read More ›
MissPres Architectural Word of the Week: Quoins
Time for another MissPres AWOTW! I gathered up a couple of definitions to help fully define our word this week. Some of our examples photos come from the MDAH HRI database. The Elements of Style by Stephen Calloway and Elizabeth… Read More ›
Leavell Hall: Another “Dog” of a Building?
In the quest to document all the PWA-funded buildings on the University of Mississippi campus, here is yet another of the contributions to campus made by the New Deal administration of President Roosevelt. A few weeks back, a reader referred… Read More ›
MissPres News Roundup 6-10-2013
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 ›
Vacation Postcards: LaFont Inn, Pascagoula
MissPres is on vacation this week, but we’re sending postcards back from Mississippi’s past.
Vacation Postcards: Pinehurst Hotel, Laurel
MissPres is on vacation this week, but we’re sending postcards back from Mississippi’s past.
Vacation Postcards: Sea Isles Hotel Court, Gulfport
MissPres is on vacation this week, but we’re sending postcards back from Mississippi’s past.
Vacation Postcards: Washington Court, Natchez
MissPres is on vacation this week, but we’re sending postcards back from Mississippi’s past.
New Deal on UM Campus: Kennon Observatory
…conditions in Mississippi were worse than at any time since the Civil War (Harry Hopkins, 1936, Spending to Save: The Complete Story of Relief). With a state government in bankruptcy, Mississippi welcomed the federal funds that finally began to trickle down… Read More ›
Concrete Blocks of McComb
As you know, we at MissPres are fascinated by concrete block and all the forms it took before it became boring old cinder block. Lately, I was driving around McComb and noticed a number of very finely detailed concrete-block houses,… Read More ›
Preservation in Mississippi 