Last Friday’s Old Jackson by Candlelight Tour was well-attended, even though the weather outside was . . . I’m not going to say frightful because then you’ll be humming that tune all day. You know, the tune that has the… Read More ›
Historic Preservation
The New Deal’s National Youth Administration: Longview School
What a wonderful way to end my week–with another successful location of a New Deal building, this time, another project of the National Youth Administration! Because many of these schools were built in rural areas (and parts or all of… Read More ›
Give a Little, Get a Little…
Wondering what to get the preservationist who has everything? We have a great idea! For the month of December, get a free membership to the Mississippi Heritage Trust to give as a gift when you purchase a $35 family membership… Read More ›
New Deal: Randolph Vocational Building
The Randolph school’s vocational building was constructed by the National Youth Administration in 1939 during expansion of the school complex (Mississippi Department of Archives and History, Historic Resources Inventory database). A teacher’s house was also constructed, and is located behind… Read More ›
Preservationists Give Thanks
Well, the turkey is roasting, the pies are cooling and family and friends are coming together to swap stories around the fire and feast, feast, feast. Before we begin the Thanksgiving bacchanalia, I wanted to invite you to share your… Read More ›
Mark the Way to Preservation
As you all know, the Mississippi Heritage Trust announced the list of the 10 Most Endangered Historic Places in Mississippi for 2013 last week. I encourage you to visit http://www.ms10most.com to learn about the threats facing these special historic places…. Read More ›
New Deal: Ecru Vocational Building
The Ecru building, clad in “native stone,” retains its exterior features, including pent awnings over the doors and 9/9 double hung sash windows. (Mississippi Department of Archives and History, Historic Resources Inventory) While I have seen these before, I don’t… Read More ›
MHT Announces 10 Most Endangered Historic Places in Mississippi for 2013-2014
On Thursday, November 14, over 250 preservationists from around the state gathered in Jackson for the announcement of the 10 Most Endangered Historic Places in Mississippi for 2013-2014. President Brad Reeves welcomed guests to the historic Cedars, once in danger… Read More ›
New Deal: Pontotoc Community House
A stone-veneered building with false half-timbered gables, very similar to the community houses in Grenada and Winona. (Mississippi Department of Archives and History, Historic Resources Inventory database Fact Sheet) This beautiful example of Tudor style was constructed in 1935 through… Read More ›
Next Stop-Jackson
Next Thursday, preservationists from around the state will be hopping in their cars and heading to Jackson for the announcement of the 10 Most Endangered Historic Places in Mississippi. The evening will start at 6:00 p.m. with a welcome from… Read More ›
MDAH Giveth, MDAH Taketh Away . . .
As announced on the Mississippi Department of Archives and History’s website last week, at its October 25th meeting, the MDAH Board of Trustees approved a $500,000 grant to help stablize the Webster County Courthouse: Built in 1915 the Webster County… Read More ›
10 Most Endangered Historic Places in Mississippi-Where Are They Now? Part Two
On a recent trip to Jackson, I took some time to look up a few of our 10 Most Endangered Historic Places from past years to see how they are faring. Thanks to a Save America’s Treasures grant, Hawkins Field… Read More ›
New Deal in Mississippi: Eupora High School
The Eupora High School was begun in 1938 and completed in 1940, and built through the Works Progress Administration (Mississippi Department of Archives and History/Historic Resources Inventory database; What are we up to? Belinda Stewart Architects; E. L. Malvaney in… Read More ›
Going Inside: Mt. Zion Baptist Church No. 1
As you recall, my last stop on my journey through Claiborne and Jefferson County back in August was at the semi-abandoned river town of Rodney, Mississippi. Important in the antebellum period, the town quickly began to dry up when the… Read More ›
Party in the Pass
As the sun set over the Gulf of Mexico on October 20th, over 250 preservationists from Pass Christian and all points south gathered at the beautifully restored home of Mary Helen and Philip Schaeffer on Scenic Drive to offer up… Read More ›
Mausoleum Manufacturer
All along the gulf coast this time of year almost every city hosts a tour of their historic cemetery. Last night was the Old Biloxi Cemetery tour. Don’t worry if you missed it, because I believe this popular, not spooky,… Read More ›
New Deal in Mississippi: Eupora Community Center
Eupora Community House was built circa 1938, and is conjectured to have been built with Works Progress Administration (WPA) labor (Mississippi Department of Archives & History, Historic Resources Inventory database; David Preziosi, n. d.). The first known access to a… Read More ›
MissPres News Roundup 10-21-2013
A friend sent me two articles from the Neshoba Democrat’s October 9, 2013 edition. First, the log cabin built as a public library in the 1930s and badly damaged in the tornado of 2011, was recently reopened to much fanfare,… Read More ›
Going Inside: Rodney Presbyterian Church
One of Mississippi’s historic and architectural treasures is Rodney Presbyterian Church. Everyone seems to acknowledge this, so why can’t we figure out a way to at least keep the yard mowed a few times during the summer? Getting to Rodney… Read More ›
Tupelo’s Spain House Move from Outer Space
While it happened almost a year ago, you can still see how the Spain House in Tupelo was moved thanks to Google Maps. The satellite image was made by Digital Globe, Inc. some time in late 2012. The Daily Journal… Read More ›
New Deal in Mississippi: Eupora Post Office and Mural
The Eupora Post Office was completed in 1941, the 8th Mississippi post office to be designed by Louis A. Simon, Supervising Architect of the Office of Supervising Architect of the Treasury (Mississippi Department of Archives and History/Historic Resources Inventory database). … Read More ›
Keepers of the Flame
Martha Ebberman shares stories of Biloxi’s past at Burger Burger. Want to learn about the history of your town? Well, there always the library or perhaps a historic house museum. Or try the local burger joint. In Biloxi, a group… Read More ›
J. E. Gibson: Attempted bribery stock in trade
Today’s post is picking back up where we last left J.E. Gibson(A grand jury set for Briber Gibson Oct. 2, 2013), the hustling contractor who attempted to subvert the construction bid process for Mississippi New Capitol building in the fall of… Read More ›
New Deal in Mississippi: Old Winston County Library
Most of the town and county libraries in Mississippi began as Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA) or Works Progress Administration (WPA) libraries (Martha H. Swain, Mississippi History Now). The Library Project was considered a “showcase” project for the nation. The… Read More ›
Going Inside: Rocky Springs Methodist Church
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 ›
The 10 Most Endangered Historic Places in Mississippi-Where Are They Now?
Preservationists in Jefferson County are working to save the c. 1854 Prospect Hill house and cemetery. In the weeks leading up to the November 14 announcement of the 10 Most Endangered Historic Places in Mississippi for 2013-2014, I thought I… Read More ›
Preservation in Mississippi 