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 ›
Lost Mississippi
Friends of Kebyar Journal Issue about Bruce Goff’s Gutman House is Available Now
Many Mississippians like golf, but here at Preservation in Mississippi, we like Goff. That is Bruce Goff for the uninitiated. On the site, we have written about Goff’s Mississippi houses, Goff’s colleagues, Goff’s disciples, and Goff’s critics. The fact that… Read More ›
Vacation Postcards: MSU President’s Home
MissPres is on vacation this week, but we’re sending postcards back from Mississippi’s past. More Vacation Postcards. . .
Lost Mississippi: Glenwood
I am certain that long time Mississippians and those from Natchez are quite familiar with the story of Glenwood (aka “Goat Castle”), but I was surprised to find a 2-page spread in the Atlanta Constitution, February 24, 1941. As usual, it resulted… Read More ›
An Abbreviated History of the Farmhaven Schools, 1924-1960
In 1930, Farmhaven was a small community “about 14 miles east of Canton on the Canton-Carthage graveled highway.” In 2018, that is Old MS 16/Pat Luckett Road, slightly south of current MS 16. When I began this story, it was… Read More ›
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 ›
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 ›
HABS in Mississippi: Gwin House, Lexington
The Gwin House in Lexington is no longer standing and is somewhat of a mystery to me. The MDAH Historic Resources Database doesn’t have much to say about the two-story I-house with its one-story pedimented portico, but it does give… Read More ›
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.
Plans for Gulfport’s 1918 U.S. Naval Camp buildings are available online
Several weeks back, when I came across the 1918 U.S. Naval Camp yearbook, I also noticed some plans for Gulfport’s 1918 U.S. Naval Camp buildings. Thanks to the J. Murrey Atkins Special Collections Library at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte,… Read More ›
Friday is a Gas: Ducks vs Decorated Sheds
This week’s Friday is a Gas post is not about a specific brand of station, but rather a specific type of station form. This week’s stations represent two contrasting ideas in the architecture world: the “Duck” vs. the “Decorated Shed.”… Read More ›
MissPres News Roundup 8-22-2017
Busy week in the world of Mississippi Preservation. Let’s jump right into this week’s roundup. Last Tuesday a public meeting in Hattiesburg was held to determine a course of action for the former Mount Carmel Baptist Church on Main Street. According to… Read More ›
Yes, Virginia, there were alligators!
It’s been five years to the day since I asked the MissPres universe to “Show Me the Alligator Gargoyles!” and now that no one has stepped forward with pictures, I felt it was time to take matters into my own… Read More ›
Those Disappearing Telephone Booths
As one of the few people on earth who hasn’t yet embraced the smart phone fad, I have had cause to miss the conveniently located but humble telephone booths that used to dot our towns, shopping centers, gas stations, and… Read More ›
No Longer An Eyesore: Confronting The Gasoline Station
A while back I found a 1925 article in Laurel’s Daily Leader that was interesting for the fact that it was an architectural critique, but I wasn’t quite sure how to share it. Fast forward to the research I’ve been… Read More ›
MissPres News Roundup 7-25-2017
Let’s jump right into this week’s roundup. The lead story this week is the partial collapse of McComb’s downtown theater. While it looks bad, hopefully an engineer with an understanding of historic buildings can be brought in to give a… Read More ›
Friday is a Gas: Commercial Block Service Stations c.1920-c.1930
This week’s Friday is a Gas post is not about a specific brand of station, but rather a specific type of station form. Commercial block type service stations are usually found within towns or cities, often at street corners with… Read More ›
Photographer John Margolies Images Now Available Online
Last year Malvaney’s post about roadside Americana photographer John Margolies ended with the wish that someday his photos, which had been donated to the Library of Congress, would be made available for the public to see. That day has arrived, my… Read More ›
MissPres News Roundup 7-18-2017
Let’s jump right into this week’s roundup. Starting with bad news from West Point, the Daily Times Ledger ran a story with the headline titled “Mary Holmes alumni react to demolition.” This demolition alluded to by the headline is that of… Read More ›
Friday is a Gas: Sinclair Station c.1930s
This former Sinclair station (above) found in Booneville, Mississippi has had its canopy enclosed and its service doors replaced with a storefront. Despite this it is still recognizable as a Sinclair design. The 2016 TxDOT Field Guide to Gas Stations in… Read More ›
MissPres News Roundup 7-11-2017
Two weeks since our last round-up and a lot has happened so let’s jump right into this week’s roundup. Starting on the coast in Gulfport, a new developer is taking over former Gulfport VA redevelopment project. Virginia Attorney Robert Lubin… Read More ›
Roadside Mississippi: Jackson’s Free Tourist Camp
It may seem impossible to believe today, but in the early days of automobile tourist travel, Jackon’s leaders (or some unnamed civic group, perhaps an automobile club) decided it would be a great idea to build a rustic cabin on… Read More ›
MissPres News Roundup 6-13-2017
Lets jump right into this week’s roundup. Starting in Starkville, fourteen structures including three historic houses were demolished this week for an “a planned upscale, mixed-use development that will include retail shops and loft apartments” The article gives the developers… Read More ›
Happy Birthday Bruce Goff & Frank Lloyd Wright
Go inside Bruce Goff’s “Star House,” built in 1960 for Mr. and Mrs. Emil Gutman in Bayou View neighborhood of Gulfport.
Friday is a Gas: Curbside Gas Pumps
These pumps were once quite common in Mississippi. Does anyone know where such a curbside pump might exist?
HABS in Mississippi: Marschalk Printing Office, Natchez
Interestingly, given our discussion about photographers on last week’s HABS post, this week’s subject, the Marschalk Printing Office in downtown Natchez, was photographed on different occasions by two different HABS photographers, the first our familiar friend James Butters, and the… Read More ›
HABS in Mississippi: Messinger House, near Edwards
Like our last two HABS sites, the Col. Moore House in Winona and the old Grist Mill near Macon, this week’s Messinger (or Messenger) House starts out as a bit of a mystery but gets a little clearer as we… Read More ›
Preservation in Mississippi 