April is wrapping up quickly – which means that Preservation Month will soon be here. If any Miss Pres readers have events to share for our special month – let us know and we’ll get them on the calendar. One… Read More ›
Mississippi Towns
Preservation Grants Awarded by MDAH
We’ll have our regular News Roundup on Monday, but this was a story that we wanted to single out to share with the MissPres world. Thanks to our friends at MDAH for allowing us to share this release – and… Read More ›
New Capitol Crowded, AG Camps in Lt. Gov’s Office
Whenever a large new building is built, or we move into a huge new house, two or three times bigger than we have ever had, there’s a period of delusion in which we can’t see how we will ever fill… Read More ›
Dedicated to the People: Natchez-Vidalia Bridge
On making my first trip to Natchez several years ago, I was curious as to why there was a circular “park” just before one crossed the Mississippi bridge to Vidalia. It is next to the tourist information building, and I… Read More ›
MissPres News Roundup 4-22-2013
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 ›
Deupree’s Historic Homes: Concord
Today’s post is a reprint from Mrs. N.D. Deupree’s “Some Historic Homes of Mississippi,” from Publications of the Mississippi Historical Society, Vol. VI (1902). Concord, the old residence of the Spanish governors, was situated about three miles east of the… Read More ›
Presentations from Preservation in Economic Development Conference
While not breaking news, I learned this week that shortly after the April 2012 Power of Preservation in Economic Development Conference, the Mississippi Heritage Trust made available on their website several of the presentations given at that conference in Ocean… Read More ›
Natchez City Auditorium: Another New Deal building still benefitting Mississippi citizens
Natchez’ 1938-39 auditorium was a product of the Federal Emergency Administration of Public Works, Project number 1350 in Mississippi (Mississippi Department of Archives & History, Historic Resources Inventory database). Its “broad, hexastyle pedimented Doric portico” (which is an architectural term… Read More ›
Oxfordtown, Oxfordtown . . .
We don’t have a subscription to the digital Oxford Eagle edition, but our Oxford friends have been rumbling recently about a preservation issue that’s been in the news. The controversy sprang from a demolition request for an 1890 Queen Anne… Read More ›
“Meet Modern Jackson” Bus Tour
This event popped up on the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Facebook page yesterday, and I’ve also seen it on posters around Jackson this week: Jackson became the hub of Modernist architecture in the state when its population exploded… Read More ›
Deupree’s Historic Homes: Monmouth
Today’s post is a reprint from Mrs. N.D. Deupree’s “Some Historic Homes of Mississippi,” from Publications of the Mississippi Historical Society, Vol. VI (1902). Monmouth Monmouth, the home of General John A. Quitman, is now owned by his daughter, Mrs…. Read More ›
Magnolia: Three New Deal Murals in One Post Office
This week, we profile the seventh of the 32 post office in Mississippi which were built, and decorated with “art for the people” under the auspices of the New Deal Administration. Magnolia boasts three murals (“… one of a handful… Read More ›
MissPres News Roundup 4-8-2013
We’re finally getting more sunny days – and warmer temps – which should encourage more venturing to see our favorite places. While you all are pondering your Spring excursions, here’s the latest news. Starting in the small town of Houston… Read More ›
Deupree’s Historic Homes: Porterfield, Vicksburg
This paper, so far devoted to descriptions of plantation and suburban homes, will now give a story of a city home, the “Porterfield” home of Vicksburg. It is a large, square-built brick house, three stories high, with long wide halls, three in number, two rooms on each side of the hall on each floor except the first; this has two on the right of the entrance and one, the banqueting hail, on the left, a room 24 by 42 feet, with ceiling 18 feet in height.
Life in the Mississippi Cotton Belt
Auriel Bessemer’s 1939 mural is one of a number of Mississippi post office murals, commissioned through the Treasury Department’s Section of Fine Arts program, that depicted the cotton industry in the state. Bessemer, daughter of Hungarian immigrants, was from Grand… Read More ›
MissPres News Roundup 4-1-2013
No fooling – it’s all good news today! First there was a story about downtown revitalization in Pontotoc. Three property owners have recently invested in downtown buildings – including one couple who even turned an historic gas station into their… Read More ›
Merci Train Car Update
Back in June 2011 we shared some pictures of the French 40 & 8 (aka the Merci) Car being moved from behind the War Memorial & Old Capitol to its new home nearby, beside the GM&O Depot. Earlier this week,… Read More ›
Deupree’s Historic Homes: Mount Salus
The building is fashioned after the style of the old English manor-houses: square built, with wide windows, broad, heavy doors, and solid floors. The doors bear the marks of spurs and bayonets made by Grant’s soldiers as they tried in vain to force their way into stores and mansion, when on the raid from Vicksburg to Jackson in 1863.
Construction at the Governor’s Mansion
According to the MDAH website, the Governor’s Mansion (1839-42, William Nichols) will be closed to tours from April through August as it undergoes some needed infrastrastructure upgrades. The Mississippi Governor’s Mansion is in the midst of a project to help… Read More ›
Crystal Springs Tomatropolis: Henry La Cagnina’s Harvest
Crystal Springs, Mississippi was once known as the “Tomatropolis of the World” (and had a big tomato-shaped sign to prove it) and was the largest shipper of tomatoes in the United States (LaTricia M. Nelson-Easley. 2007. Images of America: Copiah… Read More ›
MissPres News Roundup 3-25-2013
March is flying by – even if we have to deal with some winter-like temps again. Just a handful of stories from this week, but all good news for a chilly morning: Starting in Natchez where good reports on the… Read More ›
Deupree’s Historic Homes: Greenwood
Today’s post is a reprint from Mrs. N.D. Deupree’s “Some Historic Homes of Mississippi,” from Publications of the Mississippi Historical Society, Vol. VI (1902). One mile northwest of Clinton in Hinds county, on a beautiful slope covered with forest trees… Read More ›
Louis Sullivan: The Struggle for American Architecture
This video is a trailer for the film “Louis Sullivan: The Struggle for American Architecture.” Released in 2010, this interesting film discusses Ocean Springs, Mississippi resident Louis Sullivan’s career and philosophies. Unfortunately, like most scholarly work on Sullivan, it does not… Read More ›
MissPres News Roundup 3-18-2013
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 ›
Spring Pilgrimage 2013 Rolls Around
Spring Pilgrimage time is upon us, and here’s a list of all the known Mississippi home tours, along with a few out-of-state that you might be interested in. Old house and architecture buffs should be first in line for pilgrimage tickets each year.
“Harping” On About Water Meter Covers
With carnival over for another year I’ve bagged up all my beads and recycled them. But I have one throw this year that I’ll be holding on to. On Joe Cain day (is it Joe Cain day if it’s not… Read More ›
Preservation in Mississippi 