When I first came across this image in the July 25, 1963 issue of the Northside Reporter (Jackson, MS), I thought it was the interchange on the southeast side of downtown Jackson, popularly known as “The Stack,” but then when… Read More ›
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Tag Tuesday: 1800-1809
In the comments to last week’s inaugural Tag Tuesday, some hackles were raised (passive voice is so wonderful, isn’t it?) about some important early Mississippi buildings that didn’t make it into the post, specifically Texada in Natchez, built between 1798… Read More ›
HABS in Mississippi: Jackson City Hall
Although the 1930s HABS “Data Sheet,” which noted historical information gathered in interviews with owners and local historians, often contained information that has since been proven erroneous, in the case of Jackson’s stunning Greek Revival-style City Hall, the 1936 HABS… Read More ›
Tag Tuesday: 1750-1799
Among the many nerdy activities I undertake in order to keep myself off the streets and out of trouble is the organization of my library of digital photographs, now up around 100,000 images, including a bunch of scanned postcards that… Read More ›
MissPres at 10: The Old Capitol’s Red Brick Phase
Preservation in Mississippi is 10 years old today–can you believe it? Traditionally, we take the day of our anniversary to go back to the subject of the original MissPres post, the Old Capitol: not just one of Mississippi’s most historic sites and… Read More ›
The Great Mississippi Architects Strike
A friend of mine at the MDAH archives alerted me to a 70-page manuscript in their collection by James G. Chastain, AIA (1922-2014), entitled Bureaucrat Architect and written in 2000. After practicing in Jackson as Neal & Chastain (1958-1961) and Biggs,… Read More ›
New Roof on Prentiss Club in Natchez
A new roof is finally going up on the National Register-listed Prentiss Club in Natchez, which suffered a terrible fire back in September 2018, just as it was about to reopen after a major renovation. Designed by New Orleans architects… Read More ›
Friday Film: Tupelo Mill Village
About Blue Magnolia Films and its bicentennial project . . . https://misspreservation.com/2018/01/19/friday-film-duncan-morgan-brick-layer-of-natchez/ https://thesipmag.com/blue-magnolia-films-community-filmmakers-tell-mississippis-story/ http://www.natchezdemocrat.com/2017/11/19/locals-participate-in-statewide-filmmaking-project-for-states-bicentennial/ https://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2017/11/02/a-storytelling-revival-in-mississippi More Tupelo?
HABS in Mississippi: Lowndes County Courthouse
With its impressive domed clock tower, round-arched windows, and modillioned portico, the Lowndes County Courthouse seems to characterize the confident neoclassicism of the early 20th century. But in fact, it is a somewhat rare antebellum courthouse, built in 1847 and… Read More ›
Update on Arlington
As Thomas Rosell noted in his October 2018 post “News from Natchez,” the City of Natchez is once again pursuing a finding of “demolition by neglect” against the owner of antebellum mansion Arlington, a National Historic Landmark that suffered a… Read More ›
Historic Places in the Mississippi Encyclopedia
As many of you may recall, the Mississippi Encyclopedia was published during the bicentennial year of 2017 after over a decade of work. It’s a massive book, weighing in at 9 pounds, and in the last year, it has been joined by… Read More ›
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 ›
Vote in National Trust’s 40 Under 40
This is late notice, but you have through today (Jan 18) to vote in the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s “40 Under 40” contest. There are even some Southern buildings, including the Rural Studio in Newbern, Alabama, Thorncrown Chapel in… Read More ›
Mid-Century Mississippi: Frank Fort’s Old Canton Lane
In yesterday’s post about Jackson architect Frank Fort, I bemoaned the lack of a portrait of the man with his obituary. Ask and ye shall find because lo and behold here is a photo not only of Frank Fort (center)… Read More ›
Mississippi Architects: Frank Fort (1896-1963)
Today’s featured architect, Frank Fort of Meridian and later Jackson, had a long and famous career, as recounted in his architecturally detailed obituary of 1963, but when I went back through the MissPres archives, I found that we’ve somewhat neglected… Read More ›
“Near depot, old stand, good trade”: Victoria Hotel in Magnolia
In 2013 I photographed the former Victoria Hotel in downtown Magnolia, but was able to learn very little about it. A member of the family who owned it in the early 2000s contacted me recently after finding my blog post… Read More ›
National Register Listings, 2018
Last year saw seven new Mississippi places listed on the National Register, ranging from an African American public library to a post-World War II Jewish temple, two architecturally significant houses, and a church in Neshoba County that may or may not be nationally significant.
Mississippi Landmarks 2018
Our second “2018 Highlights” lists the historic properties that were designated as Mississippi Landmarks by the Mississippi Department of Archives and History in 2018. The Mississippi Landmark designation isn’t the same as National Register listing, and to read about the… Read More ›
Auld Lang Syne: Friends we lost in 2018
I’m a couple of weeks late in my “end-of-year posts” but as Thomas Rosell mentioned in his last post, sometimes life takes over, and in my case, December just got away from me, so here we are, better late than… Read More ›
Top 11 MissPres posts written in 2018
Before we get too far into 2019, or just plain float away from all this rain, let’s take a look back at the most popular posts written during 2018. If you missed any of these posts now would be a… Read More ›
2018 Last Minute Holiday Gifts For The Preservationist On Your List
It’s that time of year again. If you’re like me you haven’t got any of your shopping started yet, or you might just be stumped about what to get the Preservationist in your life. Here are a few book ideas…. Read More ›
National Trust’s African American Heritage Grants Open
From the National Trust for Historic Preservation website: African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund Grants Grants from the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund advance ongoing preservation activities for historic sites, museums, and landscape projects representing African… Read More ›
Cully Cobb and John Stennis Salute Their Friend N. W. Overstreet Upon His Retirement
Fifty years ago, at the end of 1968, Noah Webster Overstreet retired from his architectural practice, bringing to a close the most important architectural career of any Mississippi architect. Overstreet received numerous tributes upon his retirement, including letters from Senator… Read More ›
Head Out on the Highway: U.S. 78
Today’s post is the fourteenth (and last) in our reprint of the 1941 publication Mississippi Tourist Guide, which focused on the many attractions along Mississippi’s newly paved highways. (Check out the Intro if you missed it.) U.S. Highway 78 Cutting obliquely across… Read More ›
Join MHT for Live at the Lowry
From our friends at the Mississippi Heritage Trust. Live at the Lowry Mississippi Heritage Trust (MHT) is partnering with Spacecamp, Stewpot Community Services, The Apothecary at Brent’s Drugs, and Pollchaps Screenprinting to present the first installment of “Live at the… Read More ›
A news roundup before the weekend
Just a quick news roundup of a story and an event taking place this weekend. First off there will be a clean up of the MS River Basin Model Cleanup Saturday December 8, 2018 at 8:00 am – 12:00 pm which is… Read More ›
Head Out on the Highway: U.S. 45
Coming out of the foothills of the Tennessee River in the northeastern corner of the State, U.S. Highway 45 traverses the rich Black Prairie Belt and the historic and beautiful towns of Aberdeen and Columbus, both of which sponsor annual pilgrimages for the benefit of downsouth travelers.
