I believe that Grenada Public Schools Start back today. Some of you may be groaning, while other may be cheering for the start of school. But one of the best benefits of towns and cities should be their walkability. This view… Read More ›
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MissPres News Roundup 8-9-2017
Let’s jump right into this week’s roundup. Following up on the partial collapse of McComb’s downtown theater, MSNewsNow has reported that approximately 75% of the collapsed roof of the building was removed by July 31, with the remainder expected to… Read More ›
Neither the Sun nor the Hand Will Come Out Tomorrow
Due to the rain that’s expected to continue through tomorrow, The Hand Pointing to Heaven will not be placed back on its perch in Port Gibson tomorrow morning, so if you were planning to make the trek to watch, keep… 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 ›
See The Famed Port Gibson Hand Up Close
This Wednesday the landmark hand of the First Presbyterian Church in Port Gibson will be returned to its place on the church steeple. If you’d like to see the hand up close before it returns to its lofty perch, you… Read More ›
20th Anniversary of Paul Rudolph’s Passing
Tomorrow marks the 20th anniversary of Paul Rudolph’s passing. Were he still living, he would be 99 years old. Born in Kentucky, Rudolph graduated from Auburn University and Harvard Graduate School of Design. After successfully practicing architecture in Florida as part… Read More ›
Friday is a Gas: Classical Revival Stations c.1930-?
Mississippi is known for its fondness of columned buildings. Surprisingly that appreciation doesn’t seem to have translated over into the design of Classical Revival service stations. The 2016 TxDOT Field Guide to Gas Stations in Texas doesn’t specifically have an entry… 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 ›
The Aladdin Company’s Order Ledger
You might recall that The Aladdin Company had a mail order catalog that offered plans and all the lumber you would need to build a house, pre-cut. Thanks to the efforts of kit house researcher, Cindy Catanzaro, we have the information… Read More ›
MissPres News Roundup 8-1-2017
Let’s jump right into this week’s roundup. History professor Andrew Kahrl tracks racial discrimination through the tax assessor’s office. This article provides interesting insight concerning race and property ownership and cites several Mississippi examples in Edwards and Waveland. It also touches… Read More ›
Roadside Mississippi: Fountain Grill
We’re taking a break this week from the “Friday is a Gas” series since we had a gas station related post on Wednesday, but today’s post is still about a roadside-tastic building constructed c.1965. I’ll wager a guess this was the… Read More ›
National Park Service Preservation Briefs: Historic Concrete
This week’s dramatic roof collapse in downtown McComb, which was possibly brought on by a combination of hard rainfall and clogged or inadequate downspouts, has brought home again the need to maintain our historic buildings. Luckily for us, while owners… 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 ›
McComb’s Downtown Theater Collapses
A landmark historic building in downtown McComb collapsed on Sunday without any injuries to passersby, according to the McComb Enterprise-Journal. Built around 1920, the four-story building had originally been the State Bank and Trust, with Jacob’s Theater in the upper… 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 ›
Mid-Week Mid-Century: Modernism in the Mississippi Delta
One thing that surprised me when I moved to Mississippi and ventured into the Delta–a place that I had understood from various news stories had been forgotten by time–was how much the region had changed over the latter half of… 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 ›
Call for Nominations to the MHT 10 Most Endangered Historic Places in Mississippi List
The Mississippi Heritage Trust is requesting nominations for their 10 Most Endangered Historic Places in Mississippi list. The deadline for submitting the nominations is July 31, 2017. What place or places might you nominate? Here are some of the past… Read More ›
Humble Colony at Mallalieu Production Camp, Brookhaven
Because MissPres readers have found the Friday is a Gas series fascinating, you will understand why I was hooked when I stumbled upon this news item about the Humble Camp near Brookhaven. Mississippi, or at least one Mississippian, had a… 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 ›
Vacation Postcards: Arlington, Natchez
MissPres is on vacation this week, but we’re sending postcards back from Mississippi’s past. See also . . . Blink Twice and Arlington Might Vanish
Vacation Postcards: Forrest Hotel, Hattiesburg
MissPres is on vacation this week, but we’re sending postcards back from Mississippi’s past.
Vacation Postcards: Holiday Inn Southwest, Jackson
MissPres is on vacation this week, but we’re sending postcards back from Mississippi’s past.
Vacation Postcards: Gautier Tiki Restaurant
MissPres is on vacation this week, but we’re sending postcards back from Mississippi’s past.
Preservation in Mississippi 