All the preservation news that’s fit to print, from Jackson to Natchez, from Meridian to Vicksburg, from Holly Springs to Rodney, and even some historical archaeology thrown in because it’s Monday!
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Are You In the Mood for MOD?
Are you in the mood for fun, quirky and quite fantastic architecture? So are we! At times misunderstood when constructed, modernist buildings are now considered the “new historic,” with a whole new audience of enthusiastic building-huggers awakening to the creative… Read More ›
Charnley-Norwood House Is “Best of the South”
A big congratulations to all involved in the painstaking restoration of the Charnley-Norwood House, which received the Best of the South award from the Southeast Chapter of the Society of Architectural Historians (SESAH)! Designed by Louis Sullivan on the beachfront in… Read More ›
New Deal in Mississippi: Macon Community House
Macon’s Emergency Relief Administration-financed community house was constructed in the Craftsman bungalow style, and is currently used as the American Legion Hut, Post 63 for Noxubee County (Mississippi Department of Archives & History, Historic Resources Inventory; Barrow, 2001, NRHP nomination… Read More ›
MissPres News Roundup 11-17-2014
News updates from Jackson, Greenwood, DeSoto County, Waverley Mansion, and Ocean Springs.
Friday Puzzler: Auburn Stair
Today’s puzzler comes from a black and white HABS photo of Auburn’s famous circular stair in Natchez. It’s a little more difficult than some of our previous puzzles, but by now, I’m sure you’re all pros. There are 63 pieces,… Read More ›
Mid-Century Medical: Jackson’s University Plaza
A while back, Thomas Rosell introduced us to University Plaza, a group of Modernist medical clinics in Jackson just south of Memorial Stadium. Specifically, Thomas’ post focused on the clinic of Drs. Johnson and Wiener, designed by J.T. Liddle and… Read More ›
Veterans Day 2014
This day we honor veterans of all of America’s wars, but especially our doughboys of the Great War, which began in 1914 and consumed a generation of men. Meridian’s World War I monument was dedicated November 11, 1927. All photos downloaded… Read More ›
MissPres News Roundup 11-10-2014
Much adoing out in the Mississippi preservation world in the last two weeks. Let’s get started. Former Mississippi First Lady Carroll Waller died Tuesday, October 28, in Jackson. Mrs. Waller was instrumental in the last major renovation of the Governor’s… Read More ›
Mississippi Architect, Dec. 1964: Architects’ Office
I have tried and failed to figure out where the architects’ office featured in the December 1964 issue of Mississippi Architect might be and am beginning to suspect that it fell victim to that “projected interstate highway” mentioned in the article, presumably… Read More ›
Mississippi Architect, Dec. 1964: With Faith We Build
It’s been a while since we had a Mississippi Architect post, so it’s high time we get back to it. If you’ve joined us recently, we started reprinting articles from The Mississippi Architect, a magazine published monthly by the Mississippi AIA… Read More ›
Abandoned Mississippi: Pinewood Motor Court
Three years ago, after a long day of bumping around Vicksburg looking at cool old stuff, I decided to take one of my favorite stretches of highway back to Jackson, Highway 80 between Vicksburg and Edwards. It was about this… Read More ›
Where Have All Jackson’s Harper Meter Covers Gone?
A month or two ago, I realized that my dear old sturdy Jackson-born-and-bred Harper water meter cover had been replaced by a cheap plastic classless top. Now, a rusty anonymous iron cover has been plopped down in my yard as a poor attempt at replacing this piece of Jackson history.
Help Paint Waverley Mansion!
Contribute to the Friends of Waverley Mansion campaign and get the chance to go up into the cupola!
From the Age of Hi-Fi to Wi-Fi…the Rex Plaza in Tupelo
Those passing Gloster Square at 619 North Gloster Street in Tupelo might easily miss the significance of the place. The low-slung buildings hardly suggest the sleek modern look that once heralded a new age of travel in Mississippi. Builder Cy… Read More ›
Suzassippi’s Mississippi: Lynville Gymnasium
Lynville’s 1947 gymnasium is 1.5 stories. The gable roof building is still standing, and appears to be in remarkably good shape. You can see interior photographs from the MDAH HRI database. Since no one showed up to play but me… Read More ›
MissPres News Roundup 10-27-2014
Preservation news from Meridian, Jackson, Vicksburg, Pascagoula, and Port Gibson. Saying goodbye to old friends and getting to know new ones.
Update on Meridian Police Department
At the October 17 meeting of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Board of Trustees, the trustees voted to consider the Meridian Police Department as a Mississippi Landmark. The City of Meridian has requested permission to demolish this outstanding modernist building, but has not announced any plans for the site.
Morris Lapidus in Mississippi?
Recently I acquired Morris Lapidus: The Architecture of Joy, with no inkling of a Mississippi, but found out that we may have some of this nationally famous architect’s work here in the Magnolia State.
Chris Risher’s Colorful Temple
A while back, MissPreser W. White alerted me to a vintage publication called “Creative Ideas in Glass” for sale online. Published quarterly as “an architectural review” by specialty glass manufacturer American Saint Gobain, the brief, color booklet doesn’t have a… Read More ›
New Deal in Mississippi: Lynville School
New at the time construction materials and techniques were used. Exterior walls are of strand steel and poured concrete. It has a slate roof. (“Get together held at Lynville school.” 10/23/2013. Kemper County Messenger) The WPA financed school building was… Read More ›
MissPres News Roundup 10-13-2014
In case you haven’t been in yelling distance of the state of Mississippi, the biggest news is that for the first time ever, both Ole Miss and Mississippi State are in the Top 5 with undefeated records six games into… Read More ›
Chris Risher’s Meridian Police Station Honor Citation
As you know, the MDAH Board of Trustees will be voting next Friday on whether to place the Meridian Police Station, designed in 1975-1977 by one of Mississippi’s most talented Modernists, Chris Risher, under consideration as a Mississippi Landmark. This… Read More ›
New Deal in Mississippi: Macon City Hall
Macon’s City Hall, looking remarkably like several of the red brick Colonial Revival post offices built in Mississippi during the New Deal years, was constructed 1938-1939 through Federal Emergency Administration of Public Works, project #Miss 1366-F. Architects P. J. Krouse and L. L. Brasfield of Meridian designed the building.
MissPres News Roundup 10-6-2014
Things are heating up in the Mississippi preservation world now that the weather is cooling a bit. In Jackson’s Fondren neighborhood, we pick up the story of the proposed Hampton Inn on the remaining green space next to Duling School…. Read More ›
To Preserve and Protect
Designed by eminent Mississippi architect Chris Risher, the Meridian Police Department is a watershed of modernist design worthy of preservation. Reflecting international trends in architecture, the building represents Meridian’s aspirations in the 1970s to become a city of architectural renown. The City of Meridian recently submitted a request to the Mississippi Department of Archives and History for a permit to demolish this intriguing building.
Flora School Mystery
Here is another one of those intriguing mysteries that I cannot solve, and I have been trying since August 4th. The building pictured is currently being used as the Administration Building for the Madison County School system, and is located… Read More ›
Preservation in Mississippi 