If this is your first visit to Mississippi Memories, thank you for stopping by today, and I hope you will visit again. If you have visited this blog site before, thank you for continuing to read my posts. Although I write primarily about my own family history, I also enjoy posting photos of historic and memorable places from throughout the beautiful state of Mississippi. As the blog's subtitle suggests, I write about "people, places, and things" - all related in some way to the state where I was born.
Recently, I wrote a series of posts about our Memorial Day trip through the Mississippi Delta, with stops in Greenwood and Indianola. A post about the last day of our trip, spent in Greenville, Mississippi, will appear on my blog tomorrow. Although the trip included some visits along the Mississippi Blues Trail, I managed to do some genealogy research, too. One of my own rules as a family history researcher is to never, ever, drive by a courthouse without stopping in or to drive by a cemetery without visiting and taking photos. And I did both on this trip!
The trip through the Delta included stops at two cemeteries, all in Holmes County, where most of my Branch, Porter, Netherland, Pettus, and Trigleth ancestors are buried. While there, I took many photographs of graves in Hillcrest Cemetery, Goodman, Mississippi, and of those in Coxburg Methodist Church Cemetery in the old town of Coxburg, near Lexington, Mississippi. Although I have already posted a few of these photos to my other blog, Cemeteries of Dancing Rabbit Creek, I will continue to add others over the next few weeks. I invite you to visit that blog, as well.
Although my own search for ancestors includes the families of Atwood, Baldridge, Branch, Commander, Garrard, Gibson, Merriwether, Neatherland/Netherland, Pettus, Porter, Trigleth, Wilds, and Williams, I often write about the family of others, too. Sometimes a fascinating grave stone may be the impetus for writing a post about the life of the deceased whose grave it marks. And since I love history and people, I often research and write posts about individuals, some famous, and a few that were infamous, who played roles in the development of the State of Mississippi.
A few brick walls that have yet to be broken down keep me researching and writing, and I don't anticipate running out of material for a very long time, if ever. For almost ten years now, I have been searching for ancestors of my great-great-great grandfather, John P. Gibson, born in South Carolina in 1799, and for those of his wife, Martha J. Williams, born circa 1820 in Alabama. According to their marriage certificate, Joseph Gibson posted the marriage bond when the couple were married on January 3, 1843 in Monroe County, Mississippi.
And even though my recent visit to the Coxburg Methodist Church Cemetery and to the historic town of Greenwood, Mississippi resulted in additional information about my maternal great-grandmother, Martha Elizabeth Garrard Neatherland, I still need more about the Garrard family before they arrived in Mississippi.
So I will continue searching for answers that I know are there; I just have not yet found them.
I hope you will join me on this search.....and who knows? We may be related!
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Wordless Wednesday - Bottle Tree
Photograph of Bottle Tree and Country Store at Tallahatchie Flats near Greenwood, Mississippi.
Source: Digital Photo Collection (2009), Privately held by Janice Tracy
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
First, I want to publicly thank Judith Richards Schubert, who writes Genealogy Traces, Tennessee Memories, Cemeteries With Texas Ties, Cemeteries of the Covered Bridges, and Food Gratitude, for so graciously bestowing the Janice Brown Puckerbrush Blog Award for Excellence on this blogger. I would like to add here that Judy Schubert was, indeed, a worthy recipient of this award.
And in the same breath, I want to openly apologize to Judy for taking so long to write a post that acknowledges that she passed this award on to me. Thank you, Judy, for honoring me with this still very new award. And now I will inject a little blogger history - about Judy, that is. Judy and I first met as new members of the GeneaBloggers on Facebook group shortly after we each joined the group. She and I share at least one blogger similarity in that we write family history posts about a state other than the one in which we live - in Judy's case, the blog is Tennessee Memories.
The Janice Brown Puckerbrush Blogger Award for Excellence was developed a few months ago by Terry Thornton who writes Hill Country of Monroe County, Mississippi, when he first bestowed the award on its namesake, Janice Brown, author of Cow Hampshire. The award's name refers to a posting by Janice on August 27, 2007, explaining the word "puckerbrush."
In his post bestowing the first set of awards to ten bloggers, Terry Thornton issued a challenge to those on his list to pass the award on to ten more bloggers who had influenced their writing, all done as a "tribute to Janice."
Since I have taken so long to publicly acknowledge receiving the award from Judy (I did thank Judy personally, however, as soon as I received her note advising me of the award), I seriously doubt that I will be sending the award to many bloggers who have not already received it. If you have received this award from someone else already, please do accept it again, in keeping with the tribute to Janice Brown.
Now for my Top Ten List:
1. Terry Thornton at Hill Country of Monroe County, Mississippi
2. Judith Richards Schubert for all your blogs. And yes, you continue to influence me!
3. Thomas McEntee at Destination: Austin Family
4. Randy Seaver at Genea-Musings
5. FootnoteMaven and Shades of the Departed
6. Jasia at Creative Gene
7. Becky Wiseman at Kinexxions
8. Dear Myrtle
9. Mona Robinson Mills at Itawamba Connections
10. Vickie Everhart at BeNotForgot
And in closing, I would like to say a special "Thank You" to all the dedicated geneabloggers on this list for writing interesting, informative, and well-researched posts. You are truly an inspiration to bloggers everywhere.
Monday, June 22, 2009
B.B. King Museum, Indianola, Mississippi
Another of the highlights of our recent trip through the Mississippi Delta was a visit to the B. B King Museum in Indianola, Mississippi. As we traveled from Greenwood to Indianola on Highway 82, we made a quick detour to drive through the small delta town of Itta Bena, the birthplace of the blues musician, singer and songwriter, Riley B. King, later known simply as "B.B."
The home of Mississippi Valley State University, Itta Bena sits in the middle of the Mississippi Delta, surrounded by flat, almost treeless land. Once inside the town itself, there are many beautiful old trees that line its streets. Besides farming, the major industry in this part of the world is farm-raised catfish. Heartland Catfish, Inc., one of several large catfish processing companies in the Delta, is located in Itta Bena. And the town has a number of small restaurants that specialize in serving up fried catfish, Southern style. Still too early for lunch, we drove on to Indianola, with Greenville, Mississippi, as our final destination for the night.
We arrived in Indianola around noon, so we stopped for lunch at the Gin Mill Restaurant, located at 109 Pershing Avenue, just around the corner from the B. B. King Museum. There we had a delicious pulled pork sandwich, with all the trimmings, washed down with a large glass of sweet iced tea.
The building itself, once the Fletcher-Barnett cotton gin, now houses the Gin Mill Mall, which includes the restaurant and a gallery of Mississippi art, known as Gin Mill Galleries. More about the history of the building can be read on the gallery's website.
Since we had been told that a tour of the B. B. King Museum could take as much as three hours, we had set aside the remainder of the afternoon for the museum visit. But before going into the building, we drove around the block and snapped this picture of Club Ebony, a well-known Mississippi Delta blues club that has hosted countless blues musicians over the years.
As you can see in the photograph here, a Mississippi Blues Trail marker has been erected in front of this well-known Mississippi Delta juke joint. According to the marker, performers at Club Ebony have included Count Basie, Ray Charles, Little Milton, James Brown, Ike Turner, Willie Clayton, Bobby Bland, Howlin' Wolf, and Itta Bena's own B. B. King. Following B. B. King's performance on the evening of the B. B. King Homecoming in June of each year, Club Ebony is the site of a limited seating "after party."
As we left, I couldn't miss an opportunity to snap this photo of a stretch limousine parked just across the street from Club Ebony.
This is a view of a portion of the B. B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center, located at 400 Second Street, Indianola, Mississippi. Based on information I have read, the center just opened last year and was built at a cost of several million dollars. As we entered the museum, several staff members welcomed us with smiles and pleasant "hellos" and were ready to explain the tour process.
We were advised the museum is conducive to self-guided tours, so we chose that option. Although adult admission to the museum is only ten dollars, as senior citizens, our rate was reduced to only $5.00 each - very reasonable, we thought, for such a new and unique attraction. We were told that a guided tour by a docent is also available for an additional fee.
The exterior of the museum is contemporary in design, and that contemporary flair continues throughout the interior. Made up of separate, well-lit viewing areas that are centered around specific subjects and events, the layout of the interior is tasteful and well-lighted. Memorabilia that tell a story are on display in large glass cases, and audio and video recordings are used in each area to relate the story behind a particular subject or event.
A replica of B. B. King's home recording studio can be viewed through a glass wall in one area, while other areas display clothing, records, musical instruments, and in one area, an almost life-size semi-replica of B. B. King's bus. No photographs were allowed inside the museum, since most of the displays contain all sorts of copyrighted materials.
Although we peeked inside the Delta Interpretive Center, which adjoins the museum, the center was not open for tour on the day of our visit. Based on information available on the museum's website, the center is used for both music education and dance instruction, and is a worthwhile addition to the town of Indianola.
A trip through the Mississippi Delta would not be complete without a visit to the B. B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center. A museum store is available just inside the museum's entrance. In the store, visitors may purchase books, CDs, and other items to take home as reminders of this wonderful museum in the heart of the Mississippi Delta.
As we drove out of town on Highway 82, headed for Greenville, we made a decision to return to Indianola next June for the annual B. B. King Homecoming festival and concert. And maybe, just maybe, we will be able to get one of those limited seats for B. B.'s "after party" at Club Ebony.
Source: Digital Photograph Collection (2009), privately owned by Janice Tracy
The home of Mississippi Valley State University, Itta Bena sits in the middle of the Mississippi Delta, surrounded by flat, almost treeless land. Once inside the town itself, there are many beautiful old trees that line its streets. Besides farming, the major industry in this part of the world is farm-raised catfish. Heartland Catfish, Inc., one of several large catfish processing companies in the Delta, is located in Itta Bena. And the town has a number of small restaurants that specialize in serving up fried catfish, Southern style. Still too early for lunch, we drove on to Indianola, with Greenville, Mississippi, as our final destination for the night.
We arrived in Indianola around noon, so we stopped for lunch at the Gin Mill Restaurant, located at 109 Pershing Avenue, just around the corner from the B. B. King Museum. There we had a delicious pulled pork sandwich, with all the trimmings, washed down with a large glass of sweet iced tea.
The building itself, once the Fletcher-Barnett cotton gin, now houses the Gin Mill Mall, which includes the restaurant and a gallery of Mississippi art, known as Gin Mill Galleries. More about the history of the building can be read on the gallery's website.
Since we had been told that a tour of the B. B. King Museum could take as much as three hours, we had set aside the remainder of the afternoon for the museum visit. But before going into the building, we drove around the block and snapped this picture of Club Ebony, a well-known Mississippi Delta blues club that has hosted countless blues musicians over the years.
As you can see in the photograph here, a Mississippi Blues Trail marker has been erected in front of this well-known Mississippi Delta juke joint. According to the marker, performers at Club Ebony have included Count Basie, Ray Charles, Little Milton, James Brown, Ike Turner, Willie Clayton, Bobby Bland, Howlin' Wolf, and Itta Bena's own B. B. King. Following B. B. King's performance on the evening of the B. B. King Homecoming in June of each year, Club Ebony is the site of a limited seating "after party."
As we left, I couldn't miss an opportunity to snap this photo of a stretch limousine parked just across the street from Club Ebony.
This is a view of a portion of the B. B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center, located at 400 Second Street, Indianola, Mississippi. Based on information I have read, the center just opened last year and was built at a cost of several million dollars. As we entered the museum, several staff members welcomed us with smiles and pleasant "hellos" and were ready to explain the tour process.
We were advised the museum is conducive to self-guided tours, so we chose that option. Although adult admission to the museum is only ten dollars, as senior citizens, our rate was reduced to only $5.00 each - very reasonable, we thought, for such a new and unique attraction. We were told that a guided tour by a docent is also available for an additional fee.
The exterior of the museum is contemporary in design, and that contemporary flair continues throughout the interior. Made up of separate, well-lit viewing areas that are centered around specific subjects and events, the layout of the interior is tasteful and well-lighted. Memorabilia that tell a story are on display in large glass cases, and audio and video recordings are used in each area to relate the story behind a particular subject or event.
A replica of B. B. King's home recording studio can be viewed through a glass wall in one area, while other areas display clothing, records, musical instruments, and in one area, an almost life-size semi-replica of B. B. King's bus. No photographs were allowed inside the museum, since most of the displays contain all sorts of copyrighted materials.
Although we peeked inside the Delta Interpretive Center, which adjoins the museum, the center was not open for tour on the day of our visit. Based on information available on the museum's website, the center is used for both music education and dance instruction, and is a worthwhile addition to the town of Indianola.
A trip through the Mississippi Delta would not be complete without a visit to the B. B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center. A museum store is available just inside the museum's entrance. In the store, visitors may purchase books, CDs, and other items to take home as reminders of this wonderful museum in the heart of the Mississippi Delta.
As we drove out of town on Highway 82, headed for Greenville, we made a decision to return to Indianola next June for the annual B. B. King Homecoming festival and concert. And maybe, just maybe, we will be able to get one of those limited seats for B. B.'s "after party" at Club Ebony.
Source: Digital Photograph Collection (2009), privately owned by Janice Tracy
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Robert Johnson's Grave and a Trip to Tallahatchie Flats
After leaving the Greenwood Blues Heritage Museum and Gallery, we set out to find Robert Johnson's grave. Although there has been much controversy over the years about where Johnson is really buried, the grave site just outside of Greenwood is believed by many, including Johnson historian and collector, Steve Lavere, to be the actual burial site.
As we drove out of Greenwood on the highway headed to Money, Mississippi ( yes, that is the town's name!) we neared the Little Zion M.B. Church and its cemetery where Johnson is believed to be buried. A Mississippi Blues Trail marker stands on the side of the highway near the cemetery, attesting to the influence of Robert Johnson's music on other Delta Blues musicians, including Son House, Muddy Waters, and Elmore James. According to the marker, Robert Johnson's early and mysterious death occurred in 1938 when Johnson was just 27 years old.
One of a number of Mississippi Blues Trail markers throughout the Mississippi Delta and elsewhere in the State of Mississippi.
Little Zion M. B. Church and Cemetery, where Robert Johnson is believed to be buried. The cemetery is located to the left of the church and is shaded by a number of large, old trees. Johnson's grave is near the back of the cemetery, under one of the largest pecan trees growing there.
The grave stone that marks the grave of Robert L. Johnson, Delta Blues Musician, is pictured above. Followers who visit Johnson's grave often leave flowers and other items to show their devotion to the man and the music that he left behind.
A close-up of Robert Johnson's grave marker that includes a fascimile of words allegedly written by Johnson shortly before his untimely death in 1928. We left the cemetery and headed for Tallahatchie Flats, an interesting new overnight venue near Greenwood. The gravel road that turns off the main highway is marked by a simple black mailbox held up by part of a plow. The name "Tallahatchie Flats" was on the mailbox, so we knew our destination was not far away. Although the actual address does not appear on the mailbox, the physical location of Tallahatchie Flats is 58458 County Road 518, Greenwood, Mississippi 38930.
Situated only a few yards from the mailbox is a large sign, visible from the main roadway, that assured us we were headed in the right direction.
As we continued to travel down the gravel road marked by the mailbox and the sign, we saw yet another sign, this one made out of old-fashioned tin, that guided us around a curve in the
road on the way to Tallahatchie Flats.
As we rounded the curve, we saw a cluster of seven sharecropper cabins that told us we had arrived at our destination. According to Steve Lavere and George Vasquez back at the museum in Greenwood, Tallahatchie Flats is made up of cabins that were moved from their original locations onto this tract of Delta farm land. The location is a short distance from Robert Johnson's place of rest and is used for overnight accomodations for visitors and festival goers from around the world, all wanting to experience the feel of life in the Mississippi Delta. The unpainted and weathered cypress exteriors of the cabins remain unchanged, but the interiors have been "modernized" with heat and air and "indoor plumbing," working appliances, and such, and each cabin has been decorated with furnishings reminiscent of the early-mid 1900s.
Individual cabins have been assigned names that are painted on a wooden marker above each
front door, including such names as "Red House" and "Tush Hog."
Pictured above is the larger of the two types of cabins that make up Tallahatchie Flats. This particular one has two exterior doors. Seen in the foreground of the cabin, just to the left of the walkway, is an in-ground pump once used to pump water for cooking and for baths.
Old-fashioned chairs sit on the front porch of this cabin, just waiting for the weary traveler to sit and watch the Delta sun set over endless flat rows of crops such as milo, soybeans, and cotton. A metal washtub is seen hanging on the left side of the cabin was used for many things, including laundry and baths.
Although this rental cabin now has a working stove inside, an antique one sits on the front porch as a reminder of the value of a wood stove. The stove was used not only for cooking, but it was used for heating the house in the winter and for warming bath water pumped by hand from an outside pump and carried into the house. Since electricity and gas were unheard of in most parts of the rural Mississippi Delta until the 1950s, kerosene or " coal oil" lamps were
used for lighting.
An iron wash pot and an old wringer washing machine, sitting on the porch of the cabin above, are remnants of a time gone by when laundry day really was an all-day chore. And that didn't include the time it took to hang all the laundry outside to dry. When clothes lines were not available, wet laundry was often hung on whatever was available, including the fence or porch rails.
The rural store pictured above, also made out of rough cypress lumber, looks just as it may have back in the 1940s. A "Royal Crown Cola" sign can be seen above the steps of the store, a reminder of the many cold soft drinks, all in bottles, that were sold at stores everywhere, even the Mississippi Delta, in years gone by. The only thing missing in this picture are the people who often lingered on the porch or the steps to drink RC, Grapette, Coca-Cola, or Big Red, at the end of a long, hot summer day.
For more information about festivals in or near Greenwood, including Rhythm on the River and Tallahatchie Flats Summer Music Festival, click here.
To visit the website for Tallahatchie Flats, click here or contact Les Shanks at 662.453.1854.
Next Stop: B. B. King Museum, Indianola, Mississippi
Source: All photos are from the Digital Photograph Collection (2009), privately held by Janice Tracy
As we drove out of Greenwood on the highway headed to Money, Mississippi ( yes, that is the town's name!) we neared the Little Zion M.B. Church and its cemetery where Johnson is believed to be buried. A Mississippi Blues Trail marker stands on the side of the highway near the cemetery, attesting to the influence of Robert Johnson's music on other Delta Blues musicians, including Son House, Muddy Waters, and Elmore James. According to the marker, Robert Johnson's early and mysterious death occurred in 1938 when Johnson was just 27 years old.
One of a number of Mississippi Blues Trail markers throughout the Mississippi Delta and elsewhere in the State of Mississippi.
Little Zion M. B. Church and Cemetery, where Robert Johnson is believed to be buried. The cemetery is located to the left of the church and is shaded by a number of large, old trees. Johnson's grave is near the back of the cemetery, under one of the largest pecan trees growing there.
The grave stone that marks the grave of Robert L. Johnson, Delta Blues Musician, is pictured above. Followers who visit Johnson's grave often leave flowers and other items to show their devotion to the man and the music that he left behind.
A close-up of Robert Johnson's grave marker that includes a fascimile of words allegedly written by Johnson shortly before his untimely death in 1928. We left the cemetery and headed for Tallahatchie Flats, an interesting new overnight venue near Greenwood. The gravel road that turns off the main highway is marked by a simple black mailbox held up by part of a plow. The name "Tallahatchie Flats" was on the mailbox, so we knew our destination was not far away. Although the actual address does not appear on the mailbox, the physical location of Tallahatchie Flats is 58458 County Road 518, Greenwood, Mississippi 38930.
Situated only a few yards from the mailbox is a large sign, visible from the main roadway, that assured us we were headed in the right direction.
As we continued to travel down the gravel road marked by the mailbox and the sign, we saw yet another sign, this one made out of old-fashioned tin, that guided us around a curve in the
road on the way to Tallahatchie Flats.
As we rounded the curve, we saw a cluster of seven sharecropper cabins that told us we had arrived at our destination. According to Steve Lavere and George Vasquez back at the museum in Greenwood, Tallahatchie Flats is made up of cabins that were moved from their original locations onto this tract of Delta farm land. The location is a short distance from Robert Johnson's place of rest and is used for overnight accomodations for visitors and festival goers from around the world, all wanting to experience the feel of life in the Mississippi Delta. The unpainted and weathered cypress exteriors of the cabins remain unchanged, but the interiors have been "modernized" with heat and air and "indoor plumbing," working appliances, and such, and each cabin has been decorated with furnishings reminiscent of the early-mid 1900s.
Individual cabins have been assigned names that are painted on a wooden marker above each
front door, including such names as "Red House" and "Tush Hog."
Pictured above is the larger of the two types of cabins that make up Tallahatchie Flats. This particular one has two exterior doors. Seen in the foreground of the cabin, just to the left of the walkway, is an in-ground pump once used to pump water for cooking and for baths.
Old-fashioned chairs sit on the front porch of this cabin, just waiting for the weary traveler to sit and watch the Delta sun set over endless flat rows of crops such as milo, soybeans, and cotton. A metal washtub is seen hanging on the left side of the cabin was used for many things, including laundry and baths.
Although this rental cabin now has a working stove inside, an antique one sits on the front porch as a reminder of the value of a wood stove. The stove was used not only for cooking, but it was used for heating the house in the winter and for warming bath water pumped by hand from an outside pump and carried into the house. Since electricity and gas were unheard of in most parts of the rural Mississippi Delta until the 1950s, kerosene or " coal oil" lamps were
used for lighting.
An iron wash pot and an old wringer washing machine, sitting on the porch of the cabin above, are remnants of a time gone by when laundry day really was an all-day chore. And that didn't include the time it took to hang all the laundry outside to dry. When clothes lines were not available, wet laundry was often hung on whatever was available, including the fence or porch rails.
The rural store pictured above, also made out of rough cypress lumber, looks just as it may have back in the 1940s. A "Royal Crown Cola" sign can be seen above the steps of the store, a reminder of the many cold soft drinks, all in bottles, that were sold at stores everywhere, even the Mississippi Delta, in years gone by. The only thing missing in this picture are the people who often lingered on the porch or the steps to drink RC, Grapette, Coca-Cola, or Big Red, at the end of a long, hot summer day.
For more information about festivals in or near Greenwood, including Rhythm on the River and Tallahatchie Flats Summer Music Festival, click here.
To visit the website for Tallahatchie Flats, click here or contact Les Shanks at 662.453.1854.
Next Stop: B. B. King Museum, Indianola, Mississippi
Source: All photos are from the Digital Photograph Collection (2009), privately held by Janice Tracy
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Greenwood Blues Heritage Museum and Gallery, Greenwood, Mississippi
The next stop on our Delta Tour was the Greenwood Blues Heritage Museum and Gallery, located in the building in the photo above. If you are unfamiliar with Robert Johnson, he is the Delta Blues musician who allegedly "sold his soul to the devil" in order to become the greatest guitar man ever at what is now the intersection of U. S. Highways 49 and 61 known as the "crossroads." Robert Johnson's life and music career ended early, at the age of 27, allegedly under mysterious circumstances at Three Forks, a store and club near Greenwood.
The first floor of this beautifully renovated building houses the Blue Parrot Cafe and Veronica's Bakery. The restaurant had been on our list for dinner on Monday evening, but we were disappointed to find out that it was closed on the only evening we were in town. We did buy chocolate chip cookies from the glass case of goodies at Veronica's Bakery to take with us when we left Greenwood. The only word for the cookies - divine!
On the second floor is the museum and gallery, accessed by a single flight of stairs.
In addition to green historic markers that are posted along Mississippi's highways and byways, a new set of markers, blue in color, now mark places that are significant in the state's Blues History. The marker pictured above is one of the new markers and can be seen outside the building above.
Those who participated in the renovation of this three-story brick building in Greenwood's Historic Downtown District are memorialized on this plaque outside the building.
As we ascended the stairs, we knew we were at the right place when we saw this poster of the King of the Blues, Robert Johnson.
Once we reached the second floor, we were cordially greeted by George Vasquez, Steve Lavere's son. George's friendly smile and his knowledge of his father's thirty-something years collection of Robert Johnson records and memorabilia made our visit to the museum a very pleasant one. As he gave us a personal tour of the museum, he answered all of our questions with the ultimate in expertise and patience. Although George is a Californian who moved to Greenwood specifically to work with his father in getting this important blues museum established, we immediately decided that he is also a "Southern Gentleman." Thanks, George!
Memorabilia housed in glass showcases line the walls of the museum. Interestingly, these antique wooden glass cases and storage drawers were once part of an old drug store in Greenwood and now add to the uniqueness of this extensive collection of records, books, and other memorabilia.
Although the contents of this one-of-a-kind museum are the personal collection of Steve Lavere, there are a few new items for purchase in the small museum "store" area.
As we were about to leave the museum, Robert Johnson's loyal and longtime fan, Steve Lavere, "the man behind the museum," appeared at the head of the stairs. With the permission of both Steve and George, I snapped this final picture of them with another fan of Robert Johnson, my husband, who is standing in the middle. With Veronica's cookies in hand, we left the Robert Johnson Museum headed to check out a new venture described by George and Steve as "Tallahatchie Flats."
Source: Photos are part of a Digital Collection (2009), privately owned by Janice Tracy
Next Stop: A Pictorial Visit of Tallahatchie Flats
Friday, June 12, 2009
Scenes from Greenwood, Mississippi
Before we left Greenwood, Mississippi for other points of interest in the Mississippi Delta, we stopped to photograph a few historic buildings and landmarks in town. Although there are literally dozens of beautifully-kept turn-of-the century homes along Park Avenue, the one above caught my eye. With a porch on two sides, this house is the only one along this lovely tree-lined street with its front door facing a side street.
Our next stop was downtown Greenwood. Although we arrived in Greenwood after Memorial Day festivities were over, we thought it appropriate to include a photograph of the large Veteran's Memorial pictured above.
Another interesting building was the old Greenwood Public Library seen here. The new Greenwood Public Library is an up-to-date brick and glass facility in downtown Greenwood and is a great place to begin researching Leflore County family history.
One of the most beautiful historic structures in Greenwood, Mississippi is the Leflore County Courthouse seen above. Located at 317 W. Market Street, Greenwood, Mississippi, the courthouse is the center of government activity for the county of just under 40,000 people who live in and around the towns of Greenwood, Itta Bena, Morgan City, Schlater, and Sidon.
Next stop: Robert Johnson Museum
Sources: Digital Photograph Collection, privately held by Janice Tracy
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
The Bridgewater Inn, Greenwood, Mississippi
The absolute highlight of our Delta Tour was the grand old southern town of Greenwood, Mississippi. Named for the last Great Chief of the Choctaw Nation in Mississippi, Greenwood Leflore, Greenwood is the county seat of Leflore County, Mississippi. The town itself sits on both sides of a stretch of the Yazoo River, which empties into the Mississippi River just north of Vicksburg. Greenwood is home to a number of lovely "cotton mansions" that occupy its beautiful tree-lined streets.
This Mississippi historical marker pictured above occupies a vantage spot on River Road which runs along the Yazoo River. Although the town is built on both sides of the river, the older downtown section, with its narrow streets and alleys and historical buildings, occupies the side not seen in the photo. The marker tells the story of the "Greenwood Cotton Row District," a district comprised the "state's most important concentration of buildings associated with marketing of cotton and with the state's post-Civil War cotton boom," and has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Arriving in Greenwood in mid-afternoon on Memorial Day, we were headed to one of the lovely residences of times gone by when "Cotton was King." Our destination was the Bridgewater Inn, located at 501 River Road, where we had reservations for the night. Innkeepers and Hosts for the evening were native Mississippians Lucy Branch Cooper Hodges and her husband, James Hodges. Actually, Lucy and I are cousins, having descended from a common ancestor, Edward Tillman Branch, who migrated from Virginia to Mississippi in the early 1800's. James Hodges also has a connection to the Branch family through an elderly aunt.
This is a view of the front of the Bridgewater Inn, Greenwood, Mississippi, and what we saw as we drove to its address at 501 River Road . The view from the lower and the upper galleries of the house offer an unobstructed view of the waters of the Yazoo River. When we arrived at the Bridgewater Inn, I could not wait to sit in one of the inviting white rockers that occupied the downstairs gallery that ran the entire width of the house. And I didn't waste much time doing just that! I felt as if I needed to be wearing a hoop skirt and sipping on a mint julep while I watched the swift, muddy waters of the swollen Yazoo River flow by.
Entering the front door of this 1910 Greek Revival home, a visitor immediately sees the Drawing Room to the right of the front door.
In the late 1990's, Lucy Branch Cooper purchased the house from Dr. Donald Pierce, a local physician, and began an intensive restoration project. Lucy personally decorated the grand residence with exquisite period pieces exuding style and elegance. The house has a genuinely regal feel to it, thanks to Lucy's decorating expertise, but each room is inviting, warm, and comfortable, as well. As we wandered through the house, amazed by the ornate antique furniture that graces each room, I was pleasantly surprised to find a chef's kitchen filled with the latest in Viking appliances befitting even the most skilled culinary artisan. The fact that Greenwood is the home of the Viking Corporation, its manufacturing and distribution centers and the widely-acclaimed Viking Cooking School, has made Viking kitchens fairly common in many Greenwood homes.
Above is a view of the Front Parlor, which is seen to the left upon entering the Bridgewater Inn. Furnished in shades of green, the room's centerpiece is the fireplace and a turn-of-the century styled wooden mantle with intricate bead work trim and a beveled mirror.
Formerly the house's solarium, the room pictured above is located at the very back of the first floor and is furnished with inviting upholstered sofas and chairs. With beautiful stained glass windows throughout, the room is used as an informal living room for guests.
I snapped this photo just after we completed our breakfast in the grand dining room. When we awoke, the table was already set for two with Havilland china. This room, too, contains gorgeous stained glass windows in shades of yellow and gold that allowed the early morning light to enter the room ever so gently.
More stained glass windows! These were in the guest suite just around the corner from ours. So beautiful.
Our guest suite featured a king size bed. Like all of the other rooms in the house, it also had a fireplace with an antique mantle. Two of the bedrooms upstairs, including this one, had direct access to the upstairs gallery (see below.)
With a wooden swing boasting cup holders, the upstairs porch/gallery at the Bridgewater Inn was a perfect stop for an evening rest or morning coffee or tea, while watching the river just across the street. A soft wind was always blowing through the many large trees nearby. I could only wish we had been there a little earlier when the azaleas and other spring flowers were all in bloom.
A special part of our stay in Greenwood included dinner with our Bridgewater Inn Hosts, Lucy and James, who treated us to an unexpected and delicious dinner of Cornish game hen and wild rice. Since we are relatives, dinner conversation was sprinkled heavily with talk about family history, and Lucy even arranged a phone call for me to talk with Jim Branch, another family historian, who lives near Birminham, AL.Jim and I have been in touch since we returned home, and I now have a copy of a picture of Edward Tillman Branch, a son of the Edward Tillman Branch born in Virginia, along with a copy of a letter he wrote his daughter in 1902 while undergoing treatment for colon cancer in New Orleans. The picture and the letter will be the subjects of a later post about the Branch Family in Mississippi.
My only regret is that we had not visited Greenwood earlier in the year, when the azaleas and other spring plants were blooming in all their colorful glory. But there is always next year. And we are already planning a return trip to our newly-found fantastic home away from home in Greenwood.
A special thank you goes to you, Lucy and James, for being the perfect Hosts. You made our visit to the Bridgewater Inn and Greenwood a most memorable and enjoyable one.
See you next year!
Sources: Digital Photograph Collection 2009, privately owned by Janice Tracy
Monday, June 8, 2009
Kosciusko/Attala County History Books and CDs
Today, I was in contact with Ann Breedlove who works in the Genealogy Room of the Attala County Library in Kosciusko, Mississippi. According to Ann, Thomas Craft, a member of the Kosciusko/Attala Historical Society, stopped by the library today and mentioned that only 40 copies of the history of Kosciusko and Attala County remain available for purchase. Also, Craft mentioned that only 20 CDs containing pictures of old buildings in Kosciusko remain for sale.
Ann has asked me to include this information in one of my posts so that anyone interested in purchasing the book or the CD would know that limited copies of these items are available for purchase. If anyone is interested in purchasing either the book or the CD, please refer to the information below.
Kosciusko/Attala Historical Society
P.O. Box 127
Kosciusko, MS 39090
Ann Breedlove
Attala County Library
201 S. Huntington St.
Kosciusko, MS 39090
662.289.5151
The cost of the history book is $35, plus $5 for postage. The cost of the CD containing photos is $20, plus $3.50 for postage. If the book or the CD is ordered directly from the historical society, payment can be made with one check that should also include the amount for postage.
If the order is made through Ann Breedlove at the Attala County Library, however, a check for the purchase amount of the CD ($20) or the book ($35) should be made out directly to "Kosciusko/Attala Historical Society," with a separate check written for the amount of postage. The check for postage should be made payable to "Attala County Library."
If you have questions, please contact Ann by email at:
attalagenealogy@midmissregional.lib.ms.us
Ann has asked me to include this information in one of my posts so that anyone interested in purchasing the book or the CD would know that limited copies of these items are available for purchase. If anyone is interested in purchasing either the book or the CD, please refer to the information below.
Kosciusko/Attala Historical Society
P.O. Box 127
Kosciusko, MS 39090
Ann Breedlove
Attala County Library
201 S. Huntington St.
Kosciusko, MS 39090
662.289.5151
The cost of the history book is $35, plus $5 for postage. The cost of the CD containing photos is $20, plus $3.50 for postage. If the book or the CD is ordered directly from the historical society, payment can be made with one check that should also include the amount for postage.
If the order is made through Ann Breedlove at the Attala County Library, however, a check for the purchase amount of the CD ($20) or the book ($35) should be made out directly to "Kosciusko/Attala Historical Society," with a separate check written for the amount of postage. The check for postage should be made payable to "Attala County Library."
If you have questions, please contact Ann by email at:
attalagenealogy@midmissregional.lib.ms.us
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Mississippi Delta Tour
During the recent Memorial Day long weekend, we attended my brother's annual Memorial Day Party just south of Jackson. Just like the annual Byron Nelson Golf Tournament, his outdoor party has been known to get "rained out." This year it rained, and everyone, including a gaggle of great-nieces and great-nephews, were confined most of the day to the indoors, the covered patio, or the front porch. But the party was great fun. After lunch, we even had a baby shower for the newest addition to the family, another great-nephew, who already has a name and who is expected to arrive in mid-July in Biloxi.
Early Monday morning, the actual Memorial Day Holiday, we headed out for a trip that would end in Greenwood late that afternoon. Pictured below is how the street to Jessamine Cemetery in Ridgeland, Mississippi looked when we left for a short visit to the cemetery before leaving town.
(Photographed by J. Tracy, May 25, 2009)
Our itinerary for the day included stops in cemeteries around Coxburg, Ebenezer, Goodman, and Ebenezer, all in Holmes County, before arriving at the Bridgewater Inn in Greenwood, where we planned to stay for the night.
Beginning next week, I will be posting photos and articles about our short trip through the Mississippi Delta. I hope you will follow along to see and read about some of the sites that we visited along the way.
Next Stop: Greenwood, Mississippi (Leflore County)
Early Monday morning, the actual Memorial Day Holiday, we headed out for a trip that would end in Greenwood late that afternoon. Pictured below is how the street to Jessamine Cemetery in Ridgeland, Mississippi looked when we left for a short visit to the cemetery before leaving town.
(Photographed by J. Tracy, May 25, 2009)
Our itinerary for the day included stops in cemeteries around Coxburg, Ebenezer, Goodman, and Ebenezer, all in Holmes County, before arriving at the Bridgewater Inn in Greenwood, where we planned to stay for the night.
Beginning next week, I will be posting photos and articles about our short trip through the Mississippi Delta. I hope you will follow along to see and read about some of the sites that we visited along the way.
Next Stop: Greenwood, Mississippi (Leflore County)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)