Suzassippi's Lottabusha County Chronicles

The Austin, Texas Capitol Building

2012-02-02T18:19:00.000-06:00

Interior view of the dome. The Texas capitol building was completed in 1888 as the "winning design in a national competition." The Renaissance Revival building was designed by architect Elijah E. Myers, who also designed the Michigan and Colorado capitols. The Goddess of Liberty statue was placed atop the dome in 1888. The exterior walls are "sunset red" grant, quarried from nearby Marble

Elvis has not left the building

2012-01-27T08:16:00.000-06:00

My colleague and I had to go to Tupelo yesterday for our curriculum grant. As one of my other colleagues there put it, "You had to spend the whole day here for 15 minute clips?" Yes. We had to go in at the beginning of 6 classes, do our 15 minutes of explanation of the research study, give the consent forms and pre-tests--which took about 2 minutes to complete. Then, wait an hour for the next

What $4000 looks like in Mississippi: Beautiful

2012-01-24T22:11:00.000-06:00

WARNING: I am going to be talking about septic tanks, human waste, and sewage. While it is not graphic, it is a topic some folks don't want to acknowledge: people have snot in their noses, and have to expel bodily wastes of urine and feces. It all has to go somewhere. I know--doesn't look like much, does it? Just last week this was a lush green lawn, albeit one with a dog trail running through

Breckenridge High School

2012-01-21T11:51:00.001-06:00

This modern building was built sometime after 1959. Concrete screenblocks--for that relentless West Texas sun. The sports team is the Buckaroos. A buckaroo was one of three distinctive mounted herders in North America. I know one would not necessarily expect this statue to be historically accurate, but frankly, it isn't even close. One of Lawrence Clayton's last books (Vaqueros, Cowboys, and

Municipal Building: Breckenridge, Texas

2012-01-19T07:49:00.000-06:00

The Municipal Building was erected in 1922, during the oil boom. With the discovery of oil came a population explosion, from 1500 to over 20,000 in two years. There are two bays located at the rear of the building (which currently houses the Fire Department) and since they appear to be original to the building, it leads me to speculate that was the original purpose of the building. I cannot

Swenson Museum, formerly First National Bank of Breckenridge

2012-01-17T17:58:00.001-06:00

The First National Bank of Breckenridge was organized in 1904; they moved into this building on its completion in 1920. Per the Texas Historic Marker, this is a Beaux Arts Classical Revival structure. Barely visible to the left in the photo is the metal framing for what once was a covered stairway to the upper floor. I presume these iron bars are from the time the building was a bank. First

Baptist Churches: Throckmorton, Elbert, Eliasville

2012-01-16T11:28:00.000-06:00

First Baptist Church, Throckmorton, is built with the same limestone as most of the older buildings in the town. While I am certain there are archives somewhere about this building, they are not readily available online. Wouldn't it be great if all buildings had a sign out front providing information about the origins, even if it is not listed on some historic register? Assuming this is

It's Sunday: Let's go to church

2012-01-15T11:33:00.001-06:00

The Newcastle Methodist Church was established in 1908 in the lumberyard. Sometime during the 1940s, this building was constructed. Dad said it was first wood, and in later years was stuccoed. Rufe Helm, a local man, was instrumental in the building of the church. It appears to be built in a Spanish Colonial Revival or Mission Revival style, evidenced by the plaster/stucco finish, flat roof,

Icehouses

2012-01-14T11:20:00.001-06:00

Pre-refrigeration days, ice houses, ice wagons, and buying ice was common place. The ice wagon would travel around the neighborhood, even in rural areas, selling blocks of ice for the ice box--the precursor to refrigerators. This old ice house is in Albany, Texas. Note the ice chute door midway in the building? Ice was manufactured inside, and then either dropped down the chute for a small

The Whitney Theatres in Albany: The Ritz and The Aztec

2012-01-13T08:06:00.000-06:00

Frank Whitney built the Aztec Theatre in 1927 as a counterpart to his Ritz Theatre up the street. According to the Albany News, June 24, 1927, it was "to be a stucco building of Spanish design...will feature western pictures and the Ritz will show only the very latest and best pictures on the market." The Aztec was originally built as a "working class" theatre. It became a community center

Back to Texas and 50s service stations

2012-01-12T13:12:00.000-06:00

It's time for a little nostalgia break after a week of work in Mound Bayou with the students! On my recent December trip through several Texas counties, I noticed that the old Gulf service station in Albany has been restored. This station sits on the corner of the road from Throckmorton and Seymour--a road I traveled many times as a child. The pumps in the center of the island were for

Our Last Night in Mound Bayou

2012-01-10T18:29:00.000-06:00

Photo courtesy Glenn SudduthIt has been a busy week here for the class, and though we have enjoyed our stay immensely, we are feeling the tired and everyone is getting anxious to go home. We have been busy pretty much non-stop most of the time since our arrival. This morning, most of the students went up to the Delta Boutique, located in the St. Gabriel Mercy Center, to do some shopping. It's

Cooking Lessons after a long day

2012-01-09T22:42:00.001-06:00

After a brief planning meeting this morning for the day's schedule, the students headed out on assignment and I headed to Oxford. I had to go to the clinic to get my stitches out. On return to Mound Bayou, they updated me on all the accomplishments they had done, including some incredible pictures. I'll get those posted at the end of the week back home. I got back 2 hours late and we needed

Memphis, Tennessee Iron Works

2012-01-08T19:05:00.000-06:00

Last Friday while orienting the students to Mound Bayou, I noticed a partial emblem on the iron work design of the Bank of Mound Bayou Building. Without a specific name, I cannot locate anything on it, yet, as there were several Memphis iron works companies during the time period. If anyone recognizes the shield, please let me know. Another detail that had escaped me earlier, was the Jones &

Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church and Sister Debra prepares ethnic Sunday dinner

2012-01-08T14:09:00.001-06:00

One of our young friends from the October workshop invited us to worship at her church this morning after we mentioned wanting to attend church today. It reminded me of when I would attend church with my grandmother back in Profit or Elbert only much more joyous. In that regard, it was like being back in my home church of Potosi Baptist. It was a moment of being met right where my need was--

Laundry on Saturday Night

2012-01-07T22:43:00.002-06:00

I'm lying here on my elevated air bed too tired to post! We had another early start today but I slept better last night so was more energetic even for a Saturday morning. After breakfast, Dr. Moore and the graduate students began the asset mapping process. The undergrad students and I photographed and catalogued the contents of the building we were assigned. That took most of the morning. It

Chef Suzassippi Opens Bayah Bistro

2012-01-06T20:53:00.003-06:00

There's a lot of buzz tonight in Mound Bay'ah since breakfast this morning at The Delta Skillet. The grand opening tonight at the elgegant Bay'ah Bistro offered a sneak peak at Suzassippi's new Delta Fusion menu. Chef Suz was joined by Chef Landon of the renowned Cafe de Bayou for a special guest appearance. The evening's menu featured a new addition to the line-up, Bay'ah-infused sweet Delta

Chef Landon at the Cafe de Bayou

2012-01-05T18:36:00.001-06:00

We arrived in Mound Bayou at 2:30 this afternoon and checked into our accommodations. It is kind of like summer camp and we are having great fun! We found the local dollar general and picked up items for supper and breakfast tomorrow. Chef Landon is preparing spaghetti and meatballs de Bayou style. Dr. Moore ruined a tire and cannot join us tonight as she had to get it replaced and she had the

Works Progress Administration: Possum Kingdom Bridge

2012-01-03T23:15:00.000-06:00

Politically speaking, the best of all landscapes, the best of all roads, are those which foster movement toward a desirable social goal. John Brinkerhoff Jackson, in Discovering the Vernacular Landscape On my recent trip to Texas while researching the Eliasville bridge over the Clear Fork of the Brazos River, I ran across an item about the bridge built by the Works Progress Administration in

If I Don't See You Again: 2011 is history

2012-01-01T14:15:00.001-06:00

It's time for the obligatory end of the year review, and a bit of a break from all the historic and historical sites of Texas. I recently learned that there is a difference: significance versus age. I tend to lean toward historical, that all things of place matter because they are part of who we are because they are part of who we were. I was reminded of that yesterday as I was searching

Eliasville, Texas: Downtown

2011-12-29T13:21:00.000-06:00

Acknowledgement: Special thanks to Margaret Donnell Lambkin for information about the original use of the buildings in this historic town in Young County, Texas. Opened as the First State Bank in 1920 (according to banking history of the state of Texas), the bank closed 3/31/1924. It re-opened 4/1/1924 as the Guaranty State Bank, and was renamed Eliasville State Bank on 12/26/1925. The bank

Callahan County Hospital, circa 1939-?

2011-12-28T12:14:00.000-06:00

This is the old Callahan County Hospital, built by the Works Progress Administration 1938-1939 in Baird, Texas. In spite of due diligence in searching, I am unable to locate anything about the hospital, other than a couple of references to people being born there or working there. It was open as late as the 60s, and possibly longer than that as I recall when it was still a working hospital

Texas Courthouses: J. E. Flanders' 1883 courthouse in Stephens County

2011-12-26T16:48:00.000-06:00

James E. Flanders designed quite a few Texas courthouses, including the second courthouse for Stephens County, built in 1883. The three-story red sandstone courthouse with clock tower replaced the original pine courthouse erected in 1872. Flanders was assisted by his brother, Charles, who designed the archway that remains after the building was razed when the new courthouse was built in 1926.

Texas Courthouses: Throckmorton County, Throckmorton

2011-12-25T15:57:00.000-06:00

The decision to photograph the Throckmorton courthouse (which spawned the thought of taking pictures of the courthouses in the 3 counties I passed through on the way home) was born from reading an article sent by an acquaintance about youth involvement in rural communities. The article commented about a group of Cub Scouts seeing a picture of the Throckmorton courthouse in its original form, and

Texas Courthouses: Stephens County, Breckenridge

2011-12-24T18:09:00.000-06:00

The discovery of oil in Breckenridge in the 1920s meant they needed a larger courthouse. This Texas Renaissance style courthouse (a combination of Classical Revival and Renaissance Revival with Texas elements) was completed in 1926. The building is constructed with limestone, and the streets that run through Breckenridge are still the original brick. The architect was David S. Castle of Abilene

Texas Courthouses: Shackelford County, Albany

2011-12-23T22:22:00.000-06:00

Shackelford County courthouse was built in 1883-84 from the plans of architect J. E. Flanders, who designed several other Texas courthouses in the Second Empire style. (As a child living in Baylor County, I have wonderful memories of visiting the library located on the first floor of the courthouse, under the stairwell. I read every edition they had of the Bobbsey Twins, and anything else

Texas Courthouses: Callahan County, Baird

2011-12-21T22:38:00.003-06:00

The original county seat of Callahan County was in Belle Plain, a few miles south east of Baird. When the train laid tracks through Baird instead of Belle Plain, that settlement was doomed. In 1883, the county seat moved to Baird, and "noted architect F. E. Ruffini" built the first courthouse. As the county grew, "another noted architect, J. Riely Gordon" was hired in 1900 to design a larger

Goodbye, Land of Not

2011-12-21T10:26:00.001-06:00

After a very cold night, the sun is shining, the sky is clear blue, and it is to reach the 60s today. My kind of weather.

All I want for Christmas is access to Internet again

2011-12-20T16:22:00.000-06:00

This trip has been a treasure hunt, between courthouses, WPA buildings, train depots, churches, and other interesting things I have discovered, like something called "Texas Renaissance" style architecture. Perhaps it is the wind, the cloud cover, or just the bleakness of north/west Texas in terms of technology, but I am in serious Internet handicap here. I can get the occasional weak signal

Chillin' in Graham

2011-12-18T22:55:00.002-06:00

I drove down to Graham at lunch, taking some photos on the way. I have some exciting new finds, but they'll have to wait until my United visit tomorrow and my cafe latte break. I actually have a very weak signal to use my AT&T account for the iPad so I feel compelled to take advantage. I've looked up some historic information for tomorrow's post to get a little jump start. Names to toss out: J R

A little rural decay

2011-12-18T10:00:00.001-06:00

Sometime in the middle of the night, Rando opted for the couch. I think he had the best idea. My in-laws had this bed when we married...30 years ago. It's not a good sleep alone, let alone with 2 adults and a lab the size of a middle-schooler. I think between the aches and pains of the trip, the attack of the Texas allergens, and Kate, I was awake more than asleep. It's also kind of like

On the way to Abilene

2011-12-17T20:03:00.004-06:00

Yeah! Almost there--only 2 more hours! Kate says she is ready. Update:we are here and I wasted no time getting into my pajamas and bed. I've said it before but this time I mean it--no more one day trips. It is fly or 2 days from now on. Arthritis and sitting in a truck for 13 hours are not good partners. I like to have time to stop and see interesting buildings, too and in a 12-13 hour trip,

Maybe my iPad was worth what it cost: late night surfing from bed

2011-12-14T11:29:00.000-06:00

Yesterday was perfect chimenea weather: just cool enough for a fire, but not so cold as to be unpleasant in my super-warm KUCB Unalaska hoodie sweatshirt. I gathered up the usual ready supply of small limbs ever-present in my yard, pulled my Adirondack chair close enough to tend the fire, and wiled away an hour or so wondering when the end of the semester emails would start to arrive. I did

Grades are in, I'm not in Texas, and is this iPad really worth what it cost?

2011-12-12T20:00:00.002-06:00

I should be in Texas right now, sitting down to dinner with my folks. I'll say one thing about all the years that Randy and I have left for Texas the moment the semester was over: I could grade in the car while he drove, and then enter grades as soon as we hit the Internet. Many the year I entered grades on my iPhone. I really did not want to do that for a change, and thought I would manage to

Pronoia: Not all it is cracked up to be, and everything I ever wanted.

2011-12-09T19:21:00.000-06:00

You know those days when everything seems to be in a fog, not in focus? You know it's out there, you can make it out, but it is not as clear as you would like. Yep, today. It actually dawned clear and sunny here, and my mood matched the weather first thing this morning. And then, there you are, standing on a cliff, looking at the drop, saying "huh?". There is a part of you that just wants

Snowy drive to Mound Bayou

2011-12-08T10:29:00.000-06:00

Yesterday morning began with snow--it was falling fairly fast by 8 when we met for the drive to Mound Bayou. It was the first meeting for the Taborian Hospital renovation project--the Taborian Urgent Care Clinic. It was Chris' first trip to the Delta, and it was quite striking with the snow covering the fields--the miles and miles of fields on either side of highway 6 heading towards

Things I have, things I wish I had, and things I don't need.

2011-12-05T22:14:00.001-06:00

While I was in Atlanta last month, I found a new-to-me South African wine: Doolhof's (out of Paarl) Dark Lady of the Labyrinth Dark Pinotage. Smooth, silky tannins with a smoky finish. I wish I had some. While I was looking for new trays after Kate knocked my other ones off the counter and broke them, I found something I've been wanting: a cast iron teapot. It keeps the tea hot enough to last

End of the Semester: You've got a friend in me.

2011-12-03T11:13:00.001-06:00

Yesterday marked the end of the fall semester. Nothing left but finals next week, finishing up the administrative tasks, and then a couple of weeks of break until the January class in Mound Bayou. I'll be traveling to Mound Bayou Wednesday for a meeting about the grant that was recently awarded to restore the Taborian Hospital and develop the Taborian Urgent Care Clinic. Although there have

Back to the Campus: Old Chemistry and Pharmacy Building

2011-11-27T11:28:00.002-06:00

It is hard to believe a week has gone by so quickly. I always way underestimate how much time it is going to take me to do what I have planned in my time off. There really was no "time off" this week as I spent almost every waking moment working on a grant proposal that is due tomorrow. The Old Chemistry & Pharmacy Building, renamed Brevard Hall this year, is one of the buildings in the

Road Trip: Franklin, Tennessee and parts thereabouts

2011-11-23T23:16:00.000-06:00

This has been a really long day...really, really long...J had a followup appointment with his new doctor in Franklin, Tennessee, which is about 4 1/2 hours from here. He was dreading the drive up and back, and because I was off, I had asked if he wanted me to go with him to help drive. I squelched the urge to take the camera, given that we had a mission and he is a lot like my dad in that

George Peabody Building

2011-11-22T13:19:00.000-06:00

The George Peabody Education Fund enabled the construction of the Education Building, dedicated in 1912. It housed the School of Education until 1956 when it became home to psychology. The building was used to house students for a short period following World War I. The nomination of the Lyceum-Circle for national historic district said this of the building: ...alludes to Classical designs

Fulton Chapel

2011-11-21T15:04:00.000-06:00

Fulton Chapel was first used for commencement in 1927 according to Walton's The University of Mississippi: A Pictorial History, though the sign in front indicates 1929. Named after Chancellor Fulton, the columns are Indiana limestone and it was the largest auditorium on campus until Gertrude Ford Center was completed. Architect was C. H. Lindsley, who designed a number of Mississippi

On remodeling buildings and loss of access

2011-11-20T20:45:00.001-06:00

Renovation of Howry, Falkner, Barr, and Leavell Halls has been going on since the summer. Up until now, it seems to have been mostly demolition of the interior, but the elevator shaft that connects Howry and Falkner is taking shape. In addition to Howry, Falkner, and Barr, Longstreet, Hill, and Vardaman were also built in 1929 to house males on the campus. Each housed 60 students. Howry was

Yalobusha County Courthouse

2011-11-13T09:59:00.000-06:00

Yesterday being Homecoming at Ole Miss meant town was even more crowded than a typical home game day, with fewer places to park and longer to wait in line. It seemed like a good day to finally make the trip to the BTC Old Fashioned Grocery Store in Water Valley. The original courthouse in Water Valley (there are two districts in Yalobusha County, with a courthouse in nearby Coffeeville as

Fundraising for the Mound Bayou Project

2011-11-12T12:40:00.000-06:00

The students held a bake sale/garage sale this morning to raise funds for our work in Mound Bayou and the Taborian Hospital renovation. Glenn and I set up in the chilly 6 a.m. air and pretty much had all the clothes hung by the time the others began to straggle in between 7 and 8. It is probably a sign of the economic times that more clothes were sold than anything, and all the Ole Miss

Amsterdam Centraal Station

2011-11-10T07:50:00.000-06:00

Amsterdam Centraal Station was opened in 1889. The building was designed by Dutch architect Pierre Cuypers. The roof span is fabricated cast iron by the iron founder Andrew Handyside of Derby, England. The Liverpool Station in London is a twin to Amsterdam Centraal. Step across the plaza in front of the station and the canal waits, beckoning you to climb aboard a water taxi. Venture along

Lessons from a cat

2011-11-06T09:57:00.000-06:00

Saturday was one of those gorgeous fall days where I cannot seem to get anything of consequence accomplished. I gave up trying at 4:30 and went outside to enjoy the 70 degree temps, the last of my forget-me-nots, and the increasing friendliness of the feral cats who have taken up residence here on Taylor hill. As noted before, this is their favorite napping place, and with the sunshine

Reflections: Why I am not a psychotherapist (with credit to Harry Specht)

2011-11-03T18:41:00.000-05:00

Today has been the first day in a long, long time that I could actually use my Thursday research day. Unfortunately, it was not for research, but working on catching up on grading. This semester, with its added responsibilities of a second grant, the program director position, a new service learning project, and a class overload that involves an extra 120 students, has kept me from not only

The Artmore Hotel, Atlanta

2011-10-30T20:15:00.004-05:00

The Artmore Hotel building was first opened in 1924 as an apartment residence, built in the Spanish Mediterranean style. Some time in the mid 80s, it was converted to a hotel. I first discovered it in 2003 (when it was the Granada Suites), ironically, when I went to Atlanta for the CSWE conference (which is why I was in Atlanta this past week) and interviewed for the job with the University of

Saturday night in notHotlanta

2011-10-29T22:06:00.000-05:00

Note: I left my glasses in the vehicle tonight, and once I discovered it, I was not in the mindset to dress and trudge down that hill to get them (and you will discover why shortly), so if you see lots of typos, forgive me and I will correct them once I can see more than a big old blur. :) Okay, it was just flat too cold to go out taking pictures today, not to mention, after walking up and down

The Fed, the Grand, and Gone with the Wind

2011-10-28T20:56:00.000-05:00

I stumbled across the Margaret Mitchell House while taking my walk around the block after brunch yesterday. The house was built as a single residence in 1899 in the Tudor Revival style. It was converted into apartments in 1919, and Margaret Mitchell wrote Gone With the Wind here. I was planning to head on back to the Marta stop, but spotted a sign across the street advising of the Fed, so

Who is making a movie in Atlanta?

2011-10-27T21:39:00.000-05:00

After registration this morning, I went to get brunch before the afternoon sessions began. I had decided that the Midtown stop on the MARTA was probably the intersection where I had found all the neat cafes and shops before, when I had walked up Peachtree, and I was right. I had a terrific Huevos Avocado, which was their version of Eggs Benedict, and some delicious oven-roasted potatoes.

Here I am in Atlanta

2011-10-26T21:18:00.000-05:00

Tonight, there are word pictures. I could upload a semi-blurry picture of the Wells Fargo bank building outside my window, but I'm thinking it will not be any more fascinating for you than it is for me. I am finally unpacked, email checked, phoned home, and about to get ready to do a little bit of writing before calling it [a very long] day. However, I have enjoyed the sights and sounds of

Updated: How many college seniors does it take to help a 3rd grader with math?

2011-10-26T07:37:00.001-05:00

Monday marked our first return to Riverside for the semester. We had 15 children for most of the time, and 5 or 6 more showed up near the end of our time there. It was a beautiful day outside, which was fortunate, because the police officers had their annual haunted house set up in the community room so we could not use it. This group of students had planned 3 activities, and they were all

Dancing the Wobble...

2011-10-23T13:56:00.001-05:00

As mentioned before, this is definitely not my dance genre. I can schottische, polka, two-step, waltz, cotton-eyed joe, Texas two-step, and even do the macarena, but the wobble just eluded me totally. Still, it was a lot of fun, along with the rest of the day with this great group of students.

Mound Bayou Marathon: Conclusion

2011-10-22T09:22:00.000-05:00

After almost 2 hours, and hundreds of photos, we neared the community facility after our detour through the cemetery with its many historic headstones commemorating early members of the community. The photo above is another one of those examples that I enjoy looking at--the play of the lights on the sheen of the water. This photo is what finally tipped me off to the yin/yang picture that I had

Religion through the eyes of Mound Bayou students

2011-10-21T08:28:00.001-05:00

The Church of the Covenant occupies one of the store fronts remaining along Edwards Street. Bethel Church: One of the buildings included in our historic preservation workshop to discuss the modernist movement. This building was erected in 1973. Almost 2 hours later, and we were nearly full-circle, headed back to the community facility--definitely walking a little slower. I have tried my best

Halfway through town: Mound Bayou Marathon Part V

2011-10-19T17:57:00.000-05:00

Ora's Variety ShopMake a right turn on Green Street, cross East Main Street and City Hall comes into view.On the corner of West Main and Green, the old Bank of Mound Bayou building.Remember that unusual brick design? Here is another example.The bank has been partially restored, including the glass (just barely visible under the arch) which is covered for now. A set of apartment buildings lie

Marathon in Mound Bayou Part IV: Edwards Street

2011-10-18T18:54:00.000-05:00

I was on the road before 8 a.m. this morning, going back to Mound Bayou. I had a follow up meeting with the Mayor about our January Wintersession class in Mound Bayou, and some updating on where we are in terms of other service learning projects. It was winter in Mississippi this morning, with overcast skies, drizzle, downright rain, and temperatures ranging in the mid 50s, lower 60s. I had on

Mound Bayou Marathon: Part III, The Taborian Leg of the Race

2011-10-17T08:44:00.000-05:00

We continued our walk across the street from the Knights and Daughters of the Tabor headquarters to the Taborian Hospital, built by the Knights and Daughters in 1940, and opened in 1942. I have posted on the Taborian a number of times, and it was another lesson in learning to hear about the hospital from the community members who remember it (it operated until the mid-60s or so), and from the

Mound Bayou Marathon: Part II

2011-10-16T13:14:00.000-05:00

Part of our history lesson was learning that the old depot building was located just across the street from the community facility, so we made that our first stop. A portion of the depot had been incorporated into a residence. The second stop was the old Knights and Daughters of the Tabor headquarters. One of the students selected this angle of the roofline for a focused shot. What I like

Mound Bayou Marathon: Part I

2011-10-15T23:36:00.001-05:00

Today has been one of the best days of my life--one of those days when you just are so blessed and so grateful for the opportunities that come your way. It was a day of experiencing relationship, and how important those experiences are. My friends and colleagues, Dr. LaToya Brown, upper left, and Dr. Debra Moore, 3rd from left, joined me and 3 of our students (Glenn, upper right, Krista, lower

Preparing to visit the Jewel of the Delta

2011-10-12T08:41:00.000-05:00

I spent yesterday working on the upcoming Historic Preservation Workshop for youth in Mound Bayou on Saturday. My two colleagues and I, and two students from practice class, will be driving down Saturday morning to spend the afternoon with about 10 youth who signed up. We will be conducting a series of brief workshops on historic preservation in general, and the significant history of MB,

A few last details: New Albany

2011-10-09T09:41:00.000-05:00

The Joseph Warren Lodge # 71 was organized in 1843 when New Albany was still in Pontotoc County. This building was erected in 1903. The following link is to a postcard (for the low, low price of $125) of the laying of the cornerstone of the lodge. The date on the postcard indicates it would be this building. The brickwork on this building is interesting, with an art deco look to it.

New Albany: The bank buildings

2011-10-08T08:24:00.000-05:00

The 1997 New Albany Comprehensive Plan reports three banks in New Albany in 1908: the Bank of New Albany, the Merchants and Farmers Bank, and the First National Bank. Two of these were located on Bankhead street, and are opposite of each other, next to the railroad track that runs beside the buildings. Bank of New Albany now houses Van Atkins jewelry. The electronic door entry reminds me of

Hamilton Hardware Building

2011-10-05T21:22:00.001-05:00

The Hamilton Hardware building was erected in 1904, and underwent "major restoration" in 1939, expanding and creating a new facade. Recently the building was renovated in a development project that includes loft living spaces, and street level businesses. That's quite a renovation, considering this 2007 photo. I assume this would be the loft area: Two highly appointed loft apartments - 1,000

The Burden of the Deep Thinking

2011-10-04T20:06:00.000-05:00

When I spent 5 weeks on the St. Paul Island, in the Bering Sea off the coast of Alaska, I had one of the most powerful experiences in my life. It's not just "off the coast" of Alaska--it is way off the coast, like you cannot see Russia from there OR Alaska. I did a lot of deep thinking during my time there--thinking about to what am I committed, to whom do I answer, how much am I willing to

New Albany Storefronts

2011-10-03T08:24:00.000-05:00

First, there was one cat...

2011-10-02T10:47:00.000-05:00

It's time to take a break from historic downtown New Albany and venture a little closer to home. This basket was one of Felix's favorite napping places, too. I cleaned out the long-gone forget-me-nots recently, and two of the kittens thanked me for it. The saga began back in 2010 while I was in South Africa. Randy discovered the ghost kitty on the screened porch. Ghost Kitty was the auntie

The Magnolia Theatre

2011-10-01T11:26:00.000-05:00

The Magnolia Theatre was constructed in 1947. Prior to then, there were two other theatres in the community: the Ritz, and the Royal, both built before 1941. One source also indicates an African American theatre, the Magonia, operated from 1950-60, but I can find no other information to corroborate that. At some point, the Magnolia was renamed the Cine. A photo from 1986 shows a different

Union County Courthouse

2011-09-29T09:07:00.000-05:00

Union County Courthouse in New Albany was erected in 1909 by F. E. Dobson and Company. The courthouse was designed by H. E. Ostling. Because the stage was erected in front of the courthouse, not to mention the crowds of people wandering about, it was impossible to get a clean shot. I contented myself with taking pictures of the dome--lots and lots of pictures of the dome. Rear wall.The

My first E. L. Malvaney discovery: New Albany old City Hall building

2011-09-27T12:51:00.000-05:00

Randy and I were strolling down Bankhead Street Saturday while waiting for the James Pirkle Blues Band to go on at 4:30 when I stopped in front of the former City Hall building and whipped out my camera. "Look at this great building!" Randy sighed, and mumbled, "What's so great about it?" I said I was pretty sure it was a WPA or PWA building and walked up to the plaque by the door. "E. L.

Tallahatchie River Fest New Albany: James Pirkle Blues Band

2011-09-25T12:20:00.001-05:00

I got a call last night from my friend Jill that the James Pirkle Bues Band was playing in New Albany at the Tallahatchie River Fest today. Is it necessary for me to say that I love the James Pirkle Blues Band? I first heard the band last April when they were playing in Oxford. I fell in love all over again when they went to the Mound Bayou September Fest (don't you just love how every town

Riverside Hotel Clarksdale

2011-09-23T09:16:00.002-05:00

The news roundup at Mississippi Preservation recently had a link to an article about the Riverside Hotel. What I did not know prior to reading the article was that the Riverside Hotel was the former black hospital where Bessie Smith died in 1937. The G. T. Thomas Hospital served African Americans in the Delta, and the front part of the building (visible in the photo) was the hospital. The

New dorm taking shape on Rebel Drive

2011-09-17T10:34:00.000-05:00

The construction on the new 720-bed dorm at Ole Miss is moving along. It is right behind my building, so I get a fairly regular glimpse of the progress on the way to and from work. The construction is done by Harrell Contracting Group out of Jackson, and will cost $32 million. According to University Architect and Director of Facilities Planning, Ian Banner, each bed and associated costs will

Kudzu: The Gift that keeps on giving

2011-09-16T08:21:00.000-05:00

We have lost the battle of the kudzu. In fact, we never really had a chance in the first place. There is a sci-fi book I read years ago about a planet where there is constant war with the vegetation, and outside of the walls of the city it is a continual battle to make it safely through. I think about that book every year when it gets impossible to maneuver much further than my back door. A

A Facade Gone Wrong

2011-09-14T21:56:00.001-05:00

I have driven past the Beta Theta Pi house since 2003. Last summer, I noted construction. This is the result. My take on it was the apparent over-riding desire to have everything on campus look Greek. Almost without fail, the majority of the houses on campus have columns, and the requisite other artifacts that seem to imply Ole Miss Lyceum style. Once I saw the actual results (pictured above

A Tale of Two Showers

2011-09-10T11:16:00.000-05:00

When we bought this house in 2003, it was not exactly our dream home, but we needed a place to live, and it was one of the few reasonably priced houses for sale in the area. (Reasonable for Oxford; it was far less quality and aesthetics compared to our former home in Texas, yet at a higher cost). There were certainly things--like the shower--that gave us pause in terms of looks, yet we had no

Mound Bayou: September Fest

2011-09-03T21:21:00.000-05:00

Debra, LaToya, and I headed over to Mound Bayou early this morning for the homecoming weekend September Fest. We were there to support the City's Taborian Hospital Project, promote a historic preservation workshop for youth next month, and meet some people from the community as we plan for the service learning class in January. It was a long, but fun, day and we enjoyed ourselves immensely! We

The Master Bath is Complete--after 4 years

2011-08-27T18:15:00.000-05:00

We started the remodel in 2007 when we had to tear out the shower in the master bathroom, due to it being incorrectly built in the first place. (See postscript at bottom). That was the most pressing, so once finished, it was always "someday" on the rest of it. We finally began the someday last August, slightly over a year ago. Today, it is finished. Because the linen closet was sacrificed

Ventress Hall

2011-08-21T09:31:00.001-05:00

Memphis architect C. G. Rosenplanter designed this Romanesque Revival structure (similar to the Oxford City Hall) with its 4-story turret. It was built to house the library, and served that purpose from 1889 until 1911. The Oxford Time Machine provides a "then" and "now" photo comparison, illustrating a young campus with nothing much more than a road from Ventress to the Lyceum. In 1985, the

Off Square Books

2011-08-20T09:39:00.000-05:00

Remember those bad remodeling jobs on the Batesville Public Square from a couple of weeks ago? Perhaps they would benefit from a consult with Off Square Books on the Oxford Courthouse Square. This building was renovated in 2006 by Howorth and Associates. You can see the "remodel" of this building here. Fortunately, the phony facade was removed and the building restored to how it might have

Reflections on Marking Years in the Struggle for Justice

2011-08-16T10:56:00.000-05:00

I spent 3 weeks in South Africa again—my 8th visit there--during May and June. I met one day with Ubuntu Education Centre in Zwide, an African township on the edge of Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape. Over 200 young people were assembling for an after school program. The program is a pathway to support them to be successful in the face of the overwhelming odds against

The Toilet Wars

2011-08-14T16:38:00.003-05:00

I've been posting a lot lately about travel, and historical buildings, and architecture. Those are a lot of fun for me and a welcome break from routine. After reading the recent publications on social justice over at the Activist Reader, I thought it was time to spend some time revisiting an issue from my last trip to South Africa. Whilst there, I wrote an essay about the Toilet Wars for

First United Methodist Church Batesville

2011-08-13T10:25:00.001-05:00

I decided to work on honing my skills to recognize features of architecture, which will be helpful when I cannot find out anything about the building. Mega-searches have not turned up anything about this church. However, I did locate a great curriculum for identifying architectural styles and features at the Mississippi Department of Heritage Trust. So, in the absence of any confirming

The last of Public Square: Batesville

2011-08-12T04:49:00.000-05:00

The former Bank of Batesville is now an eatery. I guess there was no place to put a drive-through window on the square. Davis Family Pharmacy, in business for 54 years.The sign says it all: oldest store in Batesville.

On around Public Square: Batesville

2011-08-11T09:34:00.000-05:00

The only information I can find about this building is that it is described as "the oldest department store on Public Square." Love the interesting little detail on the roof, and the ironwork in the air vents. Wonder what is in this mini building? Original use? Whatever it was, it had to be on a small scale.

Touring around Public Square: Batesville

2011-08-10T10:28:00.000-05:00

What can one say about this building? First, I cannot find any information about its original use. It seems evident from the differently colored brick, and the fill in behind the iron pillars that someone repurposed the building without much regard for aesthetics. There was probably some type of awning similar to the ones on the buildings next to it that has been removed--or perhaps it was an

Eureka Theater Batesville Mississippi

2011-08-09T22:20:00.001-05:00

I found myself in Batesville today and decided to make a detour through the downtown area--known as "Public Square." First up, the Eureka Theater. According to what information is available, the theater is "Streamline Moderne" and opened in the late 1940s.

Edward Eastburn Building, 1898

2011-08-08T18:09:00.000-05:00

Edward Eastburn came to Jacksboro in 1870 from Pennsylvania "with a very small capital" (Jacksboro Gazette, August 30, 1900). At his death in Philadelphia August 27, 1900, his estate was estimated at over $1 million. Mr. Eastburn was the largest stockholder in the First National Bank of Jacksboro and the Merchants & Planters Bank of Sherman. Jay C. Henry, Architecture in Texas 1895-1945, had

H. J. (Hickman) Hensley Building 1899

2011-08-07T10:42:00.001-05:00

Hickman Hensley (1872-1932) was one of the three sons of John Hensley. John moved to Jack County from Tennessee and was among the first of the early settlers, according to the History and Biographical Record of North and West Texas, published in 1906. This building was the Fort Richardson Hotel, built by H J Hensley and L A Wilson in 1899. The 1911 Jacksboro phone book lists the HJ Hensley

Buildings on the Square: Jacksboro, Texas

2011-08-06T10:56:00.002-05:00

Without knowing the names of the buildings, it has been difficult to locate information on some of the historical buildings surrounding the Jacksboro square. This building was apparently a pharmacy in the early 1900s, though, as the photo clearly indicates with the sign "drugs." The 2004 photo shows how the building changed. There are still a number of businesses in downtown Jacksboro, and

Graham Municipal Auditorium

2011-08-05T09:32:00.000-05:00

Designed by Voelcker & Dixon--the same architects who designed the Jack County courthouse--this theatre was built in 1929 through the efforts of private citizens to honor World War I veterans. The building is currently undergoing a $2 million renovation to "reclaim the original beauty and elegance of art deco design." I performed in 3 plays on the stage of this theatre. In 1964, I was the

First bank building: Jacksboro, Texas

2011-08-04T21:54:00.000-05:00

The historical marker has all the information about this building that I have been able to locate so far. This was the first bank in Jacksboro, Texas. I think I may be about to buy my first architecture book, though, as I discovered a thrilling find on architecture in Texas from 1895-1945!I had family (on my mother's side) who lived in Jacksboro, so as soon as I can, I will also go through the

WPA Post Office, Graham, and Young County Courthouse

2011-08-02T13:57:00.000-05:00

The Graham Post Office was built in 1935-36 at a cost of $60,000. It was one of the depression-era federally funded projects built by the Works Progress Administration. One of a number of the Moderne style post offices on the 1930s, it still retains an intact mural by regional painter Alexandre Hogue.These sculptural metal lights still work, and I have driven past them many a night when I was

Jack County, Texas Courthouse

2011-08-01T11:25:00.000-05:00

The Jack County Courthouse, Jacksboro, Texas is located on the square of the center of downtown. This courthouse was built in 1940, and is the 4th courthouse built for Jack County. Architects were Voelcker and Dixon, who were sometimes referred to as the "Fathers of Architecture" in Texas, and held one of the earliest licenses in the state. This Art Moderne courthouse is constructed of stone

Living Blues Center

2011-07-26T08:13:00.001-05:00

I was at the Living Blues Center yesterday to teach my final graduate class of the summer. Check out these cool posters! One of my favorites, Bobby Blue Bland was one of the acts on this cruise.And Muddy Waters--another favorite. I have one of his early CDs, and Randy used to make fun of me when I was listening to it. It was in my pre-Mississippi days, and he does have a very strong

Bathroom Remodel: Take 2 Years+ and still not finished

2011-07-24T22:46:00.000-05:00

It never fails. Let me have a weekend when I have no time whatsoever to spare, and Rand decides to finish the bathroom remodel that has been in the works for over two years. I needed to be grading papers and instead, I was ripping up ceramic tile, pulling up flooring, and trying to get it all back again for installing a new toilette. (I prefer the French term--twah lay--as it sounds so much

Felix's kittens: The story continues

2011-07-23T17:26:00.000-05:00

This is Caledonia, the most reserved of the kittens. She reminds me of her grandmere and auntie. She is stand-offish, but has finally succumbed to purring while petted. She will play in the kennel with her litter mates, but not with humans. Onyx is the most intelligent and curious of the three. He is not afraid of Kate and Roadie, and puts his nose right to the kennel wire to sniff noses

First Impressions: City of Justice, Shelby, MIssissippi

2011-07-16T11:21:00.000-05:00

In my last post, I promised a follow up on Shelby, and my first impressions. First Impressions is a "program designed to capture the thoughts and feelings of visitors as they observe for the first time the characteristics of a community" (Mississippi State Community Action Team, report from the site visit of Shelby, conducted October 1, 2009). I was searching the Internet for any information on