2019
Mississippi’s Historic Water Towers
Statewide
Throughout Mississippi, historic water towers dot the landscape. Some communities, like Raymond, have restored their water towers to become iconic welcome signs, but most are in poor condition and will soon be lost if action is not taken. Built c. 1914, Flora’s water tower once stood proudly over City Hall. After losing its roof in a recent tornado, the future of this Flora landmark is uncertain. In Edwards, community activists are seeking funds to restore their c. 1917 water tower as a catalyst for community redevelopment.
Highland Park Carousel
Meridian
Manufactured c. 1896 for the 1904 St. Louis Exposition, the Highland Park Carousel is one of the few remaining two-row stationary Dentzel menageries in the world, while the carousel building is the only extant building constructed from Denzel blueprints. In operation since 1909, the City of Meridian has made a considerable investment in the restoration and maintenance of the carousel and shelter building. In recent years, the Highland Park neighborhood of Meridian has suffered from increasing crime and blight, causing community leaders to consider moving these National Historic Landmarks.
James Earl Jones’s Childhood Home
Arkabutla
In 1931, acclaimed star of stage and screen James Earl Jones was born in Arkabutla in a modest house built by his maternal grandfather. In 1935, the Jones family gave up farming and joined thousands of other African Americans in the Great Migration, moving north to Michigan. Located on three acres of land on what is now James Earl Jones Road, the house is currently in a severe state of deterioration and will soon be lost.
Po’ Monkey’s
Cleveland
Located on a farm outside of Cleveland, Po’ Monkey’s was the last of Mississippi’s rural juke joints. For over 50 years, proprietor Willie Seaberry, nicknamed “Po’ Monkey”, hosted a party on Thursday nights with a mix of college students, foreign blues lovers, and locals in his home which was colorfully decorated with signs, Christmas lights, disco balls and dozens of stuffed monkeys. Willie Seaberry passed away in 2016, leaving the future of the building in question. There has been discussion about moving the building to nearby Merigold to become a museum.
Mississippi’s Freedom Houses
Statewide
When Felicia King inherited a family property in Indianola, she was surprised to learn about its role in the Civil Rights movement. After the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party’s headquarters in Indianola was bombed, King’s grandfather rented the house to civil rights workers. Due to the constant threat of violence, the connection of these modest residential structures to the Civil Rights movement was often kept secret. While Canton has restored its Freedom House to become a museum, other communities, like Shaw and Promise Land, are just now rediscovering these Civil Rights landmarks. Since Mississippi’s Freedom Houses were listed, MHT has launched the Mississippi Freedom Houses Project to collect stories from current owners and Civil Rights workers who lived in these houses during the 1964 Freedom Summer.
E.F. Young Hotel
Meridian
Opened in 1946, the E. F. Young Hotel was the first hotel to serve African Americans in Meridian, hosting a long list of distinguished guests, including Leontyne Price, Ella Fitzgerald, the Harlem Globetrotters and Martin Luther King, Jr. The hotel, which included a barber and beauty shop, remained in operation until 1978. The hotel is currently in poor condition and will require extensive work to repair the foundation, which was undermined by nearby roadwork. While members of the Young family would like to see the hotel restored, estimates for rehabilitation costs have proved prohibitive.
Old Salem School
Salem
Constructed in 1914 as part of national movement toward school consolidation, Salem School remained in use until 1939. Located west of Macon on Highway 14, architectural features include a pressed metal ceiling, beadboard wainscoting and counterweighted panels that were used to divide classrooms. Elementary students were taught on the first floor, while older students attended class on the second floor. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989, the school has been owned for several years by a non-profit organization formed to restore the building. Despite good intentions, Salem School is in poor condition and open to the elements.
Gillespie-Jackson House
Starkville
Constructed in 1850, this grand house was built for Dr. William Cage Gillespie. Notable for the high quality of its vernacular Greek Revival interior details, including the parlor ceiling and mantles, the house retains a high degree of integrity. To the rear of the house is a small family cemetery on the property. Located at the busy commercial intersection of Highways 12 and 25, the Jackson-Gillespie House is not protected by Starkville’s historic preservation ordinance. The property is currently listed for sale as commercial land.
Stutzman House and Blacksmith Shop
Woodville
Built by French immigrant Jacob Stutzman and later operated by his son Joseph, the Stutzman Blacksmith Shop is last known standing blacksmith shop in the region. Boasting original signage for Groves Tonic and Bromo Quinine, the shop still contains much of its original equipment. Oral histories and local records state that the house, which features 12-inch plaster walls, was constructed around 1805, making it one of the oldest houses in Wilkinson County. Home to four generations of the Stutzman family, the house has been vacant since 2006. Both the house and shop are in poor condition and will be lost if action is not taken soon.
Lundy House
Lexington
Built c. 1860, the Lundy House is a prominent historic house located near Lexington’s historic square. The house, which was once a stagecoach stop and hotel, is currently vacant. Citing condition issues, the owner requested and was granted a Certificate of Appropriateness for demolition by the Lexington Historic Preservation Commission in September 2019. Following a public outcry, the Lexington City Council remanded the case back to the commission, requesting that a public hearing be held. After being listed as endangered, the owner donated the Lundy House to the newly-formed Friends of Lexington Preservation, which is working to raise funds to fully restore the house to become a resource for the community.
Dishonorable Mention
Pat Harrison Waterway Building
Hattiesburg
The 1966 Pat Harrison Waterway Building was located on Highway 49 in front of Forrest General Hospital. Designed by Landry and Matthes, the building was an outstanding example of mid-century modern architecture and featured a two-story mosaic depicting the Pat Harrison Waterway, metal screens and a concrete bridge. On Saturday, September 29 through Sunday, September 30, 2018, Forrest County demolished the building without review by the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, as required under the state Antiquities Act.