Invitation Magazine - October 2019 by Invitation Magazines

OCTOBER 2019

S E R V I N G

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M I S S I S S I P P I

Discovering L O C A L

H I S T O R Y

THE LEG E ND O F PAUL R A INE Y A ND TIPPA H LO D G E , TUPELO S TREE T NA ME LORE & NATIVE A MERIC AN HERITAG E

OC TOBER 2019 | INVITATION

BALDWYN MAIN STREET

INVITATION | OC TOBER 2019

BALDWYN MAIN STREET

OC TOBER 2019 | INVITATION

INVITATION | OC TOBER 2019

OC TOBER 2019 | INVITATION

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OCTOBER 2019

FE ATURES

DEPA RTMENT S

22 Native American Heritage Month

Letter From the Publisher

Calendar

Think Pink

Shoutouts

InstaLove: Handmade by Bethany

Restaurant News

What’s In

Out & About

Recipes: Cornbread

Cultural events, local museums and art allow north Mississippi residents to reflect upon the rich histories of native tribes.

24 What’s in a Name?

Since it was incorporated in the late 1800s, Tupelo has grown and changed, but the names of some of its oldest streets and places reflect hundreds of years of history.

28 Life of Adventure

Paul J. Rainey died in 1923, but his legacy and part of his former estate, Tippah Lodge, near Ripley, remain, along with tales of his fascinating life.

INVITATION | OC TOBER 2019

ON THE COVER

EVENTS

The past beckons at Tippah Lodge, the former estate of millionaire Paul J. Rainey. In the early 1900s, guests would arrive by his private rail car right outside the front gate, pictured here. Read more about Rainey and his Tippah County home on page 28. PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM

Lip Sync Battle

Toyota Public Lands Day

Touch-A-Truck

Corinth Homecoming Parade

Move to Learn

Communities Forward Festival

Down on Main Concert

Tallahatchie Riverfest OC TOBER 2019 | INVITATION

PUBLISHERS

Phil and Rachel West

EDITORIAL

EXECUTIVE EDITORS Allison Estes Emily Welly EXECUTIVE MANAGING EDITOR Mary Moreton

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Shanna Flaschka Rachel A. Ishee Keith Gore Wiseman EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Meredith Hull COPY EDITOR Ashley Arthur

ART

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Holly Vollor STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Joe Worthem CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Paul Gandy Lisa Roberts Whitney Worsham CONTRIBUTING ILLUSTRATOR Kit Stafford SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR & ART ASSISTANT Alexis Lee

INTERN Abbey Edmonson

ADVERTISING

L E T T E R from the P U B L I S H E R

OFFICE

BUSINESS MANAGER Hollie Hilliard DISTRIBUTION Donald Courtney Brian Hilliard MAIN OFFICE 662-234-4008

My entire life, I have been called an “old soul.” When I was a kid, it drove me crazy, but as an adult, I find it a great compliment. When we decided to do an issue about history and times gone by, it was right up my alley. I have always liked old things: old houses, older people, antiques, arrowheads and more. So when we began to discuss what we’d write about this month, it seemed the possibilities were limitless. Narrowing them down was tough, but it was important to me that we got a good mix of interesting things and people in this magazine. For quite some time, we have wanted

to publish a story about Tippah Lodge, a historic home near Ripley, and its extraordinary original owner, Paul Rainey. We are excited to finally share his story, and that it is written by Keith Wiseman — whose family has ties to Rainey — complete with Keith’s personal memories about Rainey’s legend and legacy. Read it all on page 28. Also, be sure and check out the story about the history of street names in Tupelo on page 24. We learned a lot about how some of the city’s most prominent roads were named, including Magazine Street, which had nothing to do with publishing;

rather, it was where gun powder was stored during the Civil War. Today, as we go about using technology all day, in our hands, in our cars and in our schools, it’s fascinating to think about how life once was, even just a few generations ago, and how much of what we have today was shaped by that history. We hope you will take a moment to sit and enjoy this trip into the past.

RACHEL M. WEST, PUBLISHER

ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS Alise M. Emerson Leigh Lowery Lynn McElreath Moni Simpson Whitney Worsham Anna Zemek ADVERTISING DESIGNERS Paul Gandy Becca Pepper Hallie Thomas ADVERTISING INFORMATION invitationmag.com

Serving Alcorn, Chickasaw, Itawamba, Lee, Monroe, Pontotoc, Prentiss, Tippah, Tishomingo and Union counties. To subscribe to one year (10 issues) of Invitation or to buy an announcement, visit invitationmag.com. To request a photographer at your event, email Mary at mary.invitation@gmail.com. Invitation respects the many diverse individuals and organizations that make up north Mississippi and strives to be inclusive and representative of all members of our community.

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C O M M U N I T Y OCTOBER 15-NOVEMBER 15, 2019

MercyMe

Celebration Village

NOVEMBER 3

This contemporary Christian music band brings their “Imagine Nation” tour to Tupelo with performances by Crowder and Micah Taylor. Tickets $23.75-$150. 7 p.m., BancorpSouth Arena, Tupelo.

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Scarecrow Tour of Fulton

Sanctuary Hospice House’s annual holiday market fundraiser. General admission tickets $7 at the door; preview party tickets $50; all-inclusive passport tickets $75. Preview party Wednesday 6-9 p.m. Shopping hours Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Tupelo Furniture Market.

THROUGH OC TOBER 31

sanctuaryhospice.org

Stroll downtown Fulton this month to see the specially designed scarecrows outside the doors of participating businesses. Take a picture with your favorites and share with the hashtag #fultonfun.

Art and Wine Dinner With Rob Reedy O C T O B E R 17

Maximus Challenge O C TO B ER 26

Maxey’s Fitness and Training sponsors this 4-mile-plus run with over 20 obstacles, plus a kids’ race. For ticket prices and starting times, visit raceroster.com, email maxey104@gmail.com or call 662-5861880. Miller Creek, Pontotoc.

Park Heights restaurant caters this small-plate dinner with five wine pairings. Mississippi artist and guest speaker Rob Reedy discusses his art process in between each course. For more information, search “Art and Wine Dinner with Rob Reedy” on Facebook. Tickets $45 per person. Call 662-205-0351 to RSVP. 6-8 p.m., The Caron Gallery, Tupelo.

BILL AVERY

Corinth Cemetery Tour

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Gerald and Adam Crabb bring their award-winning gospel music to Ripley to raise money for Stomp Out Hunger. Admission is free, but there will be an opportunity to purchase food for families in need. For more information, search “Mt. View Baptist Church” on Facebook. 7 p.m., Mt. View Baptist Church, Ripley.

Crossroads Museum presents a spooky annual event that explores legends from Corinth’s past during walking tours that last around one hour. Learn more and purchase tickets by searching “Historic Corinth Cemetery Tour” on Facebook, or call 662-287-3120. Saturday 4-6 p.m., Sunday 2-4 p.m., Corinth City Cemetery.

INVITATION | OC TOBER 2019

Live2Lead Tupelo

IPRA Houston Rodeo

OC TOBER 29

NOVEMBER 9

A half-day leadership and personal growth event includes lessons from leadership experts John C. Maxwell, Rachel Hollis, Marcus Buckingham, Angela Ahrendts and Chris Hogan. For more information, search “Live2Lead Tupelo” on Facebook. Tickets $67. 7:30 a.m.-1 p.m., ICC Belden Conference Center, Tupelo.

This family-friendly rodeo features bareback bronc riding, bull riding, cowgirl’s barrel racing, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, team roping and tie-down roping. Tickets $10. 7 p.m., Chickasaw County Coliseum, Houston. rodeosusa.com

ChiliFest

thecarongallery.com

A Night of Giving Concert

bcsarena.com

Need an outdoor area to enjoy this

OC TOBER 29

Amory Main Street Inc. hosts this annual event with music, a chili cook-off and tasting, and more. For more information, call 662-256-8700. Free. 5-8 p.m., downtown Amory. amorymainstreet.com

Halloween OC TOBER 31

Creep it real and share your costume ideas and spooktacular Halloween traditions with us by posting pictures on social media with the hashtag #invitationmagazine.

Taste of Tupelo

Fall?

NOVEMBER 14

Barnes Crossing Auto Group presents an expo with over 100 businesses including restaurants, caterers, bakeries, health care providers, banks, manufacturers, retailers, educational institutions and more. Demonstrations, complimentary samples and information will be shared. Taste of Tupelo members $15, nonmembers $30. 5-8 p.m., BancorpSouth Arena, Tupelo. cdfms.chambermaster.com

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think P I N K OCTOBER IS NATIONAL BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH. HERE’S HOW SEVERAL LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS ARE COMMEMORATING IT. SHARE YOUR PL ANS FOR RAISING AWARENESS ON SOCIAL MEDIA WITH THE HASHTAG #INVITATIONMAGAZINE SO WE CAN HELP YOU SPREAD THE NEWS.

Krab Kingz Free Lunch Krab Kingz Seafood, 1155 S. Gloster St. in Tupelo, will give away a free lunch every Thursday in October to a breast cancer survivor. To nominate a winner, visit facebook.com/krabkingztupelo to like and share their flyer along with the name of a breast cancer survivor you want to nominate to win. Krab Kingz is open Thursday-Sunday 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m. serving up boiled and fried crab, shrimp and fish platters. For more information, call 662-269-3956.

SurviveMiss Through its website and blog, SurviveMiss provides advice, resources and support to young breast cancer survivors in the state. The organization is part of the Gulf States Young Breast Cancer Survivor Network, of which the University of Mississippi Medical Center is a member. Learn more at survivemiss.org.

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Breast Cancer Advocate Award This month, North Mississippi Medical Center Cancer Care in Tupelo will give a Breast Cancer Advocate Award to a special person who has made an impact on the lives of breast cancer patients in the region. The recipient will receive a set of Breast Cancer Awareness Commemorative Coins issued by the U.S. Mint. The coin features two women — an older woman who has her hands on her chest and a relieved expression on her face, and a younger woman, with a scarf on her head, with a hand raised in a fist. The reverse side depicts a Tiger Swallowtail butterfly in flight, a symbol of hope. This award was envisioned by Dr. Charles Montgomery, hematologist/oncologist, as a way to honor those dedicated to fighting breast cancer. Visit www.nmhs.net/cancer to learn more and to nominate a special person who has made an impact on local patients.

Hope Continues 5K The third annual Hope Continues race takes place Oct. 26 at Fairpark in Tupelo. The event includes a 5K run and 1-mile walk. All proceeds will stay in northeast Mississippi to provide screening and support for individuals affected by breast cancer. More than $50,000 was raised as a result of last year’s race. Register in advance ($25 for the 5K and $20 for the 1-mile walk), or on race day for $5 more. To be eligible for the 5K awards, purchase a timing chip for $5. Learn more and enter weekly contests leading up to the race at facebook.com/hopecontinues.

Paint it Pink Magnolia Regional Health Center hosted a new Paint it Pink pumpkin painting party and brunch for breast cancer awareness month. The free community event was held Oct. 12 at Shiloh Ridge Event Center, inspiring participants to continue to raise awareness in the fight against the disease. Learn more about upcoming MRHC classes and events at mrhc.org. OC TOBER 2019 | INVITATION

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S H O U T O U T S

SHOUTOUTS

S ave t he Fi re Tr uc k

G ho s t ly Ta le s of M i s s i s s i p p i

When an antique fire truck owned by the city of Corinth needed a new home, the Crossroads Museum stepped in. Previously stored by the Corinth Fire Department, the 1924 American LaFrance pumper truck was taking up too much space. Through the Save the Fire Truck campaign selling recognition bricks, and with assistance from the Corinth Area Convention and Visitor’s Bureau; Corinth Coca-Cola Bottling Works Inc.; the Corinth Fire Department and donations from the public, Crossroads has raised enough money to construct a weather-tight display to make the fire truck a permanent exhibit outside the museum. “The fire truck is saved,” said museum board member Lee Thurner, who is overseeing the project. “The exhibit building, while not completely finished, is ready for the fire truck to be placed in it for

aftermath of that fire will decorate the wall of the new exhibit. “The truck was delivered to Corinth on a railroad flatcar in January 1924, the month of the great fire that destroyed an entire city block of Corinth’s business district, including the Corinth Opera House,” Thurner said. “The truck, according to local legend, was not available because it was frozen onto its flatcar and couldn’t be unloaded.” While the money has been raised to construct the exhibit building, more funds are needed to complete the project. Recognition bricks, to be placed in the paving around the exhibit, are available in three sizes, for $50, $150 and $350. To purchase a brick as a gift or in honor of a loved one, visit polarengraving.com/crossroadsmuseum. For more information, contact Zack Steen at 662-415-8641.

public viewing. We expect that to happen in late October or early November.” The fire truck has a history that dates back to the winter of 1924, when a fire destroyed the business district of Corinth. A floor-to-ceiling mural depicting the

Ro b i n s S t re e t A r t S t rol l

OCTOBER 26 10am - 4pm

2019 SPONSORS: 662.680.9355

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Since it began four years ago, the Robins Street Art Stroll has been blending art and community by promoting local and regional artists. The festival takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 26, on the 400 block of Robins Street. Parking is available at Milam Elementary School. “We have lots of artists living in our district, so we thought this would be a fun way to support them,” festival coordinator Susan McGukin said. “We felt an event with art, music and food would bring people into our wonderful downtown historic neighborhood for a visit, and it has!” The festival features artists and musicians from all over Mississippi. Bands from Milam Elementary School, Pontotoc High School and Tupelo High School are performing,

along with Lake Martin Saxman and Tommy Gassaway. Around 25 artists will display their paintings, pottery, woodwork, stitchery, embroidery and works in other mediums, available for purchase in a silent auction. There will also be activities for children. Food trucks from Big Bad Wolf, Gypsy Roadside Mobile and Tupelo River Coffee will be on hand, and the Link Centre will serve Bloody Marys and mimosas on a vacant lot south of Tom Evans’ house. In addition to the Historic Downtown Tupelo Neighborhood Association, festival sponsors include Farmhouse Tupelo, Phelps Dunbar LLP, Keep It Casual, Robinson & Associates, Family Resource Center of Northeast Mississippi, Kellum Dental Clinic and Lynn McGrath of Crye-Leike Realtors.

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ADVENTURE PUBLICATIONS

LEE THURNER

CALENDAR

“Ghostly Tales of Mississippi” (Adventure Publications, 2018), by Tupelo native Jeff Duke, is a spooky collection of chilling Mississippi ghost stories, with a modern twist. Duke took creative writing classes at both the University of Mississippi and Mississippi State University. But he had discovered a penchant for storytelling by the time he was in second or third grade, when he would write his own Star Wars-inspired stories and play “Dungeons and Dragons.” “There’s nothing better for a beginning writer, other than reading a lot, than oldschool, pen-and-paper role-playing games,” Duke said. “They teach you the art of storytelling. It’s something you don’t get from video games.” Duke said his interest in the supernatural also began at an early age with his affinity for scary books and movies — think Stephen King and “The Shining” — which has influenced his writing. So where is the most haunted place in the Magnolia State? “Well, in all of Mississippi, most folks say King’s Tavern in Natchez,” Duke said. “But in northeast Mississippi, I’d probably say the Waverley house in West Point. There are several ghosts there.” OC TOBER 2019 | INVITATION

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instaL O V E H a nd m a d e by B e t h a ny

ethany Stevens, a full-time radiologic technologist in Marietta, turned her favorite hobby into a crafty side business. She began knitting as a fun pastime, but as her creations became more admired and sought after by friends and family, she started her company, Handmade by Bethany. “My grandmother introduced me to the idea of knitting,” Stevens said. “I began to look online and watched many videos and taught myself how to knit scarves.” Handmade by Bethany’s Instagram is full of cozy scarves, hats, blankets, baby onesies and booties, and even tiny mermaid outfits. Stevens said her favorite thing to make is delicate newborn ensembles. “I love making newborn outfits because that’s often one of the first outfits moms want to take pictures of their little one in,” Stevens said. Handmade by Bethany takes custom orders, like the detailed sunflower blanket and other unique knitted and crocheted

creations pictured on her Instagram timeline. “My favorite custom order would have to be a newborn aviator outfit complete with a helmet, goggles, scarf and diaper cover,” Stevens said. To keep up with her latest custom knit projects and crochet work, follow @handmadebybethany.

FOLLOW ON INSTAGR A M @h a n d m a d e b y b e t h a n y

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RESTAUR ANT

Bulldog Burger Co.

Killer Cereal

NEWS

Pizza vs. Tacos

D’Cracked Egg

Steak ’n Shake

Pizza vs. Tacos

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Breakfast and brunch favorites, along with other options, are served all day at this family-friendly downtown establishment.

The popular American chain that has been in business since 1934 is known for its 100% beef steakburgers, hand-dipped milk shakes and thin, crispy fries.

“Detroit-style” pizzas and elevated tacos served on homemade corn tortillas take center stage at Blue Canoe owner Adam Morgan’s latest culinary endeavor.

662-260-4550

662-266-4510

Bulldog Burger Co.

Killer Cereal

The Madden Crab

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The second location of this Starkville-based burger joint serves up specialty burgers with creative toppings and names like the Freshman 15 and Pimentology. Appetizers, salads, sides, sandwiches and more are also on the menu. 662-844-8800 bulldogburgerco.com

Open on Saturdays from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. and on Friday and Saturday nights from 10 p.m.-midnight for late night crowds, this custom cereal bar operated by the owners of Crave coffee shop offers options you’re unlikely to find in any other restaurant.

From fried shrimp baskets and boiled seafood platters to whole lobster and raw oysters, this nautical-themed restaurant serves fresh seafood with a Cajun and Creole twist seven days a week. Look for lunchtime and happy hour specials. 662-213-8970 facebook.com/maddencrab

662-346-2611 facebook.com/dcrackedeggtupelo

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662-260-5024 facebook.com/killercerealtupelo

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SHEIL A FA J L E ARRINGS $ 65 ANN’S OF CORINTH

H A N D-D ECO R AT ED P U M P K I N S $ 4 0-$ 5 5 K ATES AND CO.

DA KOTA G R I Z Z LY S H I R T J ACK E T $ 4 9.9 9 SHIRLEY DAWG'S

SUSAN GORDAN POT TERY $106 GINGER’S

FREE PEOPLE DRESS $168 LIPCHIC BOUTIQUE

ONCLOUD | CLOUDSWIF T $149.9 9 AUSTIN’S SHOES

B LU NDS TO NE | WOMEN ' S O R IG IN A L $1 8 9.95 AUSTIN’S SHOES

PHE A S ANT VA SE WITH ACORNS $125 ANN’S OF CORINTH

CHILD' S PUPPY DIFFUSER $ 49.95 SHILOH APOTHECARY

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Native American Heritage Month CULTURAL EVENTS, LOCAL MUSEUMS AND ART ALLOW NORTH MISSISSIPPI RESIDENTS TO REFLECT UPON THE RICH HISTORIES OF NATIVE TRIBES. WRITTEN BY SHANNA FL ASCHKA

ovember is National Native American Heritage Month, a time for all Americans to commemorate the achievements and cultures of Native American people. Mississippi has plenty of reason to take note. Our state was once home to more than 20 different tribes, many of which can be recognized in city and county names, such as Chickasaw, Choctaw, Natchez, Tunica, Biloxi and Pascagoula. American Indian Day was first observed in 1915, after a declaration by American Indian Association president Rev. Sherman Coolidge, an Arapahoe. In 1986, Congress authorized the first American Indian Week. In 1990, President George H.W. Bush signed a resolution to create National American Indian Heritage Month, renamed National Native American Heritage Month in 2017 by President Barack Obama. Locally, the Natchez Trace Visitor Center in Tupelo is a great place to start learning about our state’s Native American heritage. Although the Chickasaw Nation is now headquartered in Oklahoma, a prairie near Tupelo was once home to a tribe of about 2,000 people, and the land their village inhabited has been preserved at the Natchez Trace’s milepost 261.8. The Chickasaw Village Site is open to the public year-round. It’s worth a stop to hike the various trails

INVITATION | OC TOBER 2019

PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM

there, which include informative markers and artist renderings about the former inhabitants and their way of life. In September, members of the Chickasaw Nation held several cultural demonstrations at the Natchez Trace Visitor Center and at the First Choice Gateway Pavilion in Pontotoc. The events included speakers and exhibits of Chickasaw history and culture, stickball demonstrations and performances by a traditional dance troupe. Stickball is a traditional Chickasaw game that was historically played as an alternative to war in order to settle disputes. Players use sticks with rounded ends netted with deer skin to lob a ball down a large playing field. The goal is to hit the poles located at the each end of the field to score points. According to Jesse Lindsey, the Chickasaw Nation cultural resources activities manager, during Native American Heritage Month, most events take place in Oklahoma, but representatives from the organization travel to Mississippi about once a year. “We bring our dancers and travel all over the U.S.,” Lindsey said. “[But] Tupelo is our homeland so we dance on our grounds.” Events such as these demonstrate reverence for tribal tradition and also enlighten audiences. As part of the performance, there are a few dances in which the audience is invited to participate.

“We speak of our culture and history, and then we dance,” Lindsey said. In November, the Natchez Trace Visitor Center will host a free exhibit of artwork by Chickasaw children who live in Oklahoma, courtesy of the Chickasaw Nation. At the Chickasaw County Heritage Museum in Houston, visitors can view a collection of Native American spear points, authentic garb and other historical items. Some 40 years ago, Chickasaw County native James Clark founded the Chickasaw County Historical and Genealogical Society, after speaking with a neighbor who was traveling to Tupelo to do geneological research. Clark realized that people in Houston needed similar resources for tracing their ancestry. Several decades later, a $100,000 grant from the state helped fund the research center and the museum, run by Clark and other members of the society. “It’s been about 10-15 years since we created a museum on a block of land the city owned,” Clark said. “We bought (the land) and used local timber for the building.” The museum itself is now brimming with historic artifacts, some donated by the Chickasaw Nation. There are eight displays of spear points and arrowheads, various fossils and sets of traditional clothing for a man and a woman. There are also informative poster displays about the history of the Chickasaw people. Across from the museum, a permanent outdoor art installation now offers another reminder of the area’s Native American heritage. This past summer, Pontotoc-based artist Samantha Baldwin painted a portrait of a Chickasaw woman, one of four murals she created on the walls of a storm shelter in Joe Brigance Memorial Park. “I knew from the very beginning when I got this crazy idea (to create the murals), I wanted something that was free for everyone to see,” Baldwin said. “I wanted a piece that would tie in with the community historically, but I also wanted it to be something meaningful that would reach a lot of people on different levels.” The Chickasaw County Heritage Museum is located at 304 E. Woodland Circle in Houston. Hours vary; call 662-456-0060. The Natchez Trace Visitor Center is located at the Trace milepost 266.0 and is open 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. daily. Top: Jesse Lindsey, cultural resources activities manager from the Chickasaw Nation. At left: Recent Chickasaw Nation cultural demonstrations in Tupelo and Pontotoc included dance performances and stickball games. Houston's Chickasaw County Heritage Museum exhibits spear points and arrowheads. A new mural across the street from the museum features a Chickasaw woman. OC TOBER 2019 | INVITATION

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What’s in a Name? WRITTEN BY RACHEL A. ISHEE

ILLUSTRATED BY KIT STAFFORD

F R O M A B C AV E N U E TO Z I L L A H C I R C L E , H U N D R E D S O F R OA D S W E AV E T H R O U G H T H E C I T Y O F T U P E LO. S I N C E I T S I N C O R P O R AT I O N I N T H E L AT E 1 8 0 0 S , T H E C I T Y H A S G R OW N A N D C H A N G E D E X P O N E N T I A L LY, B U T T H E NAMES OF SOME OF ITS OLDEST STREETS AND PL ACES REFLECT A HISTORY THAT DATES BACK CENTURIES.

upelo’s downtown Main Street has helped the city win several local and national awards, and to be named a semifinalist in the 2016 and 2018 Great American Main Street Awards. But the street itself got its start long ago, during the Civil War, when the Tupelo area was a prime military location because its swamps and hills provided protection against enemy forces. What is now referred to as Main Street was once a road that allowed access to two different strong defensive positions for troops. If Union soldiers were to attack from either direction, the Confederate soldiers could simply withdraw to the opposite side using this road. After losing the battles of Franklin and Nashville, Tennessee, in the winter of 1864-1865, Confederate Gen. John Bell Hood and his remaining men traveled back to the safer Tupelo area. Harsh weather conditions turned the road turned into deep, cold mush, making it nearly impossible for anyone to traverse, let alone a wounded and weary army. Because they needed the ability to move quickly throughout the area in case trouble arose, Hood and his men laid planks on the road to make it easier for troops and supplies to travel. The road became known as Plank Street and kept its name for several years following the war, until retail shops and boutiques started popping up, and it was renamed Main Street. Another street with connections to the Civil War is Magazine Street . The name has nothing to do with publishing. Instead, gunpowder was stored there, since the location was far enough away from town to prevent a catastrophe in the event of an explosion. “Magazine Street was named such because of a Civil War magazine at that location during the Battle of Tupelo,” said Boyd Yarbrough, vice president of the Tupelo Museum Association. “‘Magazine’ is the name for an item or place within which ammunition or other explosive material is stored.” While some street names like Main and Magazine have stuck, others have been changed as time has progressed. “The first street in Tupelo was Front Street, right about where First Street is located now, and then there was Main Street,” Leesha Faulkner, curator of the Oren Dunn City Museum said. “Before the Civil War it was mostly boardinghouses and saloons. This was back in the day when Tupelo had an interesting reputation.” With about 10,000 years of history packed into the 444-mile

INVITATION | OC TOBER 2019

OC TOBER 2019 | INVITATION

scenic drive, the Natchez Trace is the oldest road in Tupelo. The name “Natchez” comes from the Native American people who inhabited the Lower Mississippi Valley. Many historians believe that the trail was originally formed thousands of years ago by herds of bison traveling from the Mississippi River to salt licks near Nashville. The Trace, originally christened the Columbian Highway, offers visitors several historic spots in the Tupelo area, including a Chickasaw Village Site and 13 gravesites of unknown Confederate soldiers. “The idea of the parkway was conceived back in the 1930s by congressman Jeff Busby who wanted to follow the original Natchez Trace as closely as possible from Nashville to Natchez,” Faulkner said. “Construction on it began in 1937 and was approved by President Franklin D. Roosevelt who made a trip here to Tupelo around that time. It wasn’t completed in its entirety until 2005.” The Oren Dunn City Museum , located near Ballard Park, is a museum dedicated to telling Tupelo’s story. As the former site of Forest Lake Farms as well as a country club, this converted dairy barn first opened its doors in 1984 as the Tupelo City Museum. But if it weren’t for Oren Dunn himself, the city would probably not have a local museum. “It got its name from its first curator,” Faulkner said. “He’s the primary reason why we have a city museum. He convinced the city to have a museum, and he said that he would curate it for a dollar a year, and that’s exactly what he did.” When Dunn died in 1996, the museum was renamed for him.

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Ballard Park is also part of the battlefield of the Battle of Tupelo during the Civil War. While it is unknown how this site with varied history originally got its name, Faulkner believes that the park was either named after a councilman or mayor. Of course, people around the world know the origin of the name, Elvis Presley Drive , where the humble birthplace of the King of Rock ’n’ Roll still stands. Once known as Old Saltillo Road, it was renamed after Elvis rose to fame. As the city continues to grow, new locations and roadways need christening. Tupelo Public Works director Chuck Williams said that most names are decided long before the construction of a street or facility is completed. “Most developers have plans when they dedicate the subdivision to the city, and they have already named the streets for family or friends,” Williams said. “If the naming of streets is left up to city officials, usually those officials look to surrounding areas and name the streets. But most of the time, the streets are named already.” As for Tupelo itself, the town was named after the Tupelo gum trees that were abundant in the area. But officials tried out some other possibilities first. “At one point they were going to call it ‘Gumpond’ because of the gum trees that grew around a pond in the northern part of town,” Faulkner said. “Then it was going to be ‘Gumtree.’ Some people claim that (‘Tupelo’) is part of a Chickasaw word, but I haven’t found a source that really confirms that. The gum trees are what they found here when they were building the railroad back in the 1800s. The area just had a lot of cypress and Tupelo gum trees.” OC TOBER 2019 | INVITATION

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A L IFE OF Adventure PAUL J. RAINEY DIED IN 1923, BUT HIS LEGACY AND PART OF HIS FORMER ESTATE, TIPPAH LODGE, REMAIN, ALONG WITH TALES OF HIS FASCINATING LIFE. WRITTEN BY KEITH GORE WISEMAN PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM HISTORIC PHOTOS PROVIDED BY STEVE AND ROSA BOLIN AND UNION COUNT Y HERITAGE MUSEUM

aul James Rainey was a millionaire playboy who did everything all the way. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1877, Rainey inherited millions from his family’s coal and coke businesses, and he spared no expense pursuing his passions, which included hunting, photography, dogs and horses. His affinity for hunting dogs led him to Mississippi and the establishment of Tippah Lodge. His siblings referred to him as “Poor Paul,” because his wealth was decreasing while they worked to increase theirs, but Rainey’s wealth appears to have been ample, and he certainly made the most of his money in his short life. Legend has it, Rainey fell in love with north Mississippi while hunting in the area. He began buying land in Tippah County and hiring locals by the hundreds. In 1901, he built Tippah Lodge. It is said that it was the first home north of Jackson to have electricity and indoor plumbing, along with an indoor, heated swimming pool, a 26-stall, circular polo barn, and a private rail car siding between Ripley and Cotton Plant. Rainey hosted extravagant parties at Tippah Lodge, and built a hotel in New Albany to house his guests. The lodge was originally a ramshackle farmhouse, which had been expanded by adding onto the front, back and both sides by local carpenters. It did not compare with Rainey’s mansion in Long Island, his English country house, or his estate in Africa, and the land surrounding it was about half the size of his 23,000-acre duck-hunting marsh in Louisiana. But then, Tippah Lodge was an outpost, not a permanent residence. Jill Smith is director of the Union County Heritage Museum in New Albany, which has archived an extensive Rainey collection.

Above: Machinery that created electricity for Rainey’s Tippah Lodge. At right: A current view of the home; a view of the spot where Rainey’s guests would exit his private rail car to arrive at his house; a current look at the interior of Rainey’s polo barn.

INVITATION | OC TOBER 2019

OC TOBER 2019 | INVITATION

Historic photo: Rainey’s trophy room. Current photos: The trophy’s room’s original exposed wooden beams and brick fireplace are both also seen in the historic photo. Middle: the exterior of the trophy room, which still has original leaded glass windows. Below: Rainey’s record player now has a place in the restored home.

“It’s quite a story,” Smith said. “Rainey was entertaining sportsmen in the trophy room at Tippah Lodge and floated the idea of hunting wild game in Africa with dogs. Local consensus was that lions would surely wipe the dogs out, but Rainey decided to try.” Rainey hired Er M. Shelley, a Michiganborn dog trainer, and a local teenager, Roy Stewart, to work dogs with him on a 2½year safari in Africa. Shelley wrote about the trip in “Hunting Big Game With Dogs in Africa,” which he published in 1924. Lila Stewart, Roy Stewart’s daughter-inlaw, is a retired teacher who lives in New Albany. Lila maintains an extensive family archive, including photos and mementos from Roy’s travels with Rainey, plus stories and items she has compiled relating to Tippah and Union counties. “When I go up that walk to Tippah

INVITATION | OC TOBER 2019

Lodge, I feel such spirits,” Lila Stewart said. “Especially that of 19-year-old Roy Stewart.” Much of what Lila has learned about the Africa trip comes from Shelley’s book. “With only a sixth-grade education, Roy came home one night and told his family he was leaving for Africa with Paul Rainey,” Lila said. “We know more of the story from Shelley’s book than from Roy, because he didn’t talk much about it. In fact, he didn’t talk much about anything!” Shelley went ahead to Africa to condition dogs and horses and equip the hunt. He brought over a “well-broken pack of bear dogs” from Mississippi, and he received over 20 young, green hounds from Mississippi in the charge of Roy Stewart. Needing horses, he went to the racetrack and bought “all the winners of the principal events.” He also hired more than 100

From top: Details authentic to the house include interior doors, a record player that belonged to Rainey and a clawfoot bathtub with original hardware. OC TOBER 2019 | INVITATION

porters, 16 pack mules, a wagon pulled by 18 oxen and a six-mule dog dray to support the expedition. Despite the skepticism, Rainey was so successful hunting with his Mississippi dogs, the practice was eventually outlawed because it was too lethal. While Rainey took down game in great numbers, he also brought back live specimens over the years, and donated them to the Bronx Zoo, including two polar bears from his arctic expeditions. Rainey was also a pioneer in wildlife documentary filmmaking. The first of three such films, “Paul J. Rainey’s African Hunt,” released in 1912, ran for more than a year and grossed at least a half million dollars. Seemingly charmed lives are often short, tragic and mysterious, and Rainey’s was no exception. Rainey met his end aboard ship while returning to Africa with his paramour, May Peters Graham, her sister, his own sister and friends. Legend has it that Rainey confronted another passenger for being too familiar with Graham, and the man hexed him, saying Rainey would be dead by his next birthday. Rainey retorted his doubt as he would be 46 on the morrow, but, die he did. His family did not announce the cause of death, and he was buried at sea, so wild theories flourish about his death to this day. Rainey’s devotion to wildlife lives on. The 26,000-acre Paul J. Rainey Wildlife Sanctuary in Louisiana, owned by the Audobon Society, was established a year after his death. A decade later, his sister, Grace Rainey Rogers, commissioned sculptor Paul Manship to create the Rainey Gates at the north entrance to the Bronx Zoo. Tippah Lodge today is the home of Steve and Rosa Bolin, who are just completing renovations that include Rainey’s trophy room, where his African odyssey began. “We always passed the house and liked it, but we had not heard of Paul Rainey,” Steve Bolin said. “We drove up the driveway one day and asked the owners if they would like to sell it. Then we learned that this was Rainey’s headquarters, and that just 100 acres of the 12,000 he owned remained. We are restoring it to maintain that history, and we call the place the Rainey Plantation.”

INVITATION | OC TOBER 2019

NOTES FROM THE WRITER

Top: A current photo shows the circular polo barn Rainey built at Tippah Lodge. Middle: Rainey once kept a bear at Tippah Lodge; the current photo shows what’s left of the spot that’s pictured in the old photo. Bottom: Tippah Lodge, called Rainey Plantation by its current owners, is decorated for fall.

grew up hearing the legend of Paul Rainey from my father, Paul Wiseman, who was born in Cotton Plant, just a few miles from Tippah Lodge. Roy Stewart, who hunted in Africa with Rainey, was my grandfather’s first cousin, and my greatgrandfather sold land to Rainey when he was amassing 12,000 acres for his private sportsman’s paradise. Among men who hunt and raise dogs in the area, Rainey’s story has been handed down through the generations. Incredulous, I went to Tippah Lodge in the 1980s. It had sat vacant for 30 years, and by then it was crumbling, open and being devoured by termites. I walked up the cedar-lined sidewalk leading up the hill from the train tracks and explored the entire rambling structure. It was all there, just as my father had said. The swimming pool had become a total ruin. But the cedar-lined trophy room and its leaded glass windows, plus the round brick polo barn were substantially intact. Almost 100 years after his death, you can still feel Paul Rainey’s grand spirit as you walk in the shade of those cedars up to Tippah Lodge, although, as in Rainey’s time, that privilege is for invited guests, and this remains a private home. OC TOBER 2019 | INVITATION

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LIP SYNC BAT TLE T U P E L O

PHOTOGRAPHED BY LISA ROBERTS

Renasant Bank hosted the third annual Lip Sync Battle Sept. 12 at Steeleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Dive. Proceeds from the karaoke contest benefit New Expectations for Women in Mississippi, a nonprofit dedicated to encouraging and empowering local women. View more photos at invitationmag.com.

1. Bruce Milner and Stephanie Oliver 2. Lacey Bryant, Parker, Kevin and Carson Rausch 3. Molly Strawn, Sam Baldwyn and DeAnne Harrington 4. Carlton Wall, Maddie Ludt, Haley Johnson and Charlie Buckley 5. Jeannie Hand, Sara Tucker, Eleasha Sorrell, Adah McCord and Kakia Shelly 6. Clayton and Clay Knight with Michael Gibson

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OC TOBER 2019 | INVITATION

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NATIONAL PUBLIC L ANDS DAY T U P E L O

TOUCH-A-TRUCK!

PHOTOGRAPHED BY LISA ROBERTS

Volunteers from Toyota Mississippi spent Sept. 7 at Tombigbee State Park for the company’s fifth National Public Lands Day event at the park. This year, volunteers rebuilt a previously closed beach and completed other maintenance tasks.

Tupelo Parks and Recreation hosted Touch-A-Truck! Sept. 14 at Veterans Park. The family-friendly event allows children to touch, climb and explore trucks and heavy machinery and to learn about the purposes the vehicles serve in our community.

View more photos at invitationmag.com.

T U P E L O

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1. Christian, Hannah and Ethan McGrath with Beth Harrison, Christie Osby and Tyrone Collins 2. Pamela Strickler, CaLajasia Robinson, Deana Reece, Katina and

1. Anna Bell and Brooke Pierson with Harley Beth Powell 2. Maddon, Emily, Miles and E’Jai Berryman

Joslynn Williams 3. Kathryn Ragsdale, Sean Suggs and Laura George 4. Brad Underwood and Wendell Sue Jones 5. Phillip, Gunner, Gage, Keri and Garrett Williams

3. Braylen Stephens and Thomas Sanchez 4. Natalie and Andrew Hayes

6. John Paul and Melonie Blaylock 7. Christian and Willie Willis 8. Chris Kimbrell, Jennifer Ryan and Carmen Jackson

5. Jordan Alexander and Chandler Harris 6. Rheagan Bailey, Rhyleigh Wilson and Ryder Wheeler 7. Bryson Hughes and Jay Dillworth

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CORINTH HOMECOMING PHOTOGRAPHED BY WHITNEY WORSHAM

Corinth High School Warriors celebrated homecoming week with a parade through downtown Corinth Sept. 12. Other homecoming activites included a pep rally and a football game against Olive Branch, which the Warriors won 36-28. 1

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1. Danaysha Taylor, Lâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Zasiah Howard, Zoriyana Wimsatt and Shakira Shields 2. Ansley Tyson, Pierce Peterson, Maggie Green and Anna Hudson 3. Xander Watkins, Olivia Knight and Blake Knippers 4. Hayden Robbins, Collin Clifton and Cole Brooks 5. Clint Vanderford, Tripp Doran, Mimi Williams and McCartney Smith 6. Alex Marshall and Carson Sitton 7. Rayne and Gunner Gurley 8. Katie Beth Fulghum with Aubrey and George Davis 9. Molly Johnson and Joel Parker

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MOVE TO LEARN P L A N T E R S V I L L E

COMMUNITIES FORWARD

PHOTOGRAPHED BY LISA ROBERTS

The Move to Learn program visited Plantersville Middle School Sept. 12 to educate and inspire students regarding the importance of daily exercise. Students and teachers participated in the event, which was led by motivational coach Larry Calhoun.

The Communities Forward Festival took place Sept. 21 at Gumtree Park to help develop a positive relationship between law enforcement officers and the community. The family-friendly event included food vendors, live music and fellowship.

View more photos at invitationmag.com.

1. Isaiah Shumpert, Jerrion Smith, Ariel Sutton and Takalen Hawkins 2. Demerees Hill, Shalya Jefferson, Tiffany Rhinehart and Colby Padgett

T U P E L O

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3. Margaret Curtis, Teicolla Bass, Kadence Brown and Derion Cook 4. Mariah Powe, Nabria Orr, Jessica Perry, Ra’shira Conway and Courtney Boykin

1. Zachary Clemons and Myles Poston 2. Barbara Jones and Jaqueline Braham 3. Shanty DePriest, John Cayson, Jimmy Hill, Larry Jenkins and Renea Triplett

5. Shamirra Mason, Mary Glynn Arledge, Kierra Melton and Z’mya Clay 6. Gabrielle Ruff, Angela Trimm and Kameron Counts

4. Linda Williams with Billy, Jackie and Rhylee Hughes, Pete Williams and Jason White 5. Erice McWhorten and Abby Wilson

7. Remon Brown, Larry Calhoun and Chavez Tisdell

6. Mattie and Armmie White 7. Toreake Harris, Jeremiah Johnson, Choyce Richardson, Cedric White and Shannon Hogan 8. Torie and Mike Keyes

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DOWN ON MAIN T U P E L O

TALL AHATCHIE RIVERFEST

PHOTOGRAPHED BY LISA ROBERTS

PHOTOGRAPHED BY LISA ROEBRTS

This year’s Down on Main free summer concert series concluded Sept. 19 at Fairpark. The last concert of the season featured live music from Ghost Town Blues Band and Duwayne Burnside, along with food and drink vendors.

The annual Tallahatchie Riverfest took place Sept. 26-28 in downtown New Albany. The communitywide event featured live music, arts and crafts, a pet parade, children’s activites and a 5K race.

View more photos at invitationmag.com.

N E W

A L BA N Y

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1. Bill and Susan Hayden with Emile and Angie Petro 2. Alex Farned, Don Lewis and David Dillard 3. Aaron Chavez with Jonathan and Paige Wallace and Jessica and Jason Shelton 4. Ivy Page, Randle West, Hannah Kincade, Kyle Chatham, Jimmy Lackey and Trey Stevens 5. Zac and Savannah Tucker 6. Joe and Rainey Tanner 7. Toni Drummond and Rosemary Dillard 8. Brooke Uullock and Andy Burleson

1. Morgan Cook, Abbi Roberson, Nevaeh Ingram, Zyon Harris, Destiny Gilbert and Bethany Roberson 2. Madison Whitehead, Anniston Hodges, Bonnie Littlejohn, Emma Reid and Emma Laney 3. Mary and William Cook with Emma Adair 4. Flora Tate, Terri Whitley and James Cook Jr. 5. Rebecca Jernigan, Betty Sue Spencer and Betty King 6. Madalyn, Charles and Megan Bishop 7. Evelyn Maser, Sherra Owen and Patricia Carreras 8. Hayden and Diane Blackwell with Keith and Kentral Smith 9. Samantha and Brian Adair 10. Sarah Kate Nance and Elizabeth Hatcher

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OUT & ABOUT CONTINUED ON PAGE 46

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B e l k Fa l l Br id a l E n g a ge me nt Pa r t y

C e le b rat io n of B o ok s

Bl a i rh au s F lo ra l D e s i g n Eve nt

1. Lawanda Johna, Cassandra Hodges, Pollie Floyd and Gerald Smith 2. Nikyana Boyd, Diane Dillard and Angela Gardner 3. Lisa McCain and Kathy Christian 4. Ben Ludwig, Ann Milam and Lisa Reed 5. Becky Rollin, Kala Meyer and Catherine Mize 6. Brittany Cuevas and Shelia Williamson 7. Jeff Tomlinson and Margret Gratz 8. Julie Brister, Laurie Aultam and Amy Heyer 9. Julie Thompson, Julie Douglas and Amy Womack 10. Mary Elizabeth Monaghan, Peggy Boles and Mollie Floyd

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MISSISSIPPI'S BEST

OUT & ABOUT CONTINUED FROM PAGE 44

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N E W M S Ne t wo rk i n g To ge t he r

G a me N i g ht at Q ue e nâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Re wa rd Me a d e r y

No r t h M i s s i s s i p p i Yout h O rc he s t ra

1. Cheryl Henning and Demetra Sherer 2. Dixiana Huff with Tiffany and Amaris Franks 3. Copey Grantham, Letisha Jackson and Jacqueline Savoy 4. Austin Weaver, Jeri Carter and Brooks Weaver 5. Christopher Cole and Trevor Musgrove 6. Jana Taylor and Hannah Blankenship 7. Megan Corrie, Laken Jones and Bethanie Harris 8. Lauren Stewart, Garrett Weeks, Rebekah Corbin, Oliver Gibbs, Abigail May and Hannah Ruth Culp 9. Clay Cordell, Cate Babb, Kylie Moore, Cade Mairideth and Laura Thompson 10. Camille Bautista, Kenndie Gamble, Cassidy Brophy, Mallory Peters, Jael Zuniga and Marissa Michael

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C L A S S I C southern C O R N B R E A D RECIPE BY ALLISON ESTES

PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOE WORTHEM

ew York is known for its many excellent restaurants with food from all cultures, including Southern food. In the three decades I lived there, I found good barbecue, catfish, gumbo, collard greens, peas and hush puppies. But the one thing they couldn’t get right was good old Southern cornbread. Most places insisted on adding sugar to the recipe (yuck!) or other odd flavorings. The texture was usually either heavy and gummy, or dry enough to choke a horse. Luckily, when my kids and I craved it, I could always make a perfect pan of classic skillet cornbread at home.

classic

SOUTHERN

cornbread

¼ cup or generous dollop of bacon grease or vegetable shortening 1 cup milk 1 egg 1½ cups yellow cornmeal (not “cornmeal mix”) ½ cup all-purpose flour 1 tablespoon baking powder 1 teaspoon salt

the dry ingredients, and stir to combine.

Drop the shortening into a 9-inch cast-iron skillet, and put the skillet into the oven to melt the shortening while you prepare the batter. Heat oven to 425°F.

Remove from oven. Allow to sit for a minute, then lift one edge of the cornbread and prop it up with a knife against the edge of the skillet for a few minutes, to allow steam to escape and keep the edges crisp.

In a 4-cup measuring cup, add the milk and then the egg. When the oven is close to 425°F, beat the egg and milk together with a fork, then add

INVITATION | OC TOBER 2019

Remove the hot skillet from the oven, and pour the melted shortening into the batter. Quickly stir to mix in the shortening, then pour the batter back into the skillet and return it to the oven. Bake for 25 minutes or until golden and starting to brown on top.

When the cornbread is slightly cooled, slice it in the pan and serve while hot with fresh butter.

VARIATIONS

Stir into the batter 1/4-1/3 cup (or to taste): sliced or chopped jalapenos, grated cheese, whole kernel corn, pork cracklins. If you have leftover cornbread, try it for breakfast, split, toasted, spread with butter and drizzled with honey. To make individual servings, melt the shortening in an ovenproof pan and add to the batter. Grease a 12-cup muffin pan, pour batter into cups, then bake. To make sweet corn muffins, omit the shortening and beat 1/4 cup canola oil into the milk and egg. Add 1/3-1/2 cup sugar to the dry ingredients, along with 1/3 cup dried cranberries, 1/3 cup pecan pieces and 1 tablespoon grated orange zest.