WIN A WEEKEND TO THE RAILS TO REELS FILM FESTIVAL! SEE INSIDE!
OCT.NOV 2017
The
Shop
Sanctuary by the Sea
Unparalleled Beauty
The Renaissance of the Threefoot Building
FindingTreasure
Benjamin E. Box Estate Sales
M I S S I S S I P P I ’ S A W A R D - W I N N I N G C O N S U M E R T R AV E L P U B L I C AT I O N W W W. R E A D L E G E N D S . C O M
WIN A FREE WEEKEND! WIN a Weekend for Two at Hilton Garden Inn Meridian, two tickets to the Rails to Reels Film Festival October 20-21 at the historic Temple Theater, and complimentary breakfast each morning! To enter, take our 15-second quick and easy survey at www.ReadLegends.com and tell us what you'd like to see in LEGENDS!
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MISSISSIPPI 1 8 1 7
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LAND OF PLENTY, PAIN, AND PROMISE T H E A N N I E L AU R I E S WA I M H E A R I N M E M O R I A L E X H I B I T I O N S E R I E S
2 • OCTOBER | NOVEMBER 2017
Frank Jones Blues Challenge hosted by Dexter Allen
ry!
www.fjonescorner.com
jello shot with every purchase
Every Thursday 10pm-until
The
Beauty of
Ballet First Moves
Wednesday, October 25, 7 p.m. Duling Hall
The Nutcracker December 1, 2, & 3 Thalia Mara Hall
Performance and Ticket Info
balletms.com 601.960.1560
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PUBLISHER AND PRESIDENT ��������������������Marianne Todd VP OF MARKETING AND SALES ����������������������������Chris Banks LEAD GRAPHIC DESIGNER ��������������������Shayne Garrett WEBSITE DESIGNER ������������������Kevin Chertkow
Win a weekend for two at Meridian's Hilton Garden Inn and two tickets to the Rails to Reels Film Fest October 20-21! Enter to win at ReadLegends.com.
Contact LEGENDS 601-604-2963 Editorial/Advertising - 601-604-2963 | Editor@ReadLegends.com Contributing writers: Meghan Holmes, Sean Murphy, Raines Rushin, Kara Martinez Bachman, Julian Rankin Contributing photographers: Kristal Cabello, James Edward Bates, Chad Edwards LEGENDS welcomes your calendar submissions. Submissions are posted free of charge on our website at www.ReadLegends.com. Calendar submissions for consideration in LEGENDS’ print calendar may be sent to
Editor@ReadLegends.com. Copyright 2017. All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be reproduced or reprinted without express permission from the publisher. The opinions and views expressed by our contributors, writers and editors are their own. Various views from other professionals may also be expressed. Neither LEGENDS nor Blue South Publishing Corporation is endorsing or guaranteeing the products or quality of services expressed in advertisements. All advertisers assume liability for all content (including text representation and illustration) of advertisements printed and assume responsibility for any resulting claims against LEGENDS or its affiliates. Materials, photographs and written pieces to be considered for inclusion in LEGENDS may be sent to P.O. Box 3663, Meridian, MS 39303. Unsolicited materials will not be returned. Blue South Publishing Corporation provides thousands of free copies in its coverage area to tourism offices, welcome centers, hotels, restaurants, theaters, museums, galleries, coffee shops, casinos and institutions of higher learning. If your business, agency or industry would like to be considered as a LEGENDS distribution point, please contact us at Editor@ReadLegends.com. For more information, write to Editor@ReadLegends.com. More information, including a comprehensive, up-to-date calendar, may be found at
www.ReadLegends.com
ABOUT OUR COVER The Liberty Shop, opened in the 1970s, still offers the luxury shopping experience of yesteryear, before fast-paced retail emerged with the ubiquity of chain stores and malls – and the Internet. Back then, families often traveled from surrounding counties to downtown Meridian for shopping, dining and entertainment. (Photograph by Marianne Todd)
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CONTENTS OCTOBER | NOVEMBER 2017
MUSIC 11 Music that Screams Mississippi Slowboat Brewing Company
CULTURE 21 Sanctuary by the Sea
Natural Beauty along Florida's 30A
26 The Renaissance of the Threefoot Urban revitalization in Meridian
32 COVER STORY: THE LIBERTY SHOP Celebrating women and the things they love for more than 40 years.
53 Finding Treasure
Orphaned items find new homes at Benjamin Box Estate Sales
58 A Giving Heart
The legacy of the Magnolia Son
CULINARY 16 When the Saints Go Marching In Operation BBQ Relief
47 Smokin' Food and Hot Music Squealer's Bar-B-Que
EVENTS 63 What's Shakin' in the Cradle Calendar of Events
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47 53
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32 READLEGENDS.COM •
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PILGRIMAGE TOURS
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ors for more than 30 years to an insider’s view of History and atchez Style,” Natchez Pilgrimage Tours is your one-stop for the estival of Music in May. Whether you’re traveling alone or as part of a re sure to enjoy any of our 18 events this year, including fully-staged he opera “Carmen” and the musical “Show Boat.”
hezpilgrimage.com to purchase festival or event tickets or to purchase round home tours that are open to the public.
Style and Brunches, Opening the doors for more than 30 years to an insider’s• Natchez view of History Hospitality “Natchez Style,” Natchez Pilgrimage ToursLunches, is your one-stop the Teas for & Dinners 2016 Natchez Festival of Music in May. Whether you’re traveling alone or as part of a in Historic Houses group tour, you’re sure to enjoy any of our 18 events this year, including fully-staged productions of the opera “Carmen” and the musical “Show Boat.”
• Musical Events in Historic Properties & Houses Visit www.natchezpilgrimage.com to purchase festival or event tickets or to purchase tickets for year-round home tours that are open to the public.
• Cooking Classes & Mixology Classes
STANTON HALL
• Wine & Candlelight Tours, Distillery Tours, Carriage Tours, Outdoor Adventure Tours
601.446.2478 • 800.647.6742 • www.natchezpilgrimage.com
8 • OCTOBER | NOVEMBER 2017
Wherever you’re headed, we’re going your way.
The Best Little Airport in the World Meridian to Dallas or Chicago to the World • MeridianAirport.com • Book your American Airlines flight today! • AA.com READLEGENDS.COM •
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STORY FROM LAUREL, MISS.
Molly Thomas and the Rare Birds of Fairhope, AL, perform at Laurel's Slowboat.
10 • OCTOBER | NOVEMBER 2017
Music that screams Mississippi
By SEAN MURPHY Photography by CHAD EDWARDS
T
he Big-A ss fa n cut s t hroug h t he Aug u st s welter at L aurel ’s Slowboat Bre w ing Co. on a Saturday nig ht. Cit y cou ncilmen, mu shroom fora gers, day laborers a nd ba n kers mil l t hroug h t he once-d ilapidated bu ild ing in re vita liz ed dow ntow n L aurel. A burly ma n w it h a deep, black bea rd zig-z a gs t he bu ild ing, grabbing a fresh keg from t he wa l k-in cooler to be delivered to t he ba r. He get s t he sou nd set up for t he nig ht’s enter ta inment, greet s cu stomers a nd tries in va in to f ind time to smoke a ciga ret te. His back hur t s a nd mu scles ache — a sma l l price to pay for “ living t he d rea m.” Kenny Ma nn had d rea med of a place like t his since set t ling in to create his f irst home-bre wed beer w it h his w ife Ca rrie more t ha n four yea rs a go. T he L aurel native gave up a good-pay ing job of fshore, risk ing t he sa fet y of a reg u la r paycheck to create a spot L aurel had ne ver seen — a bre wer y a nd mu sic venue.
“We a re a bre wer y, a nd beer is priorit y No. 1,” Ma nn sa id. “But t here a re ma ny more moving pa r t s to t his bu siness. A lt houg h t he listening room environment plays a big role, t he mu sic is ju st one of t he ma ny t hings I hope people w il l experience here.” His col lection of vinyl record s is va st, a nd t he inf luence record s have on him a nd Ca rrie is e vident e ver y time someone wa l k s into t he bre wer y. It sta r t s w it h t he beer na mes for t he t hree Slowboat staples — Way wa rd Son (a n ode to t he ba nd K a nsa s), Da ir y of a Mad ma n (not “Dia r y” of a Mad ma n for which people consta nt ly a sk, a s a nod to Ozz y Osborne) a nd Into t he Mystic, a n ode to his favorite per former, Va n Morrison. Specia lt y beers a re apt ly na med a s wel l, includ ing I V, t he bre weries four t h beer a nd a tribute to L ed Z eppelin’s grou ndbrea k ing 1971 a lbu m by t he sa me na me, a nd a Yel low Subma rine pay ing homa ge to t he Beat les. READLEGENDS.COM •
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T he bre wer y’s logo is a n adapter u sed on record players to play 45 R PMs. Back when Mississippi d id not a l low d irect beer sa les a nd bre weries were forced to give tours w it h sa mples, tokens for t hose sa mples were t hose sa me adapters. T here is no doubt at Slowboat, t he ow ners — a nd patrons — c a re about t heir mu sic. E ach Saturday nig ht t he tu nes f low in a tow n t hat ow ns a rich mu sic a l trad ition but fe w places to hea r it per formed live. “W hen I wa s grow ing up, it wa s not stra nge to see a great, you ng ba nd e ver y weekend if you k ne w where to look,” Ma nn sa id. “Given t he histor y of our bu ild ing a nd my persona l love of mu sic, I felt t hat t he bre wer y wa s t he per fect c ata lyst to rea l ly tr y to c apture t hat a ga in. I sta r ted book ing some of my favorite ba nd s on Saturdays at t he bre wer y la st su mmer a nd c a l led it t he Su mmer of Live Mu sic. Since Slowboat’s opening in Ja nua r y 2016, t he bre wer y ha s at tracted, on mu ltiple occ a sions, act s such a s Pine Belt icon Ca r y Hud son, Ne w Orlea ns ma ster Johnny Sa nsone, Mol ly T homa s a nd t he R a re Bird s, t he enter ta ining Grayson Capps a nd a much-a nticipated November 11 appea ra nce by t he iconic Webb Wilder.
“ T he e volution t hat ha s most surprised me is Slowboat a nd L aurel becoming a desired destination for touring ba nd s,” Ma nn sa id. “We tr y our best to of fer a comfor table environment, our cu stomers actua l ly listen /respond to live mu sic, a nd mu sicia ns love t he way it sou nd s in here. I’m ver y proud to of fer t his t y pe of environment to ba nd s a nd mu sic lovers a like.” L oc ated where West 5t h a nd Nor t h Ma gnolia street s intersect, t he bre wer y is bet ter-k now n by t he loc a ls a s rad io station WA ML . T he former station's stud io is upsta irs, while t he bot tom f loor ser ved a s a n auto shop a nd a tra nsmission shop. T he fac ade wa s covered in gra f f iti when t he Ma nns f irst went to look at it. One hu nd red w indows were broken. Sheetrock, scrap wood, old applia nces a nd se vera l oldtime video ga mes lit tered t he ma in f loor. It took nea rly 20 0 ga l lons of pa int a nd t he remova l of se ven 40 -foot over f low ing tra sh receptacles to e ven begin to ma ke it presentable. T he re vita liz ation goes ha nd-in-ha nd w it h a rebir t h of dow ntow n L aurel, t ha n k s in pa r t to t he success of t he HGT V series “Home Tow n.” T he f irst sea son wa s so successf u l t hat f ilming ha s a lready beg u n for t he second
“The most important thing about the brewery personally is that there is finally a place for a like-minded group of people to settle in and call their own." – Shane Kelley
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The Original Museum Mile– see how deep the Delta really is.
Pat Thomas, son of bluesman James “Son” Thomas can often be found playing at the Highway 61 Blues Museum in Leland.
From art to aviation, and hometown heroes to literature, there’s something for everyone on the Delta’s Museum Mile. Greenville History Museum
1927 Flood Museum
409 Washington Avenue, Greenville
118 South Hinds Street, Greenville
William Alexander Percy Memorial Library & Delta Writer’s Exhibit 341 Main Street, Greenville
“Century of History” Hebrew Union Temple & Museum 504 Main Street, Greenville
The Patriot at Greenville Cemetery South Main Street, Greenville
E.E. Bass Cultural Arts Center / Armitage Herschell Carousel 323 South Main Street, Greenville
Highway 61 Blues Museum 307 North Broad Street, Leland
Mississippi Wildlife Heritage Museum / Outdoor Hall of Fame
Jim Henson Delta Boyhood Exhibit 206 Broad Street North, Leland
Winterville Mounds 2415 Highway 1 North, Winterville
Air Force Base Museum Mid Delta Regional Airport, Greenville
Lake Washington Historical Museum 970 Lake Washington Road East, Glen Allan
304 North Broad Street, Leland
www.visitgreenville.org • (800) 467.3582
Convention & Visitors Bureau
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sea son. T hroug hout dow ntow n, old bu ild ings a re get ting ne w life breat hed into t hem. L oc a l ly ow ned restaura nt s a nd shops a re opening or in t he process of opening. People have returned to t he street s of dow ntow n, where a recent recreation ord ina nce went into ef fect t hat a l lows for t he open consu mption of a lcohol in a dow ntow n d istrict. W hen Ma nn f irst a nnou nced his bre wer y in 2015 a nd t he Cit y Council una nimously suppor ted it, Mayor Johnny Ma gee sa id, “People d rin k beer, whet her t hey like to ad mit it or not. But I t hin k it’s going to be good for t he cit y. It’s going to be a great add ition to t he cit y.” Earlier this year, the Mississippi Ma in Street A ssociation presented t he Ma nns w it h a n awa rd for best u se of a repurposed bu ild ing in tra nsforming a n eyesore into L aurel ’s best mu sic venue. Much like t he venue, t he bre w ing operation is purposef u l ly sma l l, Ma nn sa id, to keep t he beers specia l a nd u nique. T he bre w s ystem is c apable of bre w ing about 150 ga l lons at a time, which ta kes up most of Ma nn’s week . T he beer is d istributed from Jack son to t he Gu lf C oa st a nd ha s been featured in some nor t h Mississippi cities on occ a sion. Keeping up w it h t he dema nd ha s been ex hau sting to Ma nn, but at lea st one nig ht per week when not put ting out ma na geria l f ires, he c a n lose himself in t he mu sic. T he sta ge is constr ucted of pa l let s covered in c a rpeted ply wood w it h room for about four mu sicia ns to sta nd comfor tably, a lt houg h t here have been occ a sions where t here have been si x people on sta ge. T he shows, w it h ra re exceptions, a re free. A nd while Ma nn is u sed to being on t he mu sic a l production side, he recent ly joined t he Pine Belt Pickers for a per forma nce at t he bre wer y. Ma nn played sta nd-up
14 • OCTOBER | NOVEMBER 2017
ba ss a nd sa id at f irst he wa s ju st tr y ing to go a long to get a long, but he soon fou nd his rhy t hm. “Play ing w it h t he Pine Belt Pickers wa s a n a ma zing experience for me. I got t he oppor tu nit y to play my ow n sta ge, w it h one of my favorite ba nd s,” Ma nn sa id. “I’ve since played w it h se vera l of my favorite mu sicia ns on my home tur f. At t his point in my mu sic a l endeavors, ner vou sness is out t he w indow. I’ve fou nd t hat if I tr y to have f u n w it h my friend s on sta ge, t he mu sic work s it self out in t he best way. Ma nn ha s a lso appea red se vera l times a longside loc a l mu sic whiz Shelby Kemp, who is one set of t he rig ht ea rs away from bu sting t hroug h t he mu sic scene. Kemp, w it h his long, blond ha ir in a pony ta il, ha s ne ver had a mu sic lesson, but ha s t he gif t of t he ea r, his mot her once sa id. He is a reg u la r at Slowboat a nd t hroug hout sout h Mississippi. He f irst played a longside Ma nn during a gig at Hat tiesburg’s Glor y Bou nd. “Kenny is a fa nta stic ba ss player,” Kemp sa id. “He ha s picked up ne w trick s e ver y time I see him, a nd I cou ld n’t be more happy to be play ing w it h him. Bluegra ss, ja zz, f lat-out ps ychobil ly, he’s a l l over it.” It is t hose act s, Ma nn sa id, t hat a re specia l for L aurel. T he ta lent is deep, a nd Kemp exemplif ies t hat. “E a rly on, it wa s me seek ing out a nd a sk ing mu sicia ns t hat I love to come play my venue,” Ma nn sa id. “I stil l do t hat of ten, but over time t he word ha s got ten out. We get approached by some incred ible ta lent on a reg u la r ba sis now. “Most recent ly, t he legenda r y Webb Wilder reached out to me a nd is now booked for a solo per forma nce on November 11. I get book ing ema ils e ver y day, a nd t he best
Coffee Pot Café at Creekside
Creole Cuisine Step back in time and enjoy the atmosphere and music while you eat, then browse the Creekside Merchantile filled with antiques and new merchandise, including gourmet food items. 120 West Bridge Street • Enterprise • Mississippi • 601.659.0500 • https://m.facebook.com/CreeksideMercantile pa r t of it a l l is t hat I get to listen to a lot of ne w mu sic. I rea l ly w ish we cou ld give e ver yone a cha nce, but we tend to gravitate towa rd s mu sic t hat screa ms Mississippi, such a s rock, fol k, root s, bluegra ss a nd blues. But t here is rea l ly on ly one r u le here at Slowboat — no cover ba nd s a l lowed.” Shor t ly a f ter t he 2016 relea se of t he Hol ly wood movie “Free State of Jones,” t he bre wer y hosted a Free State Ja mboree, which broug ht eig ht ba nd s toget her for one nig ht of mu sic hig h lig hted by t he likes of Kemp, T he Strays a nd Pau l Johnson. It’s t hat welcoming feeling t hat at tracted L aurel mu sicia n Sha ne Kel ley, g u ita rist for T he Strays. “ T he most impor ta nt t hing about t he bre wer y persona l ly is t hat t here is f ina l ly a place for a like-minded group of people to set t le in a nd c a l l t heir ow n,” Kel ley sa id. “Pre viou sly a lot of t hese people d id n’t have a ny where to be t hemselves a nd rea liz e t here were ot hers like t hem.” During t he bre wer y’s infa nc y, Ma nn t houg ht of renovating t he upsta irs into a n a ir-cond itioned taproom a nd mu sic venue, but Ma nn likes t he feel of t he old indu stria l bu ild ing w it h it s concrete f loor a nd ta l l w indows. In t he back is a cour t ya rd t hat is home ba se for a food tr uck during bre wer y operations. A once-d ilapidated
bu ild ing t hat abut s t he cour t ya rd is being tra nsformed into a restaura nt a nd t here have been d iscu ssions of tea ming up to create a n outdoor mu sic venue in t he cour t ya rd. But t hose pla ns a re dow n t he line. For now, t he cha l kboa rd on t he w indow facing 5t h Street provides about t wo mont hs wor t h of enter ta inment listings. A s u sua l, t he c a lenda r is f u l l. “Slowboat is t he best listening room in Mississippi, in my opinion,” Kemp sa id. “ T here a re a lot of ba rs a nd venues t hat have tried for yea rs to create what Kenny ha s done in such a shor t spa n of time. T he intimac y is t he bread-a ndbut ter of play ing mu sic, to me. “W hen you sta nd on t hat sta ge it’s a s if e ver yone in t he room is clinging to e ver y word /melody you t hrow at t hem. I w il l play t here e ver y cha nce I get ’til t hey get tired of me.” L
Want to go? Slowboat Brewing Co., 318 West 5th St. in Laurel, is open Thursday and Friday from 3-10 p.m. and Saturday from 3 p.m. to midnight. For more information, visit facebook.com/slowboatbrewco. READLEGENDS.COM •
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STORY FROM HOUSTON, TEXAS
When the Saints Go Marching In
By RAINES RUSHIN Photography by JAMES EDWARD BATES
Editor’s note: At press time, volunteers with Operation BBQ Relief were packing up their Houston effort and moving to the areas in Florida hardest hit by Hurricane Irma.
I
t is hot for the first time in six days. The breeze has stalled. The downtown haze of city bus exhaust and east Texas humidity envelops everything. The Chevron on Louisiana Street is back in business, and people in ties and loafers are going back at work. The Astros are playing a home game at Minute Maid Park this evening. A small, blue Toyota in a loading zone is getting a parking ticket on Lamar Street outside the Wells Fargo Center. Someone got cut off on the I-45 feeder this morning and is tweeting about it while they wait in traffic near I-45. For a city inundated with massive f looding just the week before, it is a fairly normal morning for Houston, Texas. In a parking lot at 401 West Dallas St., just behind Sam Houston Park, Jeff Petkevicius is pulling a slow-smoked pork roast off a massive barbecue cooker. It is the 48th out of 400 or so he will pull this morning. He is wearing a black t-shirt with “GIVE IT TO GOD” on the front. The sleeves are cut off, and his massive arms are covered in tattoos, grease, sweat and soot. They glisten
16 • OCTOBER | NOVEMBER 2017
as he hands off huge roasts of cooked barbecue pork shoulders to volunteers. He pulls quietly. Every few minutes, he calls for another ice chest to load with meat. The fat-dripping pounds of cooked meat are his pride – and his mission. He is the pitmaster for Operation BBQ Relief, and he is at the center of the largest disaster relief feeding effort in Houston after Hurricane Harvey devastated the city in late August with nearly 50 inches of rain. By the time he finishes pulling the last butt off the cooker, a team of more than 120 volunteers will prepare the 300,000th meal since they set up ten days ago. In 2006, Stan Hays had watched the sky over Joplin, Missouri, as a tornado curled down and annihilated the small town. He and Will Cleaver – a friend and fellow competition barbecue pitmaster – decided then to join resources and networks to find a way to make barbecue bring relief. It took them 11 days to push 120,000 plates of warm barbecue plates of pulled pork, green beans and corn across the table and into hands of emergency responders, exhausted from recovery, rescue and resilience. “We couldn’t even imagine what these people were going through,” Hays says of the experience. “We wanted to bring not just food, but barbecue. A hot plate of barbecue can mean so
“We wanted to bring not just food, but barbecue. A hot plate of barbecue can mean so much more than just another meal. It can take you back to that place where families and friends gather and sit down to eat. It’s a comfort when you need it, and we wanted to provide that.” – Stan Hays
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much more than just another meal. It can take you back to that place where families and friends gather and sit down to eat. It’s a comfort when you need it, and we wanted to provide that.” Since that first week some 11 years ago, Operation BBQ Relief has grown into an organized nationwide disaster relief effort helping to feed first responders and victims of natural disasters in 21 states. When the alarm is sounded, the national network – now made of hundreds of volunteers and thousands of donors – rapidly pulls together. Even the mention of a pending disaster sends the network into motion. Hurricane Harvey was still over Houston when Hays and his advance team arrived to torrential rains and f looding in Spring, Texas. His trailer had been loaded before Harvey made landfall, and his core advance team had stopped everything – jobs, backto-school, vacations – to set the OBR wheels in motion. The organization tends to the needs of first responders, offering sustenance and encouragement as they assist victims. But if a shelter calls and needs 1,000 meals, the team takes the order. Operating on strictly a donor basis, volunteers pay for their own expenses, including travel and camping and/or hotel room expenses. The lion’s share of the protein is donated in bulk by suppliers. Monetary donations are accepted at operationbbqrelief.org, their largest donation channel. Brian Roppolo is a vital part of the advance team. A sturdy man from Shreveport, Louisiana, Roppolo guides the day-to-day operations of OBR’s massive Houston downtown deployment site. While one end hums and crackles with sounds of volunteers opening 10-pound cans of beans and corn, another corner whistles and honks as a refrigerated semi trailer takes is place among five others and a forklift unloads pallets of frozen pork. Most people have never seen him without some sort of cap on. His presence is
18 • OCTOBER | NOVEMBER 2017
not subdued. His radio is never silent, and he is seldom still for more than a minute or two. It is Day 10 of the deployment to Houston. He hangs up a call with his counterpart at the Goliad, Texas, deployment site, answers a radio query on truck parking, makes a jab at a fellow volunteer and then refocuses on the future – all within the space of seven seconds. He takes the next three to ponder what comes next. “We’re going to look to leave starting Friday,” he says quietly. “We going to do 45,000 (meals) on Wednesday, 40,000 on Thursday. Probably 20,000 on Friday then we going to start pulling out of here.” He is not happy with leaving – or where the team is headed next. “We are going to get back to Shreveport, clean up and get ready for Irma,” he says. “We don’t know where she is going. We’re going to have to go where she hits.” As they head into the uncertainty of what Irma will bring, the organization’s website issues this plea for help: “We are looking for staging and places to set up camp to prepare and serve hot barbecue meals in the aftermath of this impending disaster. If you know of a place that has power and back up power, a kitchen, facilities to house volunteers, showers, and plenty of room outside for tractor trailers, commercial smokers and the like, please let us know.” Two weeks is the longest OBR has deployed in one location. Hays has said the team will meet the need until the need is no more. On Day 12 of their Texas deployment, they plate their 320,000th meal. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner is grateful. “As we work together to rebuild, a hot meal from caring hands helps to remind us that we are in this together.” On the day before they depart for Irma’s wrath, the sun is rising slowly and seems to pause in the humid morning air. It
EXPLORE the
CAJUN COAST! CHITIMACHA POW WOW Oct. 28 | The Pavilion at Cypress Bayou Casino • Hotel
BERWICK LIGHTHOUSE FESTIVAL | Oct. 7 & 8 | Berwick |
The festival serves as the finish line for Tour du Teche canoe and kayak race. Arts & crafts booths, live music, food and activities for the kids. Sunday features a car show, petting zoo and race awards ceremony.
The whole family will enjoy this colorful event. The Pow Wow, hosted by the Sovereign Nation of the Chitimacha, showcases Native American competition dancing as well as food and crafts vendors. Admission $5, 5 and under free.
HARVEST MOON FESTIVAL | Oct. 28
Downtown Franklin | Welcome fall with all-day festivities on Franklin’s charming Main Street featuring live music; a children’s carnival; teen activities; an antique, hot rod, classic car and motorcycle show, concessions and retail promotions.
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Lafayette 10
PATTERSON HISTORIC WALKING TOUR AND FALL FEST | Oct. 28 | Main St., Patterson crests the tops of the Kinder Morgan and Shell Oil buildings and breaks the shade open at 401 West Dallas Street. A group of men and a few women gather under a large tent. Behind them, 419 pork loins begin the descent into a slow cooker. A forklift beeps backwards and stops. The driver curses and restarts, beeping again. The group is quiet with coffee and water in hands. Heavy, white “hot gloves” stained in spots of red and brown hang from the pockets of cargo shorts. Less than 30 feet away, a line of traffic is already bunched up behind One Allen Center – the western gateway to downtown. The honks and growls of rush hour have begun early with morning drive time radio shows blaring from open windows. Some will be late to work. It is a fairly normal Houston morning. A Mississippi volunteer sporting a full gray beard, a veteran of the Food Network’s BBQ Pitmasters TV show, stands beside a young volunteer whose home three miles away was f looded in the storm. A woman in a blue sun visor pulls the front of her shirt smooth and brushes off the sauce that had earlier landed there. They all bow their heads as Petkevicius leads them in prayer. He closes with an “Amen” and brings the circle in tight. With a once-clean towel draped around his neck, he glances across the f lock of volunteers. “We have people to feed,” he says. “Let’s get to it.” L
(800) 256-2931 www.cajuncoast.com #cajuncoast.com
182
Baton Rouge 70
55 12 10
Franklin 90 New Morgan Orleans City
Only 90 minutes from New Orleans, Lafayette or Baton Rouge
Want to help? For information on how to contribute to
Operation BBQ Relief, or to learn how to make a donation via text, visit operationbbqrelief.org. READLEGENDS.COM •
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STORY FROM SOUTH WALTON, FLA.
Sanctuary by the Sea Unparalleled beauty along Florida's 30A By MEGHAN HOLMES Photography by MARIANNE TODD
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he beaches of South Walton have long been appreciated for their sparkling emerald green waters and pristine white sand. Nestled on 23 acres directly facing the Gulf and adjacent to a rare coastal dune lake, Sanctuary by the Sea showcases the best that 30A has to offer: a secluded resort in the midst of a nature preserve only minutes from world class dining and entertainment. Sanctuary by the Sea’s property abuts Big Redfish Lake, a coastal dune lake environment found only in the Florida Panhandle, Madagascar, Australia, New Zealand and the northern Pacific coast of the United States. The lakes are tens of thousands of years old, and the product of shifting sands that created shallow basins fed by streams, groundwater seepage and
rain. Heavy rain events and storm surges connect these lakes to the Gulf, depending on tides and weather, creating outfalls that allow salt water and organisms to f low into the freshwater lakes, leading to a brackish system. Fisherman find bream, bass, panfish, catfish, redfish, f lounder, speckled trout and mullet in these productive waters, and the plethora of fish encourages birds and alligators to also inhabit the area. Many people explore the lakes on YOLO boards or kayaks. “This property is one of the most beautiful in the area because it offers views of the beach front as well as Big Redfish Lake,” says Sarah Ralph, Northwest Florida marketing manager at ResortQuest. “At times, the lake connects to the Gulf of Mexico and creates an inlet.” Great blue herons and gulls perch in the READLEGENDS.COM •
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The property is gated, and bound by water on two sides, creating a sense of isolation despite the resort’s proximity to restaurants and retail. Large floor-to-ceiling windows allow for beautiful lighting, an expansive feel, and breathtaking vistas, with doors opening to the outside from each unit’s living room and master bedroom.
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shallow brackish water looking for fish, unbothered by people lounging several feet away on the beachfront. A pathway leads away from the resort to a gazebo offering views of the lake, as well as surrounding trees and wildlife, and beyond that to the beachfront, winding in wide arcs to accommodate dune vegetation. “Guests who stay with ResortQuest receive four complimentary chairs and two umbrellas with each rental unit,” says Ralph, making beach front setup and sunset viewing a more relaxing experience. Bike rentals also are available, allowing visitors to enjoy other nearby outdoor attractions, including Point Washington State Forest and Grayton Beach State Park. Bike paths traverse the entirety of 30A, and many of the area’s downtown centers encourage foot and bike traffic in favor of cars. “The opportunities for adventure outside are really endless on 30A,” says Blue Mountain Beach resident Martin Schamp, “I’m a birder, and you can see so many different types of birds, some of them rare, around these coastal lakes. There are hundreds of species of migratory birds, because South Walton sits between two major f lyways. I routinely see bald eagles, osprey and horned owls.” Sanctuary By the Sea’s beachfront is one of the highest points of elevation along 30A, allowing for expansive views of the area’s natural beauty. The property’s units are angled to allow for maximum views of the Gulf, and an additional public central plaza with seating allows residents and visitors to congregate and enjoy sunsets. The property is gated, and bound by water on two sides, creating a sense of isolation despite the resort’s proximity to restaurants and retail. Tropical plants and palm trees surround three pools and two large hot tubs, and the resort has 82 units ranging in size. “Our larger units upstairs span two f loors, which is very unique for a condo,” says Ralph. “Climb the staircase to the second f loor to find a master suite with a balcony facing the Gulf. It’s perfect for privacy.“ Select units also include private cabana rentals steps away from large, refreshing pools, as well as additional amenities, including state-of-the art gas grills and an outdoor fireplace. Sanctuary by the Sea also offers a virtual golf center, large gym, video game area and a movie theater which can be privately reserved. “This property’s units were designed with a cook in mind,” says Ralph. “We offer high end Viking ranges and appliances, a spacious island, two sinks and a stainless steel stove, as well as a bar with a wine cooler and stand alone ice machine.” Large f loor-to-ceiling windows allow for beautiful
Our home
is your home. Whether enjoying the beaches of Northwest Florida as a vacationer or a property owner, ResortQuest by Wyndham Vacation Rentals wants you to know - mi casa es su casa.
Vacation Rentals | 844-253-7848 | RQLovesLegends.com Property Management | 866-990-5341 | NewOwner@wynvr.com Real Estate | 866-990-5346 | RQEmeraldCoastRealEstate.com
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Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi, A Mutual Insurance Company is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. ® Registered Marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an Association of Independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans.
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lighting, an expansive feel, and breathtaking vistas, with doors opening to the outside from each unit’s living room and master bedroom. Sanctuary by the Sea residents and guests typically walk or ride bikes to nearby restaurants for dining. “One local favorite is The Red Bar,” says Ralph. “It’s an eclectic atmosphere, offering delicious food and signature drinks as well as live entertainment from local musicians. Sanctuary is also only three miles from Gulf Place, which offers restaurants, shopping, boutiques and concerts. Those who want to venture a little further out also often explore the quaint village of Seaside.” Locals head to Gulf Place for a variety of weekly events. “I love going to hear music at La Playa,” says Santa Rosa Beach resident Katie Emmons. “They have local musicians on Saturdays and a ladies night with live music on Thursdays that’s always fun. There are also weekly wine walkabouts and free group bike rides on the weekend.” Other popular nearby eateries include Chanticleer, Chiringo and The Craft Bar. “I love the burger at The Craft Bar," says Emmons. “It’s local, grass-fed beef served on a brioche bun. It’s located right off the bike path, so that’s how I usually get there.” There is also a wide variety of retail near Sanctuary by the Sea, including The Blue Giraffe, Central Square Records, Stinky’s Bait Shack and Outfitters and The Workshop. Early explorers of this part of South Walton named it Blue Mountain Beach after the blue lupine f lower found growing on the beachfront alongside the turquoise water, where it continues to grow today. Sanctuary by the Sea showcases this area’s unparalleled natural beauty and unique native f lora and fauna, in many ways unchanged since the area was settled many years ago. At the same time, the resort’s proximity to 30A’s charming shops and restaurants allows residents and visitors to experience contemporary luxury as well. It’s the best of old and new, laid back and luxurious. “This resort is perfect for experiencing some of South Walton’s most beautiful views, as well as exploring all the nearby beach towns,” says Ralph. “It has so much to offer.” L
Want to go ? For more information, or to book a room, visit wyndhamvacationrentals.com/florida/ blue-mountain-beach/sanctuary-sea-complex READLEGENDS.COM •
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STORY FROM MERIDIAN, MISS.
The Renaissance of the Threefoot By MEGHAN HOLMES and MARIANNE TODD Photographs by Marianne Todd
When complete, Meridian's 16-story Threefoot Building will have undergone a transformation similar to the recently completed Elyton Hotel in Birmingham (pictured in the above left photograph) which, like the Threefoot, once served as a space for offices.
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t was a $20 million urban revitalization plan forged on a napkin. The dilapidated Threefoot building, the icon of Meridian's skyline, had sat vacant for years, its art deco facade crumbling piece by piece to the ground 16 stories below. Deals to restore it to its former glory had been made through the years. None of them seemed to stick. The eyesore, which had once served as an office building for doctors, dentists and lawyers, had become a raw subject with the Queen City's residents, who complained of seeing the old gem fall to waste. Some, who felt
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the historical structures of Meridian should be saved, wanted her restored. Others wanted her torn to the ground and a new, more modern structure built. Then John Tampa came to town. The Ascent Hospitality president met with Meridian Mayor Percy Bland. Tampa wanted to buy the Threefoot, turning it into a hotel similar to Birmingham’s recently opened Elyton, a former bank transformed into a luxury boutique hotel, which he also designed. He came prepared with photos and blueprints on his laptop. “But we couldn't access the wifi on his laptop in my office, and so I told him we could go to the library,” Bland said. The two men walked across the street, and after Bland heard Tampa’s pitch, they solidified a preliminary contract between the city and the developer using a pen and the closest piece of paper they could find – a napkin.
“To me, a space like the Threefoot tells an American story about the ability of immigrants to succeed and to come to a place, start their own business, and become a success. So, while I wanted to modernize some elements of the building, it was important to me to let the Threefoot continue to tell that story.” – John Tampa
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“As the mayor, I’m geeked that this is finally happening. We are getting a major injection of funds into a historic part of our city. It’s been an incredibly complicated process to get to where we are now.” – Meridian Mayor Percy Bland
“I had met with a lot of people, who had a lot of different ideas about how to renovate the Threefoot, but John was the first person who I felt could really get the job done,” Bland said. “We sold him the building for $10,000, and he was ready to commit to spending more than $20 million to complete the project.” The committed money will turn the building into a 135room Courtyard Marriott with a Starbucks, as well as a bar and bistro on the bottom level. Developers hope to complete the project within the next 18 months. Environmental testing and abatement, a tedious and time-consuming process, began in September. Construction of the Threefoot began in 1929, financed by local businessmen. Architects C.H. Lindsley and Frank Fort designed the space. Lindsley also designed the Standard Life building in Jackson, considered a sister structure with similar art deco stylings. When completed, The Threefoot Building was the tallest structure in Mississippi. It remains the tallest building in Meridian, visible to cars passing through the city on Interstate 20/59. Offices were eventually abandoned, and its doors closed in the 1990s. Efforts to renovate and reopen the building began not long thereafter. Bland and Tampa’s deal represents the culmination of those efforts. “As the mayor, I’m geeked that this is finally happening. We are getting a major injection of funds into a historic part of our city. It’s been an incredibly complicated process to get to where we are now.” The Threefoot Building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979 and was designated as a Mississippi Landmark in 2008, meaning developers must adhere to strict regulations to preserve as many original elements as possible. “They go in and they take pictures of everything,” says Bland.
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“Every door, every door handle. The details matter, and there’s a lot of back and forth about what you can and can’t do.” The travails of restoring 87-year-old architecture don't intimidate Tampa. “As a developer, a project like this is exciting. You never know what you’re going to encounter, and every building presents unique challenges. To me, a space like the Threefoot tells an American story about the ability of immigrants to succeed and to come to a place, start their own business, and become a success. So, while I wanted to modernize some elements of the building, it was important to me to let the Threefoot continue to tell that story,” Tampa says. Members of the local nonprofit, the Threefoot Preservation Society, have spent years working to raise awareness of the building, hosting cleanups and tours. Amos Jones runs the group, and has lived on the bottom level of the Threefoot for the last 19 years. During a recent tour of the building, he described its design and construction. “I guess they were excited to get this project completed. It took 11 months to build, with men working 11 and a half hour shifts around the clock,” Jones said. He holds up a cylindrical piece of concrete, nearly a foot in height. “This was extracted from the core of the building when they were installing antennas on the roof. They’re working to take all that stuff down now. The building has a steel frame skeleton with poured concrete … the brick exterior is cosmetic.” The exterior of the Threefoot also features elaborate, hand-painted terra cotta panels from the Atlantic Terra Cotta Company, whose work was renowned around the country, particularly in the Deco period. Their designs also appear on the facade of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The building’s lobby features marble wainscotting and
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Tuesday, November 14, 2017 7:30 p.m.
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he MSU Riley Center provides the perfect intimate setting for the deeply personal music of singer-songwriter Amos Lee. His latest album, Spirit, emphasizes the soulful side of his folk-soul sound, showcasing what a New York Times critic called his “honeyed singing voice – light amber, mildly sweet, a touch of grain.” Lee’s lyrics deal with complex emotions, addressed with a restraint that only intensifies their impact. “All you can ask for as an artist is the chance to create what you hear and feel inside of yourself,” he said. With Spirit, he added, “I was able to get into the heart of every single moment of this record.” For fans of: John Prine, Norah Jones, Ben Harper MSU Riley Center Box Office | 2200 Fifth Street | Meridian, MS 39301
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terrazzo f loors, with decorative brass elevator doors and dial indicators, as well as a directory board listing the building’s former occupants. That will be removed and replaced with a new electronic board for hotel use, but all other elements of the lobby will be restored and retained. “We want to keep the lobby and the facade as close to original as possible. The biggest challenge with projects like this is coordinating with state and federal agencies and getting every aspect of the space approved, but that’s also what makes it more rewarding,” Tampa said. The Threefoot’s brick and terra cotta facade will be restored, as will historic skylights on the first f loor and terraces on the 14th and 15th stories. The biggest changes will come to the building’s office spaces, which will be reconfigured for hotel use. Tampa said the building caught his eye on a business trip to the nearby Fairfied Inn and Suites, which opened more than two years ago. “I think it’s a special space, so I wanted to make sure we retain what makes it unique while allowing for contemporary conveniences like valet that the building wasn’t designed for,” says Tampa. Ascent Hospitality worked with the New Orleans-based architectural firm John T. Campo & Associates Inc. to meet MDAH regulations. The firm was also involved with the renovation of the stately Hilton Garden Inn hotel in downtown Jackson, fondly known as the King Edward Hotel. Construction is set to begin first quarter 2018, said John Campo, the firm's owner. “Selective demo will begin before the end of the year,” he said. “That's a very important part of the project. Lead paint and asbestos is something that needs to be dealt with. It can be found in the insulation around pipes and in some of the vinyl tiles and the adhesive that was used to secure them. They're not huge environmental issues. We find them in every building. The intent is to get to the point where the building is clean.” Currently, Tampa's legal team, accountants and architects are soliciting tax credit investors at state and federal levels, Campo said. “We
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OPPOSITE: A cylindrical piece of concrete, nearly a foot in height, was extracted from the core of building and will be used for educational purposes along with other artifacts such as pieces of the terra cotta facade and the letter box (pictured below). Mayor Bland discusses valet options with other city officials (bottom left). The elevators will be restored to their original beauty much like the interior of Birmingham's Elyton Hotel, (pictured above) which was also renovated from an office building into a luxury boutique hotel.
are going through a pretty arduous process of developing legal documents that transform tax credits to cash,” he said. “Campo Architects navigates that minefield of approvals. We've done this for 34 years, working with brilliant legal and accounting minds to get the approvals and negotiate with investors. At its core we're converting tax credits to cash.” The brick and mortar comes with another set of issues, he said. “These old building are more complicated and have hidden issues. They're a Rubik's Cube within a Rubik's Cube. To replicate, you have to have artisans who know how to build. It's giving our clients a baseline equal to doing a new construction project.” Before Tampa stepped in, the building had been listed as one of the 10 most endangered buildings in the United States, Campo said. “The backlash was at a national level. The primary goal is to save America's historic structures and to avoid demolition by neglect, and this building was at the cusp of being considered demolished by neglect.” Approval is required for needed measures, such as moving corridors 18 inches to allow ample depth for guest room. “We have to create vertical circulation pathways, sprinklers, electrics, fiber optics, plumbing.” It's a task the firm is familiar with, having undertaken such projects as the conversion of a 10-story sugar refinery into an Embassy Suites hotel and the present conversion of an old Georgia Electric Power building on the Savannah River into a
JW Marriott. Statistics show historic hotels are more profitable than their newer counterparts, he said. “The guest expectations are more sophisticated,” Campo said. “Everyone benefits from these projects. This building, when completed, will be a catalyst for urban redevelopment in Meridian, Mississippi, and Mayor Bland had the vision. You have a treasure trove of vacant historic buildings that I think will be an incentive for people to live and work in downtown Meridian. I've seen this picture before.” As architects begin to retell the story of Meridian's Threefoot Building, they'll look for the found art and historic artifacts that will be woven into its public spaces as art and sculpture with explanation for educational purposes. In the end, the Threefoot won't look like any other boutique hotel in the country. “There's only one Threefoot Building in America, and its history will be woven into it," Campo said. “It will capture its market share because of the story line. History sells itself.” Bland said he's ready to see the changing skyline. “We want to see the Threefoot anchoring downtown Meridian like the King Edward does for downtown Jackson,” Bland said. “The building tells the story of the city’s past, but with the changes being made it will also be something contemporary. It’s a mixture of new and old. I can’t wait until construction begins and everyone knows it’s happening.” L
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STORY FROM MERIDIAN, MISS.
The Liberty Shop Celebrating women and the things they love for more than 40 years By MEGHAN HOLMES Photography by MARIANNE TODD
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nside her downtown Meridian boutique, Robbie Hales is assembling outfits for the customers she knows best. “I have a lady coming in this afternoon, and this will look fabulous on her,” she says, peering over a pair of reading glasses at a pair of plaid pants and a matching soft, black sweater. A cloth measuring tape is draped around her neck. She sets the outfit aside and begins sifting through the rest of the newly received merchandise for more pairings. With fall fashion season officially three weeks away, the regulars are already coming in to make their claims. Dressier dresses and business wear hang near the dressing rooms with the more casual items near the front of the store. The store windows are lively, with a good sampling of the new fall textures and colors. Displays dot
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the landscape – jewelry, accessories, shoes, scarves, art – all weaving seamlessly like they’re part of the same fabric. The boutique, opened in the 1970s, still offers the luxury shopping experience of yesteryear, before fast-paced retail emerged with the ubiquity of chain stores and malls – and the Internet. Back then, families often traveled from surrounding counties to downtown Meridian for shopping, dining and entertainment. “I grew up in Butler, Alabama, and we would come into Meridian routinely for shopping trips,” Hales remembers. “Department stores were different then. I can still remember the beautiful displays, and the elevator ladies who would tell you what floor things were on,” Hales says. Back then, the four-story Marks-Rothenberg Department Store
The Magnolia Pearl clothing line offers authentic artisan, cotton-based garments featuring vintage fabrics and laces. It is the latest clothing line to be added to The Liberty Shop's racks.
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sat across the street a block away. Further down were more boutiques. The city’s movie theater was around the corner and Weidmann’s still boasted the longest lunch counter in the state. Downtown was alive with activity – and shopping – and locals seem to be pleased to see the returning interest in the downtown experience. Back in the ‘70s, Hales had attended Bauder Fashion Institute of Miami and returned afterward to take a job as a shop girl in Loeb’s clothing store. She was in her early 20s and dreaming of owning her own retail boutique. Three years later, in 1975, Hales was only relatively experienced but had made friends with more seasoned employees. “I was buying juniors, and they bought misses. We hit it off going to the market together to purchase inventory, despite our 25-year age difference, and thought maybe it’d be a good idea to go into business together,” Hales says. The women settled on the name The Liberty Shop in honor of a former downtown boutique that had once boasted the same name in the same location. It had been known for carrying the finest women’s fashions in Meridian, a practice Hales still employs. “We are known for timeless looks, not just trends, and that’s something I’ve done since we started as a dress shop,” Hales says. “The first time I came back from market I had spent $50,000. That was a lot for a young, single woman in 1975. I told my parents I was too scared and that I couldn’t do it. My dad said, ‘Robbie, if you don’t go out on a limb you’ll never know.’ He was right, and I sold the things I had bought, and eventually came to buy out my older partners and own the shop outright,” she says.
Cotton pocketed floral day dress by Heart's Desire.
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ABOVE: Cotton silk Amaia dress with handmade cotton lace and pin tucks with matching cotton pin striped patchwork overcoat with embroidered detailing by Magnolia Pearl. OPPOSITE: Light cotton long tank with ribbed detailing on bottom and a cotton silk Katina dress with side ruffles decorative cotton lace and buttoned neck line, also by Magnolia Pearl.
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Doyle Pierce has worked at The Liberty Shop since the mid-1990s after the closing of nearby Watson’s Shoe Store, where he had worked since the early 1960s. “I’ve known Robbie since she was a teenage girl coming in to buy shoes with her mother and sister,” Pierce says. “Back then, Thursday night was the night to shop in Meridian. We stayed open until 8:30 p.m., and we were just flooded with people. We had two custom couches where people would sit and try on shoes, and now Robbie has those in The Liberty Shop, reupholstered, of course. Mr. Watson designed them so that a heavier or older woman could get up gracefully and not like a walrus, and they’re still that way.” Pierce also remembers the original downtown Liberty Shop. “I used to walk past the old Liberty Shop going to Weidmann’s on my lunch break. A man named Mr. Bloom owned it, and he kept all of his garments in locked, gilded cases. It was only for the finest ladies in town. He didn’t offer to take anything out for me when I went inside,” Pierce says, laughing. “He knew I wasn’t his target customer.”
Pierce remembers women who saved for an entire year to buy one outfit. Clothes were manufactured elsewhere but had “Liberty Shop” labels sewn in. Pieces are still in circulation in vintage clothing shops as far away as New Orleans or at local estate sales of wealthy families. Hales and Pierce have watched downtown change over the years, but both are optimistic that coming additions to the area like the MAEX (Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Experience) as well the renovation of the Threefoot Building into the Threefoot Courtyard Marriott will bring traffic to the area. “I’ve always told people I would live to see downtown come back again, and I think I’ve just about done it. I just love a downtown. It represents our history as well as the future,” says Hales.
Over the decades, women’s fashion has changed as much as the way women shop. “Well, of course women wore girdles back then,” Hales says, “and they all had to have multiple slips and pairs of panty hose. I haven’t sold a slip in years. Initially, we were just a dress shop. I might occasionally buy a coordinated pants suit, but we sold very few pairs of pants,” Hales says. These days The Liberty Shop has adapted to accommodate evolving fashions. Hales’ son, Clinton, joined the business after earning an MBA at Mississippi State and oversees the store’s considerable school uniform operation, supplying area public and private school students with clothing, complete with in-house alterations. The shop also prints its own t-shirts, which Clinton designs. One thing that hasn’t changed is Hales’ trips to market, READLEGENDS.COM •
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although now she travels to Dallas with her daughter Mary Allison. “We go to market for at least two days, four times a year. It’s a 15-story building in Dallas with unimaginable amounts of clothing. That’s where we decide what lines to carry in the shop for a given season,” Hales says. “I’ve seen many good quality lines come and go over the years, which shows you how things change, but new lines come and take their place.” The Liberty Shop’s storefront is a bright green brick with lively colors and artistic décor inside, which Hales and Mary Allison select. The Hales make an effort to change the décor every couple of years, “to keep things fresh,” Hales says. The one constant is Hales’ effortless charm and ready smile.
“I used to walk past the old Liberty Shop going to Weidmann’s on my lunch break. A man named Mr. Bloom owned it, and he kept all of his garments in locked, gilded cases. It was only for the finest ladies in town.” – Doyle Pierce
Hales and Clinton bustle about the shop, helping a variety of customers. Fathers pick up uniforms for young children, an older friend of Hales’ tries on slacks and coats and a teenager has questions about t-shirts. Hales, wearing head-to-toe black, tangerine glasses, a pearl necklace and matching earrings, is at ease in her potentially overwhelming surroundings. “Good afternoon, come on in,” she says to a gentleman entering the store. For an instant he seems out of place. “What can we do for you?” Hales says. Her warmth and charm put him at ease. “People ask me how I keep doing this, and I can honestly say that I love it, and that Robbie Hales makes the time fly. I cannot believe it has been more than 40 years,” Hales says. “I think a lot of people start businesses and don’t know how grueling and repetitive it can become. You really have to love what you do. I look at this as being able to help people every day.” Pierce agrees. “This shop is filled with beautiful clothing, and that makes it fun to
OPPOSITE: Luxe velvet duster in maxi length with ruched sleeve detail and tassel.
Red leather rosette purse
compliments the B&K moda crocheted sweater with free people faux leather pants (right). READLEGENDS.COM •
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LEFT: free people ivory sweater with leopard cuff detailing. BELOW: AZI embroidered blouse with bell sleeves. OPPOSITE: Joseph Ribcoff sweater dress with faux fur detailing on neck and pockets; Joseph Ribcoff off the shoulder blouse with full lace sleeves.
sell. I love Meridian’s downtown, and I see a lot of room for other boutiques to come in as this area grows again. I remember when we had the Sears, and JC Penney, and parking meters that people checked religiously. I think we are headed back in that direction again, and I can’t wait to see it.” L
Want to go? Visit The Liberty Shop at 404 22nd Ave. Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday. For more information, phone (601) 693-5331 or visit thelibertyshop.com. 40 • OCTOBER | NOVEMBER 2017
LaBiche Nobody does “I do” like we do.
LaBiche Jewelers
601.693.6071 2212 8TH STREET • MERIDIAN, MS 39301 READLEGENDS.COM •
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STORY FROM MERIDIAN, MISS.
A Giving Heart
Magnolia Son
By KARA MARTINEZ BACHMAN Photography by Kristal Cabello
C
hristian Andreacchio had a big heart. “In life he was always willing to help someone out. His co-workers talked about Christian being willing to literally give them the shirt off his back,” says his mother, Rae. After his death at the age of 21, his family created a way to continue Andreacchio's sense of generosity. The Meridian shop they began after his death, a not-for-profit charity dedicated in his honor, sells art and jewelry, pottery and paintings – all to provide needy school children with new shoes and athletes with scholarships. The story of Christian’s death is one that is hard to hear. In 2014, the tugboat worker's body was discovered in his Meridian apartment, slumped over a bathtub with a gunshot wound. Before the investigation was sufficiently underway, police abruptly ruled the death a suicide, despite some unusual circumstances that to the Andreacchio family, indicated Christian may have been the victim of murder.
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The story has garnered interest of national media and Rae Andreacchio continues her efforts to get the case re-opened for further investigation. “As of today, we are waiting for the Attorney General's office to present Christian's case to a grand jury,” Andreacchio says. “We have been told this may occur in October.” While she waits for its conclusion, Andreacchio has devoted herself to keeping Christian’s memory alive through helping children. “When we give shoes away it is bittersweet,” Andreacchio says. “It is very touching seeing how excited the kids get when they get new shoes, but it also makes us think of the reason behind Magnolia Son being formed – to remember Christian and his big heart.” Christian and his brother, Josh, grew up donating their outgrown clothes and Christmas presents they could not use to charity. “So, in the tradition that has been established over the years, I decided that one of the best ways to remember Christian
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was to continue his practice and act of generosity by purchasing name brand shoes and coats for the kids that I work with,” she says. But that isn't all. Andreacchio says Magnolia Son has donated camp scholarships to local high school athletes for the past two years, providing Kemper County and Quitman high schools donations to cover the cost of their football teams' members to attend football camp at Mississippi State University. “This past May, we awarded a donation to Quitman County High School so that most of their football team could attend camp,” she says. Andreacchio says many of the teen beneficiaries will “never set foot on a college campus other than at this football camp. We hope this gives them motivation to want to attend college, even if they are not college bound athletes. We would like to further this outreach effort and offer more need-based scholarships to individual athletes in other sports who might not be able to afford summer camps.”
“When we give shoes away it is bittersweet. It is very touching seeing how excited the kids get when they get new shoes, but it also makes us think of the reason behind Magnolia Son being formed – to remember Christian and his big heart.” – Rae Andreacchio
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Magnolia Son also awarded a $5,000 college scholarship this year. It was the first time the charity had presented such an award. Andreacchio says it was decided based on an essay contest open to all Lauderdale County high school seniors, with the title: “How I would live my life large.” “Kinley Elderidge from Lamar won the scholarship,” Andreacchio says. “She is currently attending Ole Miss.” Parl Tarver had helped Rae Andreacchio set up the technology needed so that people could submit their essays without her knowing the author. The owner of Tarver Program Consultants Inc., he also had helped established the website in 2014 for Rae and her husband, Todd, who mans the store. “When she started telling us what it was about we had one of those parent to parent moments,” Tarver said. “There was an instant connection there because of having been through a similar loss on our side. It clicked and we were honored to get the opportunity to get to do that for them.” Tarver says he used photographs Christian took of rivers during his time working on tug boats as a backdrop for the website. “It was his view on the world,” Tarver says. “I have a heart for her. I want her to get some closure.”
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Magnolia Son is able to continue this work in Christian’s memory from public donations of money and goods, and by the purchases made at Magnolia Son. Nestled in downtown Meridian on 23rd Avenue, the shop also offers candles, photography, prints and a range of home décor and gift items. The shop expanded in July to a booth at The Mustard Seed in Oxford, and in August, expanded again to a booth at The Atrium in Meridian. “We feel these locations generate much more traffic then we will ever see at the shop, and they require no employees.” The other locations provide a way of spreading name recognition for the charity, she says. “When you lose a child you become almost frantic in your efforts to make sure your child is not forgotten,” Andreacchio says. “You worry you will forget.” She says sometimes she panics when she can’t remember what it was like the last time she hugged him, or says she loved him. She says she worries she has forgotten the sound of his voice, or his laugh. “I have woken up in the middle of the night and watched
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a video of Christian just so I could hear his voice to reassure myself I remembered what he sounded like,” Andreacchio says. “I know [my family] Todd, Josh and Alexa have experienced the same feelings.” The stories she has written about Christian on magnoliason.com have conveyed who Christian was, have detailed the still-contested circumstances of his passing and have been therapeutic for her as a grieving mother. Tarver says area residents are hoping for a resolution in the case. “I think that's what everyone is hoping for,” he says. “I think everyone wants to get her to the finish line so she can get some peace.” L
Want to go? Magnolia son, at 713 23rd Ave., is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. For more information, visit magnoliason.com
AR UND THE TOWN
While you're in Meridian...
LaBiche Jewelers 2212 8th St. (601) 693-6071 labichejewelers.com
For more than 65 years, LaBiche Jewelers has served the Meridian community as a family-owned jeweler. Its current owners, Steven and Tricia LaBiche, bought the store from his mother, Teresa Bailey LaBiche. It was her husband who opened the crown jewel of Meridian's family-owned businesses after cutting his teeth with 18 different jewelers in New Orleans. Maurice Jerome LaBiche had left school at the age of 16 to learn from the jewelry tradesmen of New Orleans. After serving in the Korean War, he settled in Meridian and opened his jewelry repair shop, which is now adored by both locals and visitors to the Queen City. These days, Maurice's namesake, the 7-year-old son of Steven and Tricia, joins his parents in the 8th Street shop after school, growing up much the same as his father. While the stop still specializes in repair, they also offer an extensive line of wedding jewelry and handmade pieces, sterling silver, Italian charm bracelets and signature watches. Most recently, they opened an estate line of jewelry, The Legacy Collection, featuring pieces from Steven's extensive collection he has worked to build over the years. “People would bring him things they no longer wanted that he couldn't bear to destroy,” Tricia says. “Then his collection got so big so we thought we would share it with others. It's been a big hit with locals and out-of-towners.”
Weidmann's Restaurant 210 22nd Ave. (601) 581-5770 weidmanns1870.com
You won't know you're in the oldest restaurant in the state when you enter the elegant downtown Meridian restaurant, known for its peanut butter crocks, fabulous service and flavorful food, all overseen by owner Charles Frazier. The restaurant uses elements of the former Weidmann's, back when it boasted the longest lunch counter in the state, to complement the elegant modern dining room of today. Featuring both downstairs and upstairs bars, walk onto the balcony on a pleasant afternoon and watch the passersby at nearby DuMont Plaza, or save room for the restaurant's famous black bottom pie in the comfortable dining room downstairs. The menu's offerings include high-quality comfort food with a decidedly Cajun flair – fried green tomatoes topped with shrimp and covered with a spicy cream sauce, crab cakes topped with crabmeat Belvedere and melted Fontina cheese, soft shell crab portobello, Crawfish Diablo in a spicy cream sauce, grilled salmon, fire roasted shrimp, panéed Gulf redfish and black angus filets with a variety of toppings. Desserts are numerous and decadent. If you're visiting on a weekend, the menu changes to offer brunch with stuffed French toast, crab cakes Benedict, Grillades and Grits and crabmeat Belvedere omelette. Reservations are not required, but are recommended since this restaurant is full at every meal. Check ahead of your visit to see if special beer or wine tastings are planned. You'll leave completely satisfied. READLEGENDS.COM •
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AR UND THE TOWN The Temple Theater for the Performing Arts 2320 8th Street (601) 693-5353 meridiantempletheater.com
This 1923 historic theater, just two blocks from the MSU Riley Center, is another gem you won't want to miss. When the theater was built, it served as the second largest theater in the United States, offering curved and unbroken surfaces to insure perfect acoustics. The theater is a 1,630-seat auditorium used currently for movies, stage performances and presentations and as a civic gathering place. But it is the history of this unique theater that visitors seek. Schedule a tour and check out the 1930s speak easy. Learn how bootleggers brought spirits into the theater through a series of underground catacombs and upstairs to the hidden bar. Or inquire about the number of ghostly sightings witnessed throughout the years. The theater even once hosted a team of paranormal investigators who stayed overnight. The theater's 1920s Robert Morton pipe organ features 778 pipes and can imitate any known instrumental sound. It is still played before most shows, particularly the silent films still shown there. While you're there, inquire about the intricate details built into the theater by the Free Masons who constructed it. If visiting during October, plan to attend the theater's popular haunted house tours, or attend the Rails to Reels Film Festival, or if arriving in December, be sure to visit the annual Polar Express Experience. You won't be disappointed.
The MSU Riley Center 2200 5th St. (601) 696-2200 msurileycenter.com
The locals are proud of this historic gem nestled in the center of downtown, and with good reason! The MSU Riley Center is the center of music and nightlife in downtown Meridian. This gorgeous theater, formerly the city's grand opera house, was built post Civil War to service Vaudeville actors and other performers as they made their way along rails from New Orleans to Chicago. It closed its doors in the 1880s and lay bare, collecting dust in the darkness until the city's historic preservation group breathed new life into it, carefully restoring each element of the theater to its original glory. Even the hand painted wallpaper was carefully removed, replicated and replaced, and wooden banisters were left in their original condition and polished to their former splendor. The original lambrequin hanging above the stage was also kept intact. In 2006, it re-opened to a star studded cast and under the direction of Executive Director Dennis Sankovich, features some of the best entertainment in the nation. More than a stunning theater, this former Marks and Rothenberg Department Store also offers an ample conference center, a 200seat studio theater and an educational center. The multifaceted center attracts more than 60,000 visitors to Meridian annually for conferences, meetings and performances.
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AR UND THE TOWN The Rustler
5915 Old Highway 80 West (601) 693-6499
With steaks that melt like butter in your mouth, there's really no experience quite like The Rustler. Nestled in an older Meridian neighborhood, conveniently located off Interstate 20, The Rustler is a family-owned business that specializes in unforgettable food in an intimate atmosphere. You'll be greeted by owner Mike Partridge as you walk through the front door. This romantic restaurant offers a cozy place for couples, but businessmen also flock to The Rustler for its great atmosphere and succulent USDA prime steaks. The restaurant offers white tablecloths and clubby digs with ample, comfortable red seats, but don't worry about dressing up – Mike goes for a casual fine dining approach where everyone is welcomed. Don't forget to order a succulent lobster tail to complement your steak. Specials include bacon wrapped asparagus and sauteed scallops, pecan crusted Mahi Mahi and shrimp and scallop Alfredo. And The Rustler is not short on deliciously cooked vegetables as a side. Order up a specialty drink and your tastebuds will zing with pleasure. Our fave is the frozen Brandy Alexander. You can drop in any time, but reservations are recommended during the busy holiday season.
OPENING IN OCTOBER!
FRONT STREET & 22nd Ave MERIDIAN, MS 39301 | 601-207-5072 | CROOKEDLETTER.SHOP READLEGENDS.COM •
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The barbecue quesadilla is a popular dish. OPPOSITE: Musicians Timmy Segars, Ronnie Goss, David Zettler, and James Beau Edwards join Squealer's for a night of Music on the Front Porch.
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STORY FROM MERIDIAN, MISS.
Smokin' Food and Hot Music By KARA MARTINEZ BACHMAN Photography by Marianne Todd
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t's Thursday night and James Beau Edwards and David Zettler have just pulled into town from a long road tour with their band, Stone Senate. The contemporary Southern rock musicians had just played to crowds in Daytona, Florida and Sturgis, South Dakota, before making show stops in New York and Pennsylvania, and on this night they were joining Meridian musicians Timmy Segars and Ronnie Goss for a Front Porch jam session at Squealers Bar-BQue in Meridian. It won't afford the large, screaming fan base of their usual shows, but it will give them a night among family and close friends before heading home for a tour break. “Squealer's Thursday night Music on the Front Porch has been a blessing to a lot of Meridian's local musicians,” says Edwards, guitarist for Stone Senate. “From one guy with an acoustic guitar to full bands, it has, over the last few years, offered something for every palate, both culinary and musically.”
Squealer's crew is busy transforming their front parking lot into an outdoor dining room to accommodate the crowd. Before it's over, the interior dining room, Front Porch and parking lotturned-dining room will be packed. “In fact, I was in town visiting my mom and had gone to meet David Zettler (Stone Senate drummer) for a beer and some barbecue when I got the call offering me a spot in Stone Senate so there's one more reason Squealers will always be near and dear to my heart.” When Squealers was born about 12 years ago, Teresa Cranmore had plated up simple dishes from a trailer in the parking lot of a Knights of Columbus Hall. Since then, her restaurant has grown and is now considered one of the best places to grab some wings or a plate of pulled pork and chow down on some of the better casual eats Meridian has to offer. It wasn’t long before Cranmore’s food truck transitioned into a small land-based restaurant. It was strictly takeout, housed in READLEGENDS.COM •
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Teresa Cranmore got her start in the barbecue business humbly by plating food in a trailer in the Knights of Columbus parking lot. That was 12 years ago. These days, Cranmore operates a full-fledged barbecue restaurant featuring music and catering. OPPOSITE: Musicians Steve Gardner (right) of Tokyo, Japan, and Bill Steber of Nashville, perform for a night of Music on the Front Porch at Squealer's.
what had once been a snowball stand. Then, about six years ago, to enjoy the live music with his wife, Gypsy, a belly dancer. Squealers moved to a full-f ledged dining space. “It's a very laid back atmosphere,” Gypsy says, still clad in The world has taken notice. Squealers has been featured her dance attire from an afternoon practice. “It's not too uppity in Southern Living's most recent barbecue cookbook, “The that you can't get up and dance if the spirit moves you to. And South's Best Butts,” and has been named “The Best Barbecue in it's great that you can go see a band on a Thursday night and still Mississippi” by MSN.com. get home at a decent hour if you work Fridays.” “MSN.com gave us the title back in “Just picture yourself at a good, oldSquealers has been featured 2015,” Cranmore says. “I just feel very fashioned barbecue with all your best blessed and honored that we received friends and a band,” adds her husband. in Southern Living's that accolade. We put a lot of heart into Because her guests seem to arrive from most recent barbecue cookbook, everything. When people come in here, everywhere, Squealers now has a sign-in “The South's Best Butts,” we like to talk to them … Southern book, where diners are invited to write and has been named hospitality goes a long way.” their names and hometowns. And music has also become a “The Best Barbecue in Mississippi” “I had some people from France in mainstay of the popular restaurant. On here today,” Cranmore says. “People by MSN.com. Thursday nights, a local or touring band from Australia came because they had plays, and the seats fill … along with food orders and spirits. read about Squealers in a magazine and worked it into their trip.” Japan-based musician Steve Gardner stopped by in August Cranmore is humble about her cooking, and it’s probably to play a gig with fellow musician Bill Steber of Nashville. “They this humility that has brought Squealers Bar-B-Que its success. treat you like family,” Gardner says. “Their crowd loves music “Our customers tell us what they like and don’t like, and I almost as much as the barbecue, and that's saying something listen to them,” she says. right there.” In this way, the menu has evolved over the years, and its barbecue In the audience is another musician, Ted Hennington, there sauces have also evolved into varying options of savory and sweet.
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“Our honey barbecue sauce is amazing,” Cranmore says. Most use it on one of the restaurant’s most popular dishes: pulled pork. Another favorite is the homemade cheeseburger. For those who prefer chicken, there are traditional and boneless wings, lightly crisp on the outside and juicy and tender on the inside. In a unique marriage of two culinary traditions, Cranmore serves plates where the f lavors of Mexico and the South come together. Case in point: barbecue quesadillas. “My mother was Mexican,” Cranmore says, “so that’s where all this Mexican inf luence comes in.” Cranmore says the main courses are great, but it is the “starters and finishers” that set Squealers apart. As soon as a diner is seated, fresh fried pork skins are brought to the table. For dessert, diners love the fried banana pudding or fried Twinkies. “They’re busting a gut, but they’re just so glad they tried the pudding,” Cranmore says. Cranmore says Squealers has a definite philosophy when it comes to barbecue. “Our meat can stand alone. It does not need sauce,” she says. Unlike many barbecue joints, she wants the smoky goodness of the meat to enliven taste buds, instead of everything being drowned out by excess sauces. “Sauce is something you put on to enhance the f lavor of your meat, not hide the f lavor of it,” she says. With this in mind, Squealers prepares meats with the hope they will have their own rich f lavors without need for drowning them in condiments. This means being attentive to the process from the very beginning. “We season, smoke, and then add seasoning again when we pull them,” Cranmore says. “We believe in layering our seasonings.” Apparently, whatever is happening in the Squealers kitchen, it’s working. Being named “Best Barbecue in Mississippi” is no small feat. “It’s one big story,” she says, “and we have people coming in and out that are part of the story.” L
Squealer's Bar-B-Que is open Monday-Wednesday from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Thursday-Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to p.m. Visit them in person at 4805 29th Avenue in Meridian, or at squealersbbque.com. 54 • OCTOBER | NOVEMBER 2017
49th Annual
T-SHIRT
Theme decorated Christmas trees and displays thoughout antebellum Merrehope and Victorian FW Williams historic homes
CATALOG 2220 8th St. • Downtown Meridian • 601-485-1363 www.meridianundergroundmusic.com
Black Shirts with Silkscreen Print Sizes available: Small - XL Price: $20.00
Opening Reception with refreshments and holiday music Sunday, November 19th 1:00 until 5:00 p.m.
Assorted colored shirts with white ink. Sizes available: Small - 4XL Price: $20.00
MUM
Silkscreen Print
Assorted colored shirts w/white ink. Sizes available: Small - 4XL Price: $20.00 Assorted colored shirts Silkscreen Print w/black ink.
Sizes available: Small - 4XL Price: $20.00 Silkscreen Print
601.485.1363 | Downtown Meridian | 2220 8th Street www.meridianundergroundmusic.com M-W 10:00 am - 9:00 pm | Th-Sat 10:00 am - 10:00 pm
Daily Tours Monday-Saturday November 21st-December 30th 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Special Events and Tours by appointment 601.483.8439 | merrehope.com 905 Martin Luther King Drive | Meridian, MS 39301
3505 8th Street • Meridian, MS 601.483.4868
HUNTING AND FISHING OUTFITTERS
Serving Meridian and it’s neighbors since 1972. READLEGENDS.COM •
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STORY FROM MERIDIAN, MISS.
Finding Treasure
BENJAMIN BOX
By JULIAN RANKIN Photography by Marianne Todd
T
he material things we own, as sure as the chromosomes within us, are maps to who we are. Or, as Ben Box of the Meridian, Mississippi-based Benjamin E. Box Estate Sales puts it, “You learn more about people when you go through their house. It’s scary.” Take the elderly, mild-mannered lady – a friend of Box’s – who passed in her 90s. Not until he prepared her house for a sale did Box find evidence of his friend’s remarkable back story: her father, Tom Bailey, was the 48th governor of the state, and she’d been married on the grounds of the Governor’s Mansion. Bailey died in office in 1946, followed in politics by his wife Nellah Massey Bailey – the lady’s mother – named state treasurer in 1947 as the first woman elected to statewide office in Mississippi. But things have no memories of their own, only what we ascribe to them. Over time, beloved keepsakes are discarded, traded, lost, left behind. But no matter their prior journeys, when a new owner takes them up at one of Box’s estate sales,
the old is made new once more. “It’s a service,” says Box of the business. “We work on nothing but reputation. When you’re in a small town, your reputation walks way ahead of you.” Box’s military father, an OB/GY N, retired from the Air Force and settled the family in Meridian in the 1970s when Box was in high school. But the buying-and-selling bug bit him long before his Mississippi arrival, at a Tuscon, Arizona, swapmeet in fourth grade. “That’s where they’d take an old drivein theater and rent the car spaces for five dollars a day,” Box recalls. The young entrepreneur carted a selection of his father’s old ties and records and his mother’s knick-knacks. Grinning widely, as loquacious then as he is today, Box made his first sale, sealed with a handshake. It wasn’t the transaction that gave him the rush, but the interaction, the knowledge that he could play matchmaker between orphaned objects and buyers looking for something to love. “The bottom line,” says Box of his career, “is that it’s in my blood.” READLEGENDS.COM •
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Through the decades, Box has amassed his own collection of ephemera and memento, items of the passed-over variety with special character, like chipped china or old photographs from times gone by. Destined for the trash heap, Box rescues them into his personal museum. But don’t go looking for valuable treasures in his own attic. “I always tell people, don’t stand in line at my estate sale,” Box jokes darkly of his eventual demise. “Because everything in my house is broken or glued or something nobody wanted.” Only in the South could a business reliant on profit margins and inventory liquidation be imbued with such compassion and warmth. From his combat-veteran business partner, Trevor Miller, to his intergenerational patchwork team of pros, Box is drawn to people, like himself, who are duty-bound to the job and community. Miller is Box’s counterpoint, a three-decades-younger logistics man who, during his seven years of military service, was a truck driver in war-torn Iraq, a door gunner on a Black Hawk helicopter in
Afghanistan, an accountant for the Army during tax season and a coordinator of ammunition handling and distribution; he keeps the sales on track and does the literal heavy lifting. “Everybody here working with me is a collection,” says Box, a monogrammed apron cinched around his waist during a Saturday sale. “We all have these relationships. And we all come together to do this. I could take you around the room and tell you everybody’s story.” Box points to his colleague Judy VanVeckhoven, who is preparing lunch for the crew. She doesn’t have to work, Box says. She does it because she loves it. Rosalynn Naylor, his cashier, has been working for him since she was 16. Another employee, Vicky Hayes, works the Saturday sales and see Box at church on Sunday. They know their customers and clients, too. Box’s sales have an air of Episcopalian fellowship: hugs, laughter, (communion?), familiarity with trusted friends, and hearty welcomes for freshfaced estate-sale-parishioners. “Just yesterday,” tells Box, “a man came to look at a piece of
It wasn't the transaction that gave him the rush, but the interaction, the knowledge that he could play matchmaker between orphaned objects and buyers looking for something to love.
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exercise equipment. We just had this great conversation at six thirty at night…” The man didn’t buy the workout machine, but he and Box talked into the evening. The African-American factory worker told Box he wasn’t from the area originally. They spoke of the Deep South and race relations and the paradoxical beauty of place and memory. They talked of these things next to the Nordic Track in a stranger’s vacant bedroom. Box will retire into the estate sale business, but he also has a day job in the office of Dr. Ronnye Purvis, OB/GY N. When Purvis arrived in Meridian in 1991, there were no black gynecologists in town, and he had trouble finding landlords who would rent to him. Box’s father advocated for Purvis and helped him find an office to begin his practice. Purvis hired Box to help run the office. What was meant to be a two-year posting turned into more than two decades. In the medical world, just as in the estate sale business, Box treats everyone who walks through the door as family. “He has a way with a lot of different people,” says Purvis, who stopped by the estate sale to look for new furniture for his reception area. “It READLEGENDS.COM •
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doesn’t matter who you are. And in a small town, being able to be who you are, and not have to worry about it – I think that’s why we hit it off really well.” At the sale, Susan Henry greets Box on her way out of the house. She’d recently started attending his estate sales and has experienced the excitement of discovering cherished surprises. She’s found some beautiful stained glass and a 1969 high school yearbook from the year her father graduated. “My dad had actually lost his,” Susan says of the book. “And so I bought it for him.” It had a name inside it from the previous owner. Susan’s father held his past in his hands and read the inscription. “Oh my gosh!” he exclaimed. “I dated this girl for a week when we were in junior high.” Estate sales have changed over the years. In the beginning, the antiques, silver, crystal, and china that Box sold almost always belonged to the recently deceased. The chief marketing tactics were newsprint advertisements and handwritten letters that Box mailed to his customers. These sales were social events for fine ladies in fine hats wearing patterned blouses. But these days, he also works with homeowners very much alive and kicking, who retain his services because they are downsizing or moving away. Antiques have given way to more modern furniture suites and big screens and state-of-the-art kitchen appliances. The internet has brought estate sales to new audiences, like millennials in search of bargains, and buyers from across the country who peruse Facebook albums from thousands of miles away and have their purchases shipped from Meridian to New York. Part of him misses the antiques, but Box recognizes the progression of the industry and appreciates the ever-changing currents of time. “When I was selling sterling I knew a lobster fork versus an oyster fork. Soon, people won’t know what those forks are for. Some people don’t even know what an antique is. But it doesn’t matter.” The magic of estate sales has always been in the eye of the beholder. What would Box tell his fourth-grade self, if he could, about trends, objects, karma, and a lifetime of good works? “Everything comes around again,” he says, after a pause. “That’s the wonderful thing about this business." L
Want to know more? Visit benbox.estate for a listing of upcoming estate sales or to book your own estate sale. 60 • OCTOBER | NOVEMBER 2017
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Berwick, La. Oct 7-8 ... The Berwick Lighthouse Festival at the Berwick Lighthouse ... The festival serves as the finish line for Tour du Teche canoe and kayak race. Arts and crafts booths, live music, food and activities for the kids. Sunday features a car show, petting zoo and race awards ceremony. Event is free. For more information visit cajuncoast.com or call (800) 256-2931. Charenton, La. Oct 28 ... Chitimacha Pow Wow at the Pavilion at Cypress Bayou Casino. The whole family will enjoy this colorful event. The Pow Wow, hosted by the Sovereign Nation of the Chitimacha, showcases Native American competition dancing as well as food and crafts vendors. Admission is $5 and free for children under 5. For more information visit cajuncoast.com or call (800) 256-2931. Corinth, Miss. Oct 19 ... Big Church Night Out at the Crossroads Arena. The Big Church Night Out Tour is not your typical tour. It’s going to be a time of meaningful worship that includes family fun, entertainment, music and more. General admission is $25 and there are a variety of group discounts available. Show starts at 7 p.m. For more information, visit crossroadsarena.com or call (855) 484-1991. Franklin, La. Oct 28 ... The Harvest Moon Festival on Franklin's charming Main Street features live music, a children's carnival, teen activities and an antique, hot rod, classic car and motorcycle show, concessions and retail promotions. Event is free. For more information, visit cajuncoast.com or call (800) 256-2931. Greenville, Miss. Oct 19-21 ... 6th Annual Delta Hot Tamale Festival at Main Street. The Delta Hot Tamale Festival is a three-day event celebrating local and regional artists, musicians and tamale makers, as well as some of the South’s most influential chefs and writers. Admission on Saturday is free. For a full list of ticketed events and prices, visit hottamalefest.com or call (662) 378-3121. Oct 25-27 ... Native American Days at Winterville Mounds. Experience Native American arts and crafts, storytelling, games, food, dancing, singing, primitive weapons, basket weaving, pottery, flint knapping, fishing camp and more. Admission is free, but donations are accepted. Festival starts at 2 p.m. daily. For more information, visit visitgreenville.org or call (800) 467-3582. Grenada, Miss. Oct 20, Nov 17 ... Free Family Movie Night in Downtown Grenada. Join your friends and neighbors for a night of family fun and popcorn, watching a surprise movie. Watch Facebook for clues as to which movie will be screened, and bring pillows and blankets for your kids. Admission is free and event starts at 7 p.m. For more information visit facebook.com/GrenadaDowntown. Jackson, Miss. Oct 20 ... First Moves, the season opener by Ballet Mississippi at Duling Hall. This mini-concert and social will highlight new ballets while giving the audience a sneak peek at selections from the upcoming season. Come and enjoy food and beverages and beautiful dancing while supporting Jackson’s premier ballet company. Tickets are $15. Show begins at 7 p.m. For more information, visit balletms.com or call (601) 960-1560. Memphis, Tenn. Oct 6-7... First Annual Mempho Music Festival at Shelby Farms Park. A new two-day festival is hitting Memphis this October. Artists set to perform include Grammy-winning rock band Cage the Elephant, rapper Anderson Paak, indie-pop act Cold War Kids and Stax Records legends Booker T. Jones and Steve Cropper -- just to name a few. Tickets start at $50 for single days and $99 for 2-day admission. Gates open at 4:30 p.m. Friday and noon Saturday. For more information, visit memphofest.com or call (901) 826-3629. Nov 1-6 ... Indie Memphis Film Festival. Twice ranked by MovieMaker Magazine (as one of "25 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee" in 2011 and as one of the "25 Coolest Film Festivals" in 2009), the festival brings a broad range of independent features, documentaries and short films to Memphis from all corners of the country. More than 50 feature length films will screen during the festival. For a full list of artists, venues and ticket prices, visit indiememphis.com or call (901) 214-5171. READLEGENDS.COM •
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Meridian, Miss. Oct 20-21 ... The Rails to Reels Film Festival at the Temple Theater. Rails to Reels is a celebration of film-making in the City of Meridian. Enjoy great films and meet the writers, directors and actors that make cinema magic happen. Directors Miles Doleac, Charles Walter Jett and Michael Williams will compose a narrative and film it in 48 hours. The films will be shown Oct 21. Film entry is $15 per film and viewing is free. For more information, visit railstoreels. com or call (601) 693-5353. Nov 17 ... Earth's Dinosaur Zoo Live at the MSU Riley Center. Dinosaur Zoo Live guides you on a breathtaking tour that begins in prehistoric Australia. You'll interact with amazingly lifelike dinosaurs in a theatrical performance that will thrill kids while stimulating their imaginations. Brought to life by skilled puppeteers and designed with the help of paleontologists, you won't want to miss a minute of this fun, educational show. Tickets are $20 for adults and $12 for children. Show starts at 7 p.m. For more information, visit msurileycenter.com or call (601) 6962200.
AMERICAN HISTORY Visit the site of America’s defining war. Learn about the defense and siege of Vicksburg in our unique collection of museums and historic tour homes. Surrender yourself to the luxury of our bed and breakfast inns.
New Orleans, La. Oct 6-7, 13-14, 20-21 ... Oktoberfest by Deutshes Haus along Bayou St. John. Three weekends of German-food, music and culture await you at this annual celebration of all things German. This event hosts the widest variety of classic German beers this side of the Atlantic. German “oom pah pah” brass bands set the beats for traditional folk dances. Admission is $8 and children 12 and under are free. For more information, visit deutscheshaus.org or call (504) 522-8014.
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Mississippi Music ~ Southern Charm
Oct 7-8 ... Fall Garden Festival at the New Orleans Botanical Garden in New Orleans City Park. The festival includes plant & garden product exhibits, sales throughout the garden, a Children's Fun Fest activities area, educational programs, music, arts & crafts and more. Educational programs take place in the Garden Study Center and are free with entrance to the show. There will be live music each day. Event runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children ages 5-12 and free for children under 4. For more information, visit neworleanscitypark.com/events or call (504) 4824888.
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