Travel Experiences Jeff Barganier: Modern Meridian

Travel Experiences with Jeff Barganier Modern Meridian

If the new vacation trend is small towns, I keep striking gold, this time three hours west. My search for diamonds in the rough usually leads me to three conclusions. One: Every town has potential, but often hidden, treasures. Two: The inner-city is usually the epicenter of a city’s crown jewels for attracting visitors. And, three: It takes talented local leadership to modernize and reveal these assets to the world.

As I travel around the Southeast visiting small towns, I love to discover what inhabitants, caught up in the daily rush, may not see—the presence of hidden gems in their city. And like Marion in Southern Illinois, renewing its historic city square, or like Cartersville, Georgia with its stunning Museum of Western Art; Meridian, Mississippi evidences my observations in a spectacular way. Over the last twenty years or so, Meridian (pop. about 33,000) has been methodically developing its significant resources from the inside out. For example, renovation of the amazing Threefoot Hotel has transformed the city’s downtown. This Tribute Portfolio Hotel by Marriott is a makeover of the Threefoot Building office complex constructed in 1929 by German immigrants named Driefuss who adopted the English translation of their name—Threefoot.

The structure is a towering symbol of the Golden Age, featuring Art Deco mosaic tiles and Art Deco interior design. At sixteen floors, it’s the tallest building in East Mississippi. Open since November 2021, the Threefoot is located a short walk from the magnificently restored 1889 Grand Opera House theatre—now called the MSU Riley Center—where we enjoyed a sold out Boz Scaggs concert. Scaggs and his band performed in this nearacoustically-perfect concert hall to the cheers of boomer-fans from all over Mississippi, and at least two from Alabama. Fall and winter performances include Jay Leno, Trombone Shorty, Emmylou Harris, The Temptations and The Four Tops. (The Moorish Revival style Temple Theatre for the Performing Arts is another must-see Meridian gem.)

In modern Meridian, you can tour Merrehope, the city’s only Greek Revival mansion Sherman didn’t burn to the ground. Sample superb craft beer at Threefoot Brewing. Leave a wine bottle or coin on the grave of Gypsy queen Kelly Mitchell or take a ride on the G.A. Dentzel-built carousel that debuted at the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair. The only two-row stationary Dentzel carousel known to survive with its original horses and chariots is now a Mississippi/national landmark. After you take the grands for a ride on the carousel, treat them to hours of fun at the Mississippi Children’s Museum-Meridian. Let them play their way through almost 35,000 square feet (25,000 outside) of brainstimulating wonders and adventures. We met a dad and his daughter from Hattiesburg on their way there.

They say Meridian has music in its soul. The city has been a hub for regional music dating back to 1890 when railroads made the city boom, bringing musicians to town from New Orleans. Meridian-born Jimmie Rodgers is known as the Father of Country Music, but a marker near beautiful Union Station depot chronicles his contribution to the blues as well.

MSU Riley Center Seating

The Threefoot Hotel Rooftop Bar

The Threefoot Hotel

gems of Meridian, I’ll conclude with my favorite experience, a tour of Soulé Industrial Heritage Museum at Historic Soulé Steam Feed Works! This once factory (now museum) retains much of its original furnishings and equipment. Seemingly trapped in time—1920 to 1945—the factory’s beltdriven machine shop has the longest operating line drive shaft (106 feet) in the United States. This shaft is turned by an antique three-phase electric motor and powers belt-driven machines that date back to the early 1900s. The Soulé family operated the steam works for 110 years under founder George W. Soulé and his descendants.

Mississippi’s Soulé was a genius inventor who held musical heritage, 40 patents incorporated into products arts and that met the needs of sawmills that culture may be mushroomed in the South between experienced in 1885-1930. (I used to work for one the six galleries of them.) The museum displays the of the fabulous Soulé Company’s most noted products Mississippi Arts once sold worldwide. Soulé Steam + Entertainment Feed Works was one of five remaining Experience late 19th/early 20th century foundry/ (The Max), an machine shop/factories with original ultra-modern, workings in the United States. Of interactive note, there were more than 1,000 venue that may such businesses prior to World War be enjoyed by II. Technology fans will find this place all ages. We did Cindy & Jeff @ Weidmann's mesmerizing. Children should find this for sure! “The most impressive part of museum fascinating, too, with so much The Max, to me, was that it was the to see and learn. most positive celebration of local talent I’ve witnessed anywhere! To think they And when you’re done with your Soulé had to whittle down nominees to the tour, go eat at Jean’s Meat & Three. fifty featured celebrities is astounding!” Best pecan pie ever! Tell’em Jeff sent Cindy says. you to experience history in modern Meridian. Exploring downtown Meridian is like experiencing time-travel. If one opens www.Visitmeridian.com his or her eyes, ears and olfactory www.Thethreefoothotel.com senses to see, hear and smell history; www.Msurileycenter.com suddenly, past is catapulted into one’s www.Msarts.org present consciousness as if it never

www.Industrialheritagemuseum.com

left. See the once-proud buildings as they were before decay, hear the www.Eatjeans.com trains passing nearby, smell the aroma of (the best food ever) wafting from Weidmann’s Restaurant—in operation since 1870—and you’re ensconced in yesteryear. With scarcely 400 words remaining in this feature to highlight the myriad

Boz Scaggs Soule Industrial Heritage Museum

Jeff S. Barganier is a novelist, travel writer and manager of Cindy Barganier Interiors LLC (www.cindybarganier.com). He travels far and wide upon the slightest excuse for something interesting to write about. Contact: Jeffbarganier@knology.net. Instagram: @jeffbarganier. You may print out Jeff’s features at www.jeffbarganier.com and take them with you when you travel!