November 2014

TOWN&GOWN

NOVEMBER 2014

THE MAGNOLIAS

REESE ORCHARD

+ MORE

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CONTENTS

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november 2014 {features}

38 REESE ORCHARD

Pick Your Own Persimmons, Pears & More!

44 REBUILDING LOUISVILLE 58 THANKSGIVING TABLESCAPES The Road to Recovery

Holiday Decorating

{departments} WISHLIST What We’re Loving Lately

CALENDAR OF EVENTS What’s Happening in the Golden Triangle?

TASTE & TOAST Holiday Butters

HOMES & GARDENS The Harrell Home

HISTORIC HOMES The Magnolias

14 16 18 22 30

MADE IN MISSISSIPPI Thimblepress Designs

LITERATURE Savoring the South

FASHION Holiday Glam at Hewlett Barn

EVENTS Sneak Peek at Recent Events

DISCOVER THE SOUTH Blackberry Farm

52 56 66 78 82

November 2014 • 5

A Product of Horizon of Mississippi P.O. Box 1068 | Starkville, MS 39760 www.townandgownmagazine.com

{ staff } Don Norman | publisher - sdnpub@starkvilledailynews.com Sarah Vaughan | editor - editor@townandgownmagazine.com

{ a c c o u nt e x e c u t i v e s }

Jordan Linton - jordan@townandgownmagazine.com Sarah Elizabeth Tyner - sarahliz@townandgownmagazine.com

{c o nt r i b u t o r s } Christina Lucas Susan O’Bryan Lorie Roach

{wr i t e r s } Carol Gifford Joe Lee Richelle Putnam Sarah Vaughan

{p h o t o gr a p h e r s } Divian Conner Laura Daniels

{p a ge d e s i gn} Sarah Vaughan

{a d v e r t i s i ng d e s i gn} Chris McMillen

Reproductions in whole or in part,without written permission,is strictly prohibited. No responsibility can be assumed for unsolicited manuscripts, articles or photographs. We reserve the right to edit submissions before publication. Town & Gown is a free magazine published monthly and distributed in and around Starkville and the Golden Triangle area. Subscriptions are available for mail customers. For subscriptions or inquiries,write Town & Gown Magazine, P.O. Box 1068, Starkville, MS, 39760, or call 662.323.1642.

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Townandgownmagazine

.com

Home . Garden . Life . style . food . HEALTH . FITNESS

discover the south...

Explore this month’s Discover the South, Blackberry Farm in Walland, Tenn. over on page 82!

A snapshot from our November fashion shoot! A special thanks to the owners of Hewlett Barn in Starkville, Miss. for allowing us to feature their beautiful barn!

on the cover..

Thanksgiving is here! With the help of Thyme, we’ve incorporated our favorite design elements into the perfect holiday tablescape to share with your family. @townandgownmag

@townandgown

@townandgownmag1

@townandgownmag November 2014 • 7

editor's note

happy thanksgiving!

F

amily, football and food. It doesn’t get any better than that. In

this year’s November issue, we’re celebrating Thanksgiving with plenty to be thankful for.

Flip over to page 58 to see our Thanksgiving tablescape spreads.

We’ve combined rustic and chic to create the perfect setting for your holiday get-togethers. We’ve also included a few local pieces we think make a great tablescape.

On page 44, we’re reminding ourselves that we have a lot to be thanksful for this year. In April 2014 in the small town of Louisville, tornados damaged many homes and buildings and left numerous residents without jobs or homes. We’re taking a look at what this community is doing to rebuild.

We also take you inside the beautiful Magnolias in Aberdeen. A beautiful tribute to antebellum architecture, The Magnolias is the also the perfect location for a wedding or event. See more on page 30.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.

Sarah Vaughan

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November 2014 • 11

wishlist stella & dot www.stelladot.c om 800.920.5893

Deep South Pout 329 University Dr. Starkville, MS 662.324.6055 12

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Giggleswick 200 Hwy 12 East Starkville, MS 662.323.4438

Thyme 402 Lampkin St. Starkville, MS 662.323.5979

Merle Norman Luna Bella 202 S. Washington St. Starkville, MS 662.323.5255

Aspen Bay 116 E. Main St. Starkville, MS 662.320.8476

West Elm www.westelm.c om 888.922.4119

Anthropologie www.anthropologie.c om 800.309.2500

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every seaon has a story • our fall favorites on pinterest • www.pinterest.com/townandgownmag

November 2014 • 15

Sunday

MONday

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

November 4

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SOCCER: SEC SOCCER TOURNAMENT

BULLDOG BRUNCH & BROWSE 11am - 3pm

VOLLEYBALL: MSU VS. OLE MISS

November 3 - 9 Orange Beach, Ala.

MSU HOMECOMING WEEK

5pm • ESPNU

November 2 - 8

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9 BULLDOG BRUNCH & BROWSE 11am - 3pm

1:30pm • SEC Network Plus

&

C

CO O HR OK PEN IST IE H M S W O AS IT US H E SA NT A

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BASKETBALL (W): MSU VS. LOUISIANA MONROE

VOLLEYBALL: MSU VS. TEXAS A&M

Colvard Student Union Art Gallery November 10 5:30-6:30pm

17 VOLLEYBALL: MSU VS. LSU

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JAPANESE WORLD HERITAGE CELEBRATION

BASKETBALL (W): MSU VS. ARKANSASFORT SMITH

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BASKETBALL: MSU VS. MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE

24 BASKETBALL: MSU VS. CLAYTON STATE

7pm • SEC Network Plus

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY 1 DESIGNER’S GALLERY ANNUAL LIGHTING OF THE TREE OPEN HOUSE 6 - 8pm

6 MEN’S TENNIS: ITA NATIONAL INDOOR TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS New York, NY

BASKETBALL: VS. DELTA STATE

13 FIRST UNITED METHODIST HOLIDAY HANDWORKS BAZAAR 9am - 7pm

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7 COLUMBUS

8 FOOTBALL: MSU VS. TN-MARTIN

GHOSTS AND LEGENDS TOURS

Tours leave from the Tennessee Williams home at 6:30, 7, 8 and 8:30pm

MSU HOMECOMING PARADE

COLUMBUS GHOSTS AND LEGENDS TOURS

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CROSS COUNTRY: NCAA REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

FOOTBALL: MSU @ ALABAMA

Tallahassee, Fla.

December 1 • 7pm

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BASKETBALL: VS. UTAH STATE

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December 5, 5-8 p.m.

The 2014 Attala Historical Society’s Candlelight Tour of Homes will feature three historic homes and one historic structure near the Courthouse Square and will include caroling and refreshments at the Mary Ricks Thornton Cultural Center.

Tickets for the event are $12 in advance and $15 on the evening of the tour.

Tickets can be purchased by calling 601.209.8791.

HOLIDAY IN THE JUNCTION

FOOTBALL: MSU VS. VANDERBILT

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ATTALA COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY’S CANDLELIGHT TOUR OF HOMES

Tuscaloosa, Ala.

BASKETBALL: MSU VS. MERCER

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upcoming events:

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STARKVILLE CHRISTMAS PARADE December 1

STARKVILLE HOLIDAY BAZAAR December 3-4

FOOTBALL: MSU @ OLE MISS Oxford, Miss.

STARKVILLE CHRISTMAS TOUR OF HOMES December 13 • 1:30-5pm November 2014 • 17

&

TASTE TOAST:

Holiday Butters

crock pot pumpkin butter

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CROCK POT PUMPKIN BUTTER Join in the pumpkin spice mania of the season with this simple crock pot recipe for pumpkin butter. This recipe does not have any actual butter in the recipe, but you can slather it on a biscuit all the same. Added bonus: It will make your house smell divine!

• 16 oz. pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling) • 3/4 cup sugar • 1 cup brown sugar • 1 tsp. real vanilla extract • 1 tsp. cinnamon • 1/2 tsp. nutmeg • 1/4 tsp. all spice Add all ingredients into a small crock pot, stir well. Cook for 3 to 3.5 hours on low, stirring regularly to keep from scorching. Let it cool before storing. Keeps for 2 weeks by refrigeration, but do not use a canning method to store pumpkin butter.

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cranberry fig compound butter

CRANBERRY COMPOUND BUTTER Compound butters take a good thing (butter) and make it even better. You can combine any number of herbs, preserves, and dried fruits into a savory or sweet concoction. This time, I wanted to skip the ordinary cranberry and orange combination and go for the honeylike taste of figs with the sweet cranberries as a nod to Thanksgiving tradition.

• 2 sticks unsalted butter, softened • 1/2 cup dried cranberries (or Craisins) • 1/3 cup fig preserves Combine all the ingredients into a bowl. Mix by hand or with a hand mixer until all the ingredients are incorporated. Serve on biscuits, rolls, toast or even pancakes!

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THE B B HARRELL FAMILY HOME >>> >

by CAROL GIFFORD | photography by LAURA DANIELS

One Starkville family has transformed their living space from drab to fab in less than a year.

The Harrells’ home is truly one-of-a-kind, a modern hideaway in a small Southern town.

Artistic design meets modern luxuries and inviting charm in their warm and sophisticated sanctuary.

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Starkville, Miss.

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“It is comfortable and really functional. Everything has a purpose and is washable. Even the paint can be easily wiped down,” she said. “Amos is free to use the whole space.”

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Buying a first house is a process often filled with trepidation, stress and money worries. It takes time and energy to make a house a home.

When Leah and Daniel Harrell bought their first home in Starkville, their new house experience went something like this: see house, buy it and make it their home by renovating with repurposing. Add in deadlines, creative playfulness and a baby on the way, and you can see why they had their hands full.

“We bought this house for Amos, our two-year-old son,” said Leah. “We call it Amos’ home.”

They intended to move to Birmingham and tried to do so three times, but each time something came up that kept them in Starkville. The couple was living with Leah’s mother and Amos was just starting to crawl. They saw the house, standing vacant, and visited. They looked in the windows, sat on the porch swing and talked about renovations that could make it livable and bought it.

“Built in the 1980s, the house was a colonial/farmhouse design with good sight lines and a lot of storage.

“It was a complete fixer-upper, but we knew we could get this great space and make it ours,” said Leah.

With energy on overload, the couple went to work on designing and renovating their new home.

They painted all the downstairs walls white to make it as fresh and airy as possible and to reflect light.

“I see white as open and inviting to ideas,” she said. “It’s clean without being sterile. The color comes in with your art pieces.”

The living room includes a coffee table made from a discarded pallet covered with upholstery and put on wheels, so if “Amos runs into it, it will be soft and move away from him.” said Leah. The floors are cork to provide a soft cushion for play time.

“It is comfortable and really functional. Everything has a purpose and is washable. Even the paint can be easily wiped down,” she said. “Amos is free to use the whole space.

“We wanted our home to be very playful. It was a make it up as you go along process.”

Daniel Harrell, Leah’s husband, remembers the process as being more organized. He is the project person, and she is the designer. The two met in college at Mississippi State University, and both have backgrounds in art and design.

“I was an art major. Daniel majored in business and psychology,” said Leah. “Daniel was my sidekick, helping me with my projects.”

Leah had design ideas that she wanted to include in the house, and kept a note book and post-it notes with information about what she liked and how she thought it could be designed. When the family travels, they always bring back an item for the house from the trip – a vintage school desk, a trough sink, an antique dresser.

“I always have a specific purpose intended for each item that I buy,” said Leah.

“I see things and I say to Daniel, ‘I can see this thing becoming a …, and he figures out how to make it come together,” said Leah. “All our household furniture serves some functional purpose. If we don’t need, it’s superfluous.”

“I give all the credit to Leah. She has the ability to envision ideas and then figure out some way to communicate it to me,” said Daniel, who works as a project manager at Gregory Construction Services, a construction company owned by Leah’s family.

“I had my own ideas and would talk to Leah about them, but I couldn’t come up with the cool designs on my own; mine are tacky and overdone. She reins me in to make sure the design is feasible and that it can be finished by the deadline.

“Daniel has done everything. We haven’t had a professional in the house,” said Leah. “If Daniel didn’t know how to do it, he would learn. It’s just amazing to me how determined and diligent he is.”

“We learned a lot about relationships as we went along,” said Daniel.

With the deadline of Amos’ first birthday, the Harrells began bigger renovations in the new house.

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“The new design is Scandinavian with eclectic repurposing and antiques.”

Accent pieces include one of her murals over the fireplace, and other art work they purchased from MSU art students working on their theses.

Her design philosophy is to repurpose things, to find things with an interesting character that can be used in new mundane items. Daniel’s construction work provides materials -- items that were to be thrown away --and inspiration.

The first project was the bathroom. They added a vintage tub from the 1930s, replaced the toilet and sink, tiled the floor and put textured wallpaper on the ceiling.

“We created a wonderful space and did it in about two weeks,” said Daniel. “It was almost like practice – how much can we actually do – and it was an example of what we could do in the rest of the house.”

Scraping all the popcorn ceilings down was a lot of hard work, but important in order to be more aesthetically pleasing.

“Visually, it was not the look we wanted,” said Daniel.

The living, dining room, kitchen and downstairs playroom, along with the bath, was renovated in about three months, mostly by Daniel, who worked evenings and weekends to finish the work. He had help from family and friends.

“It was cosmetic change on a deep level,” said Leah, a stay-at-home mother who specializes in large format photography. “Amos was the inspiration on how to

model the house. Everything we did was to make it a safe environment for him.

“The new design is Scandinavian with eclectic repurposing and antiques.” Accent pieces include one of her murals over the fireplace, and other art work they purchased from MSU art students working on their theses.

Her design philosophy is to repurpose things, to find things with an interesting character that can be used in new mundane items. Daniel’s construction work provides materials -- items that were to be thrown away --and inspiration.

Rebar was fashioned into light fixtures after Daniel took the rusty metal and sawed it into circular pieces welded together to make spheres in a candelabra and hung the two 60-pound fixtures with electrical wire in the living room and dining room. Metal railings in the dining room are from an old post office door. The kitchen tile is made of nail cards (from a cartridge usually used in nail guns) that were “a beautiful color and linear and straight,” said Leah.

In the kitchen, the couple removed the laminate countertop finish and replaced it with feather-finish concrete that was mixed and spread over the surface. The fine-grade concrete was finished with a wet-look sealer.

Out front, Daniel redid the front porch floor in concrete pavers. He made the forms, molds and poured concrete footings. The wooden columns are set in a concrete base, creating a space that is attractive and durable.

“We have so much more to do and in my mind, it’s still changing,” said Daniel. ”We have the downstairs bath, a darkroom to build in the garage and more kitchen work. We will finish it as we have the money to do it.”

Both agree that the house renovations will continue – and encourage others to include their own styles in their homes.

“We’ve had fun making our home reflect who we are,” said Daniel.

“Your home is such an intimate space in your life. Don’t waste it,” said Leah. “It’s so rewarding to make it our own – it’s our own house on a whole different level.”

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HISTORIC HOMES: The Magnolias

Aberdeen, Miss.

November 2014 • 31

The Magnolias

By Richelle Putnam • Photography by Laura Daniels

I

In picturesque Aberdeen, Miss., The Magnolias mansion rises mightily amid ancient magnolia trees. Built in 1850 by Dr. William Sykes, it is one of Mississippi’s rare and luxurious antebellum homes that survived the war between the States and escaped a fall into disrepair.

For 15 years, Sarah Wilemon has served as a hostess at The Magnolias, welcoming visitors and sharing the home’s history. She explained that though the Sykes family had a home on their plantation, Mrs. Sykes wanted to participate in the lively social life in town.

Mr. Sykes built The Magnolias for her.

“But she only lived for a year after they built the house,” said Sarah.

Five generations of Sykes lived in the house. In fact, the house has never been lived in by anyone outside of the Sykes family. Aberdeen native Clarence Day purchased The Magnolias in 1984. The Days never lived in the home, but Mr. Day’s mother was a distant cousin of the Sykes, said Sarah, so in a way it remained in the family. After his purchase, Mr. Day commissioned someone to travel to England to buy furnishings for the home. He gave the mansion to the City of Aberdeen in memory of his parents, Christine and Clarence Day, Sr. In the 1840s, Aberdeen was the second largest town in Mississippi, next to Natchez. Both were river towns.

“We were spared during the Civil War and not destroyed like so many towns,” said Sarah. “Columbus and Aberdeen were fortunate in that respect because we didn’t have any battles close by.”

Approaching the entrance drive to the Magnolias, one immediately notices the massive planters. These are actually the stone bases of the Ionic Columns that

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once graced the front of the Greek Revival First Methodist Church built in 1859 and later demolished in 1911. The Magnolias, also constructed in classic Greek revival style, possesses the original Bohemian Glass side lights and transom that frames the double front doors.

Typical of the era is the central hallway that offered easy access into every room. During sweltering summer months, opening the front and back doors on both floors allowed cooler air to circulate through the central hall and throughout the enormous house.

The tri-level double stairway is the home’s centerpiece, leading upstairs from the front and rear entrances. If advancing from the front stairway to the upper level, your hand glides along a solid mahogany stair rail. On the back stairway, a native walnut rail guides you upward. The stairway meets at a landing and then separates to ascend to the second floor.

“We have a Waterford crystal chandelier that was given to the home,” said Sarah. This chandelier, a gift from the estate of Dr. Marion Godbey, dates back to the early 1800s. The First Methodist Church gave the Waterford crystal banquet lamps on the newel posts to Dr. Sykes’s granddaughter, Mary Dudley Walker, who had often provided the flowers, as well as her decorating flair, for the church’s special events.

“We have a lot of travelers who stop here or plan to stay overnight,” said Sarah. “The Magnolias is unique in that it still sits on 13 acres and has its outside kitchen, well house and smoke house that were original parts of the house.”

The Magnolias was never made into apartments like many older homes. The last Sykes family living in

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In April, during the annual Pilgrimage, hostesses donned in elaborate period dress welcome guests into The Magnolias.

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The beautifully decorated rooms of The Magnolias offer a glimpse into the past. Candles would have taken the place of lamps, home libraries stood in place of televisions and computers and families often gathered together for meals and evening chats.

the home added a bathroom and a kitchen, but the Historical Foundation closely monitored the renovations to preserve the authenticity of the structure. The kitchen was later modernized.

“The rest of the house is very much like it was,” said Sarah. “Some rooms have been taken in to add a bathroom or closet, which they didn’t have at that time.” The original detached kitchen is often used to prepare the flowers for a wedding. “The groomsmen get dressed out in the kitchen area,” she said. “They enjoy it because they don’t have to be in the house with the women."

Springtime remains the busiest time for weddings at the Magnolias,

but fall is fast becoming a popular wedding season. The Magnolias is the perfect venue for any social affair, whether weddings, dinner parties or reunions and is open for tours Monday through Friday from10 to 2. Students from Aberdeen’s grammar and junior high schools tour every year.

“The students have more questions than grownups do,” said Sarah. “It’s so important to share this history with our young people. They don’t realize that all of this was done by hand.” The meticulous work accomplished by slave labor is the main reason the house is in such good shape.

“They did beautiful woodworking on the cornices and window facings made from all local materials,” said

Sarah. “The lumber was from local trees. The floors are pine.”

Furnishings are true to the period, but most pieces did not belong to the families that lived here, with the exception of two Empire velvet sofas, one in the gentlemen’s parlor and one in the ladies’ parlor, and the carved, gilded mirror over the mantle in the dining room. The secretary in the gentlemen’s parlor was crafted from red walnut in Aberdeen in the 1840s

by John Lunsford, a Virginian who settled in Mississippi in the mid1800s.

“We have a mirror that came from one of the riverboats of that era,” said Sarah. Riverboats were called floating palaces. The mirror in the ladies November 2014 • 35

Above: The Magnolias has one of the most impressive antebellum staircases in the South. It extends across the length of the foyer and connects in the center of the second story of the home. Many weddings and receptions have taken place in the home, and several intimate weddings have taken place on the staircase itself. The ghost of a former resident has been seen in the doorway (pictured above) leading down to the basement.

parlor was from a floating palace that was here during the 1840s.

In the museum room, the old Sykes Bible and pictures of the original Sykes family give visitors a glimpse of the ancestry and the era. However, another element original to the house is the ghost who tends to show up at special events.

“One of the caterers was preparing for a wedding and she felt someone looking at her. When she turned around, [an image] was standing beside her,” said Sarah. The caterer 36

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doesn’t remember a face, but she described the image as wearing “a long, flowing dress.” This caterer saw the figure another time in the hallway.

“Some brides have had images in their pictures that weren’t supposed to be there,” said Sarah. “If we do have a ghost, it is probably the first Mrs. Sykes coming back to enjoy the parties.”

Some time ago, when a ghost chaser outfit came to the Magnolias, a photographer snapped a picture.

“There was a form of a woman at

the basement door,” said Sarah. The ghost chasers felt like it was a ghost, but in the 15 years she’s hosted, Sarah has never seen a ghost. “But I’m just working here,” she said. “I’m not having parties.”

For more information about The Magnolias, visit www.themagnolias. org. For more information about the city of Aberdeen, visit www. aberdeenms.org. To learn more about the Aberdeen Pilgrimage website, visit their website at www.aberdeenpilgrimage.com.

Years ago, the seedlings of the magnolia trees along the walkway of The Magnolias were planted on the boulevard in downtown Aberdeen.

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FEATURE: Reese Orchard

Starkville, Miss.

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REESE Orchard by joe lee • photography by laura daniels

David Reese, owner/operator of Reese Orchard in the Sessums community, sat down with Town & Gown to discuss the products available through the family-owned business and share some interesting history about the land which has been in the family for nearly 60 years.

TOWN & GOWN: Although you’re known far and wide for delicious, hand-picked fruit, the property has been used in many ways over the years.

DAVID REESE: Reese Orchard is located on part of our old dairy farm that our parents, Jack and Gloria Reese, purchased in 1955. We were out of the dairying business by the mid-1960s, but we farmed soybeans (for part of) the 1970s. In 1980 we planted the first blueberry orchard in this area. However, blueberries only grew well in a small area, where the soil seemed just right for them.

Over the next several years we replanted with pears, muscadines and Japanese persimmons. I took over managing the orchard 12 years ago.

T & G: What’s offered at Reese Orchard, and what are the best times of year to get what you want?

DR: Persimmons, our most popular fruit, are usually available from October through the end of November. Most of our Japanese persimmons are non-astringent and edible

when still firm, with a crunchy texture and sweet unique flavor. There is no other fruit commonly available that I can compare them to.

We grow Asian pears, cooking pears and fine quality dessert pears. They are available from mid-August until early October. When we have an abundance of them, we donate to the St. Joseph food pantry to provide healthy fresh fruit to a segment of the population that sometimes has diet-related health issues due to poverty.

September is the month for muscadines, but they are often still available in October. wBlueberries, our very first fruit, have become a distant fourth in importance over the years – I foresee a day where we no longer sell them. They are available the first three weeks in July.

T & G: Why are you a big believer in natural and sustainable farming practices?

DR: In the early years we were using herbicide under plants like most everyone, which left bare ground under bushes, vines, and trees going into the winter months – by the following spring there were gullies where the topsoil had washed away. It can take decades to build up a layer of topsoil, but perhaps one winter of hard rains to remove it all. Now I leave the ground covered and protected with November 2014 • 39

grass, clover, and vetch. We don’t mow here until mid-summer, (when) all the spring grasses and legumes have re-seeded themselves for the next season. If you drive by in late winter or early spring, there is lush green growth in the orchard when most everyone else’s property still looks brown and lifeless.

T & G: What’s the best time to visit, and how can they contact you and find you?

DR: During persimmon season we keep our normal weekday hours (Tuesday, and Thursday from 7 a.m.-12 noon, reopen 3-6 p.m.) but stay open all day Saturday (7 a.m.- 6:30 p.m. - close at dusk after early Nov time change). Email info@ reeseorchard.com or call 662-324-1509 for more info or an appointment.

From Starkville, take Oktoc Road and turn left onto Artesia Road at Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Go 3.3 miles and turn right on Sessums Road. Go about a mile before taking a very sharp curve to the left – the road becomes Sessums Circle. We are the second driveway to the left off Sessums Circle.

Reese Orchard 1716 Reese Orchard Rd. Starkville, MS

“Muscadines are so tasty that their significant health benefits are often overlooked.”

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662.324.1509 www.reeseorchard.com

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reese orchard Fruit prices, when available (depending on season): Blueberries - $2.00/lb. (you pick) Dessert pears - $1.50/lb.

Muscadines - $1.75/lb. (you pick) Asian pears - $1.75/lb.

Cooking pears - $1.00/lb.

Japanese persimmons - $1.75/lb. (available until the end of November)

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rebuilding Louisville by sarah vaughan photography by divian conner

In the early morning hours of April 28, 2014, a category EF4 tornado ripped through the town of Louisville, Miss, leaving a scar 36 miles long and nearly one mile wide with winds estimated around 185 mph. The storm ravaged homes and businesses and killed 10 Winston County residents.

The Louisville tornado was a spawn of a larger weather pattern that produced hundreds of tornadoes across the country from April 27-29, including at least nine in Mississippi. The storm system has been called one of the worst tornado outbreaks in the history of the Southern United States, second only to the severe storm systems that moved through parts of the South in April of 2011 that left nearly 400 people dead. Several of the communities hit by these storms are still recovering from the devastation left in their wake.

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Extensive damage from the April 28 Louisville tornado can still be seen throughout the small town.

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DIXIE ALLEY For several decades, the area known as "Tornado Alley," which stretches across Texas, Oklahoma, Nebraska and other parts of the Midwest, has been considered the biggest U.S. hot spot for tornado activity. After the record-breaking number of storms reported across the South in 2011 and 2014, weather experts now consider "Dixie Alley," which includes parts of Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama and other Southern states, to be more dangerous. While storms in Tornado Alley area are frequent, the most violent and deadly tornadoes have occurred in Dixie Alley. Unlike other parts of the United States, residents of Dixie Alley can be under severe threat of tornado weather for nearly nine months out of the year, while storms in other areas typically only occur during tornado season.

WHY DIXIE ALLEY IS MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO SEVERE STORMS While the Midwest is still considered a hot spot for tornado activity, the atmospheric conditions of the Southern region frequently create opportunities for the perfect storm. In fact, according to severe storm trackers, Simpson County, Miss. has historically seen more violent tornados than any other region in the area. The area places second in the nation for the number of EF3 to EF5 confirmed tornadoes.

In the South, tornadoes form as a result of warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico colliding with dry air from the West. As warm air rises, it comes into contact with the cooler air, creating a violent concoction of rapidly moving wind. The directional change of this mixture of warm and cool air moving in opposite directions creates a funnel. As the funnel increases its rotation speed, the movement can allow the funnel to "touch down," causing a tornado to form.

“Unlike other parts of the United States, residents of Dixie Alley can be under severe threat of tornado weather for nearly nine months out of the year.”

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Although it is not available for tours, the Taylor family water wheel has long been a landmark of sorts in the small town of Louisville. | Right: A historic Louisville attraction • Lake Tiak-O’khata attracts visitors of all shapes and sizes.

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LOUISVILLE DAMAGE After destroying three industrial buildings and severely damaging the hospital, the Louisville tornado took everything in its path across residential areas. An estimated 300-400 homes received damage from the storm. That's approximately 1 home for every 16 of its 6.463 residents. In addition to the damage sustained to their homes, 400-500 people were left unemployed due to damage to businesses.

Although a $1,093,074 grant was awarded to the Winston County Medical Foundation from Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). the amount needed to repair the hospital remains unknown.

"We estimate that it will cost around $57 million to repair the steel plant and between $20-27 million to repair Teeter's Floor Products distribution center. We still don't know a lot of numbers yet, because we're still

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Lake Tiak-O’khata is one of Louisville’s most well-known spots. Known far and wide for its savory buffet and menu selections, the resort also offers tennis, basketball and volleyball courts.

Some of Mississippi’s best golf courses are also located nearby the resort.

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working to clean up the damage, and many people are still working with their insurance to repair their homes," said Gerald Mills of the Winston County Development Partnership.

Like a thief striking in the night, this runaway freight train left many with no home, no job and no hope. No rhyme or reason can explain why some homes received roof and siding damage while all that's left of those next door are concrete slabs pulled from the ground. No words can explain why thriving neighborhoods and business centers are now non-existent, with no more than a driveway marking their former locations. The sight of people who've lived in Louisville their entire lives picking through what's left of their belongings to see which of their memories can be salvaged is both heartbreaking and surreal.

REBUILDING It is hard to overlook the damage and devastation remaining in this small town of 6.463 people, and there's a lot to be done to recover from the effects of the storm, but with a strong sense of community and a desire to help those who lost everything, the residents of Louisville still have hope. Those who did lose everything that day couldn't have hoped for a better community to live in.

A symbol of the town's unwillingness to forget who and what they've lost, a mural dedicated to Ruth Eichelberger-Bennett, who lost her life protecting a child at her daycare center during the storm, has been dedicated in Dean Park, located on Highway 15. As we reflect on what the people of Louisville have lost, we should all remember that we have much to be thankful for this holiday season.

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MADE IN MISSISSIPPI: Thimblepress

JACKSON, Miss.

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Made in Mississippi: Thimblepress Designs

By: Richelle Putnam Photography Courtesy of Beth Morgan Cowan & Thimblepress

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Thimblepress founder and owner Kristen Ley creates things to make others smile. A 2007 graduate of Mississippi State University, she and MSU classmate Catherine Yerger moved to Charleston, S.C. to start Cultigraphic Creative, a marketing and branding company. When one of Kristen’s biggest clients, Jackson Academy (JA), offered her a job position, she accepted and returned to Mississippi. Not long after, the Thimblepress idea surfaced.

Kristen had already purchased a 1925 10 x 15 Chandler & Price letter press in Lexington, Ky., thinking it too awesome of a deal to pass up. “I really prayed about [Thimblepress], because I didn’t want to do something if it wasn’t God’s plan for me.”

In January 2012, while working fulltime at JA, Kristen officially founded Thimblepress and spent the year developing products and a social media presence. Her philosophy to celebrate the good, simple and unexpected hurled her into an exciting whirlwind of good, simple and unexpected success.

At her first wholesale show in Chicago, she was picked up by

two representatives, one being Daniel Richards Fine Gift and Stationery Representatives. After work every day, Kristen filled orders and created products. “It was overwhelming,” she said.

Lesley Frascogna, owner of Tulip in Jackson, suggested that she and Kristen share a space in downtown Jackson. Kristen knew, however, she needed her own shop for her press and products, so she looked at the vacant space next door to Tulip. She signed the lease and took occupancy in April 2013, just before the National Stationery Show, the Surtex Show, and the International Contemporary Furniture Fair held in May at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, New York City.

“God gave me the energy to move into this vacant space and go to the New York show all in one month.”

Kristen’s growing popularity on social media contributed much to the whirlwind success of Thimblepress even though Kristen never actually initiated a social media campaign. She simply posted photographs of her products on Instagram.

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Cards, push-pop confetti, gift tags and assorted prints are just a few of the products available by Thimblepress.

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“Instagram really changed a lot of things for us.” Currently, Kristen has 48,606 followers on Instagram, yet another whirlwind success in a very short time.

“I have gotten a little more strategic about social media,” she said. Her posts to Instagram automatically post to Twitter and Facebook. “Tagging and hash-tagging has really gotten us far with social media.” Big bloggers and big press people have tagged her. Celebrities and fashion designers have also tagged her. “It’s been really cool to watch the "likes" and "shares.”

The whole idea behind Instagram was for people to see not only the business side of Thimblepress, but Kristen’s personal side. When Kristen finds something she loves, she shares it to keep people involved in her brand and to get opinions and feedback. Instagram is a way to connect with communities and people outside of Mississippi and to keep the brand fresh and communication open.

People like happy things and they want to be happy, said Kristen. I feel like people see our products and our business and see that we’re happy and trying to do good in the world.

Thimblepress is a Finalist in the 2014 Martha Stewart American Made Awards. Winners to be announced on October 17 at: www.marthastewart.com/americanmade Thimblepress Staff: Dani Griffin, Lucy Tucker Knight, Meredith Brabec The name “Thimblepress” was derived from Kristen’s childhood passion of collecting thimbles during her travels. For more on Kristen and her Thimblepress designs, visit: www.thimblepress.com/ November 2014 • 55

LITERATURE Savoring the South

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Savoring the South

By Susan O’Bryan

Let me start with a disclaimer: I am not a cook, but I do love eating. I enjoy watching talented people in the kitchen, and I’m glad to taste their wonders. When it comes to cookbooks, I really enjoy looking at the photos and imagining myself preparing culinary creations for my family and friends. Unfortunately, those same family and friends want me at their table, but not at their stoves.

My latest fascination, just in time for the holidays, is “Savoring the South: Memories of Edna Lewis, the Grande Dame of Southern Cooking with Recipes” by Angela Mulloy. She had a longtime friendship with the late Lewis before her death at age 89 in 2006, often comparing recipes and family stories in the kitchen of Mulloy’s restaurant, Willow Grove.

Within the first pages, you get a feel for Lewis and her passion for cooking. “One of the greatest pleasures of my life has been that I have never stopped learning about good cooking and good food,” according to a quote.

Lewis was the granddaughter of an emancipated slave, and her family grew up in a small farming community, says her niece, Nina Williams-Mbengue. Lewis was born in 1916 in Orange County, Va., and later moved to Georgia. Many of the narratives in “Savoring the South” were shared by Williams-Mbengue and Mulloy as they paid tribute to Lewis.

“I met Edna Lewis more than 20 years ago when

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she agreed to be guest chef at a Thomas Jefferson 250th anniversary celebration being held at my inn and restaurant,” Mulloy writes.

That friendship led to the pair co-authoring two cookbooks, and “Savoring the South” is a tribute to Lewis, who Mulloy describes as “my dear friend and culinary mentor.

“Edna was an American classic, one of the most celebrated chefs in the country, a legend in her own time,” Mulloy states in her book. “Known as the ‘Grande Dame of Southern Cooking,’ she was widely recognized in the world of food as someone who cared deeply about preserving her heritage and that of all Southern cooking. She was the inspiration for more than a generation of young chefs and undoubtedly influenced the popularity of traditional Southern food today.”

“Unfortunately, Edna is now gone. However, the friendships, traditions and recipes have lived on,” says the former restauranteur. In her lifetime, Lewis cooked for celebrities such as Marlon Brando, Tennessee Williams, Eleanor Roosevelt and others as she

made her way in the almost non-existent world of black female chefs from 1949 until the late 1960s, when she gave up cooking professionally due to poor health. She often appeared later as a guest chef and columnist. Lewis published numerous cookbooks and articles under her own name as well as writing with Mulloy and went on to receive numerous public accolades and recognitions.

Lewis received a Lifetime Achievement Award in 1999 from the Southern Foodways Alliance. That same year she was presented with the first James Beard Living Legend Award and was named Grande Dame by Les Dames d’Escoffier, an international organization of female culinary professionals. Recognized as one of the great women of American cooking, Lewis received an honorary PhD in culinary arts from Johnson & Wales University in 1995.

In 2003, was inducted into the James Beard Foundation Kitchen Aid Cookbook Hall of Fame.

Mulloy honors her friend by sharing Lewis’s recipes and philosophy on Southern cooking. She writes: “ ‘Good Southern food is not soul food,’ she would insist. ‘It is not sweet or greasy. Southern food is real food, honest food, food that is based on the freshest local ingredients. Southern cooking is home cooking at its best, with more care in the kitchen and more respect for the seasons. “ The collection of about 140 recipes is categorized by season with corresponding events and menus. For example, “Spring” includes menus for Easter, a garden tea and a picnic. “Autumn” includes recipes for a harvest festival, hunt breakfast and, of course, Thanksgiving. The recipes are not complicated, but they all invoke a memory, a taste – and definitely a longing for more than just a bite whether it’s Toasted Pecan Wild Rice Dressing, Hot Spiced Beets, Caramel-Pumpkin Custard or a traditional Hot Toddy.

Grab your reading glasses, a glass of wine and enjoy a trip through Edna’s kitchen, complete with her recollections about the seasons, tips for the kitchen and an appreciation for family and friends. With her help, there’s even hope for amateurs like me!

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Thanksgiving

tablescapes photography by divian conner

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Holiday Fashion by divian connor

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Tunic >>> Deep South Pout

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Dress. Blazer. Necklace. >>> LA Green

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CREDITS

PHOTOGRAPHER: Katelyn Williams // VENUE: The Barn at Bridlewood • Hattiesburg, Miss. // DRESS: Mimi’s Bridal • Laurel, Miss.

what i love about this wedding:

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Le Creuset Event at Thyme On October 9, Thyme held its 4th Annual Le Creuset Event with Rhonda Barlow, Le Creuset’s Southeast territory manager. Sample dishes prepared with Le Creuset ceramics, utensils, enameled cast iron cookware and more were provided for guests.

Photos by Laura Daniels

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1. Suzy Turner and Fay Fisher • 2. Pattie and Amy Molen • 3. Oliver Cobb and Jennifer Lagendijk • 4. Laura Bryan and Nancy Hargrove • 5. Janice Giallourakis and Bonnie Feig • 6. Len and Vivien Miller

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Miss MSU On October 10, the Miss MSU Competition was held in Lee Hall on the campus of Mississippi State University.

Photos by Laura Daniels

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1. Kaylie Warren, Meredith Loper and Paige Rainer • 2. Kathryn Owen and Mary Linda Remley • 3. Sara Butler Makamson, Bethany Tillman and Mary Helen Makamson • 4. ReAnna Reese and Olivia Sanguinetti • 5. Robbie and Ashlee Owen • 6. Leah Stevenson and Elizabeth Whitten November 2014 • 79

Pumpkinpalooza On October 10, the Greater Starkville Development Partnership hosted the annual Pumpkinpalooza event on Main Street in downtown Starkville.

Photography by Laura Daniels

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1. Kayra, Seva and Furkan Ozkan • 2. Lofton, Jessica and Walt Lewis • 3. Brenda, Adam and Logan Clayton • 4. Annabelle Brislin, Jasmin Warnock, Samantha Turner, Sarah Rendon and Kadyn Robinson • 5. Lindsey, Graham, Amelia and Mayor Parker Wiseman • 6. Terri and Carson Blake

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Bullldog Bash On October 3, the annual Bulldog Bash celebration took place in The Cotton District. The event included a performance by country music artist Justin Moore and took place the Friday before the MSU Bulldogs defeated #6 Texas A&M. Photography by Laura Daniels

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1. Claire Taylor, Carter Smith, Mary Grace Epps and Reed Brantley • 2. Kelly Andrews and Belynda Waring • 3. Kaitlyn May, Taylor Turcotte and Brianna Drakeford • 4. Jillian Soliah and Kaitlyn Harless • 5. Adam and Letty Weeks • 6. Brandon Shaffer and Bully

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DISCOVER THE SOUTH: Blackberry Farm

• Photo Credit: Blackberry Farm One of America’s most celebrated luxury hotels beckons guests who aspire to escape modern-day frenzy and slip into a Blackberry state of mind. Situated on a pastoral 4,200-acre estate in the Great Smoky Mountains, Blackberry will show you the many reasons why it is one of the top rated properties in the world.

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