Elevation - The Journal of the Mississippi Heritage Trust - Winter 2017 by Webz Advertising

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ON THE COVER Participants at the Isaiah T. Montgomery Preservation Summit in Mound Bayou PICTURED HERE Isaac, a beloved preservation beacon at Prospect Hill in Lorman, disappeared in November. He had faithfully resided there for over 12 years since its last owner vacated.

Welcome from Doyce Deas, MHT Board President Upcoming Events The Historic Preservation Act Celebrates 50 Years 8 Senator Thad Cochran 10 Senator Roger Wicker MHT’s 25th Anniversary 14 2016 Accomplishments 16 2017 Programming & Funding Needs 18 Pillars of Support 20 The Lowry House Restoration is Complete Toolkit Roadtrip 24 Advocacy on Capitol Hill 28 Isaiah T. Montgomery Preservation Summit, Mound Bayou ListenUp! Historic Preservation Conference 36 2016 Heritage Awards Winners Preservation Windows Worthy Preservation Project: Georgiana The Hunt for History Partner Spotlight: Mississippi Delta National Heritage Area Delta Drive-In at the Baby Doll House MS MOD Delta 56 Modern Master, Faye Jones 60 Reception at the Home of Bill & Francine Luckett Cheers to Preservation: Hopson Commissary

MISSISSIPPI HERITAGE TRUST MAILING: P.O. Box 577 • Jackson, MS 39205 Lowry House • 1031 North Congress Street • Jackson PHONE: (601) 354-0200 preservation@mississippiheritage.com www.mississippiheritage.com

Photo courtesy of AMH Photography

president FROM THE

DOYCE DEAS President

Mississippi Heritage Trust Board of Trustees

It is my pleasure to share Elevation, The Journal of the Mississippi Heritage Trust, with you. This issue showcases an amazing year of preservation efforts in Mississippi. A particular highlight for me was the ListenUp! Historic Preservation Conference in Water Valley. During the event, Mississippi Heritage Trust was privileged to recognize 31 incredible preservation success stories at its Heritage Awards Celebration, held at the Yalobusha Brewing Company in the historic Hendricks Machine Shop on Main Street. As friends old and new came together to discuss preservation happenings from their parts of the state, it was tremendously rewarding to see strategies for tackling new projects ﬂy back and forth. At the conference, Water Valley was used as a living laboratory to demonstrate how incentives like tax credits can bring new life to old places. Here in Mississippi, we are fortunate that our elected ofﬁcials recognize the importance of historic preservation to community revitalization efforts. During the 2016 session, the Mississippi Legislature allocated an additional $60 million dollars for the state Historic Tax Credit program. This will help projects like the Carnation Building here in Tupelo 2

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Former MHT President Susan Higgs enjoys a sunny afternoon with her husband, Chad Miller, and their son, Duncan, in front of their home in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. The family used state historic tax credits to restore the home before that provision was removed from the legislation in 2016.

move forward. On a national level, our senators and congressmen have shown strong support for the Historic Tax Credit Improvement Act, which will increase the effectiveness of the federal Historic Tax Credit in Mississippi’s many small cities and towns. The Mississippi Heritage Trust is proud of its work to educate our elected ofﬁcials about the important role these incentives play in building strong, vibrant neighborhoods and downtowns. In her recent book The Past and Future City: How Historic Preservation is Reviving America’s Communities, Stephanie Meeks, Director of the National Trust for Historic Preservation,

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discusses how historic preservation is revitalizing communities by encouraging economic growth, bringing families and neighborhoods together, improving our health and well-being, making our cities more livable and helping us better understand ourselves. As we look ahead to 2017, which will mark both Mississippi’s Bicentennial and the 25th anniversary of the founding of the Mississippi Heritage Trust, I hope you will join with us in celebrating our hard-won preservation victories by becoming a member of the Mississippi Heritage Trust. Together, we will save the places that deﬁne Mississippi.

www.mshumanities.org Keep up with us on Facebook.

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UPCOMING

events

MS MOD | JACKSON March 23-25, 2017 • Jackson Educational Tours & Reception

www.lovemsmod.com Tour Jackson’s most notable examples of modernist architecture and learn more about this hip and happening architectural era. The Mississippi AIA presented MHT Executive Director, Lolly Rash, with the 2016 Presidential Citation award. Pictured: Lolly Rash and John Beard, President. Photo compliments of Barrett Photography

2017

10 MOST ENDANGERED HISTORIC PLACES IN MISSISSIPPI October 19, 2017 • Jackson Exhibit Unveiling & Reception www.ms10most.com MHT’s most popular event honors a selection of ten treasures from across the state that are in urgent need of preservation intervention.

LISTEN UP! HISTORIC PRESERVATION CONFERENCE & ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING June 8-9, 2017 • Cleveland Preservation Education & Reception

MHT’S 25TH ANNIVERSARY & MISSISSIPPI BICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION December 9, 2017 Lowry House • Jackson Reception

www.listenupms.com Take part in a preservation living laboratory as we walk through the steps to save historic buildings using the new Preservation Toolkit. Join us as we celebrate the passing of the gavel and toast new MHT board members.

www.mississippiheritage.com Join us as we look back at 25 years of preservation advocacy by Mississippi Heritage Trust and celebrate our state’s bicentennial.

AIA Mississippi 509 East Capitol Street Jackson, MS 39201 601.360.0082 www.aiamississippi.org

HISTORIC PLACES HAVE A

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SUPPORT INSPIRE ENRICH

The Mississippi Arts Commission (MAC) is a state agency serving more than two million people through grants and special initiatives that enhance communities, assist artists and arts organizations, promote arts education and celebrate Mississippi’s cultural heritage.

Mississippi Arts Commission 501 N. West Street Woolfolk Building – Suite 1101A Jackson, MS 39201

Established in 1968 by the state legislature, the MAC is the ofﬁcial grants-making and service agency for the arts in Mississippi. Funding for the MAC and its programs is provided by the State of Mississippi, the National Endowment for the Arts, and private sources. Learn more about supporting MAC at www.arts.ms.gov or (601) 359-6030.

In 1966, President Lyndon Johnson signed the National Historic Preservation Act into law, laying the foundation to protect our nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most treasured historic resources. It established the National Register of Historic Places, state historic preservation programs, the Section 106 Review Process, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, the Historic Preservation Fund and procedural protections for historic properties. 2016 marked its 50th Anniversary. Today, the National Register of Historic Places includes more than 1.7 million resources in more than 89,000 listings.

On November 2, the Mississippi State Capitol was named one of ten 2016 National Historic Landmarks by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior, the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s highest historical designation.

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Celebrate

THE NATIONAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION ACT TURNS 50

America’s relationship with its past changed fundamentally when President Lyndon Johnson signed the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) into law and formally recognized historic preservation as an important policy of the United States. These sentiments still inspire: “The Congress finds and declares that (a) the spirit and direction of the Nation are founded upon and reflected in its historic heritage; (b) the historical and cultural foundations of the Nation should be preserved as a living part of our community life and development in order to give a sense of orientation to the American people…” The American people took those words to heart in the last half-century, transforming their communities from coast to coast through historic preservation and generating widespread social and economic impacts. The NHPA established the legal framework and incentives to preserve historic buildings, landscapes, and archaeological sites. These heritage resources represent our nation’s highest ideals, shape our sense of place, anchor economic revitalization, and ensure a more sustainable future for our nation. The National Trust for Historic Preservation identifies 15 million active local preservationists and 50 million more individuals across the nation who are passionate about the cause of saving places that matter. Historic districts large and small, urban and rural, provide dynamic places for people to live and work. Millions of visitors from around the world visit and enjoy places like Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater, the French Quarter of New Orleans, Buffalo’s Olmsted park system, prehistoric effigy mounds in Iowa, the Spanish missions of California, Seattle’s Pike Place Market,

the Pueblo of Taos, New Mexico, Martin Luther King, Jr.’s church in Atlanta, and the Iolani Palace in Honolulu. The NHPA helps stabilize neighborhoods and downtowns, contributes to public education, attracts investment, creates jobs, generates tax revenues, supports small business and affordable housing, and powers America’s heritage tourism industry. Publicly owned historic properties, from community landmarks to federal facilities and national parks, also maintain community pride and identity, aid local and regional economies through their operation and maintenance, and foster a variety of public uses. Federal historic rehabilitation tax credits have helped create 2.3 million jobs, saved 38,700 historic structures, and attracted $106 billion in private investments. Compliance with federal requirements has engaged local communities across the country in better planning for development. Grants from the Historic Preservation Fund have supported restoration of historic treasures, assisted with community recovery from disasters, and improved education history. It is time to celebrate the legacy of the NHPA and leverage this moment to assure a more vibrant future for preservation in America. To learn more about the Preservation50 goals and initiatives, visit www.preservation50.org.

GREG WERKHEISER

is a founding partner of Cultural Heritage Partners, PLLC, a Washington, D.C., law ﬁrm chosen to manage the Preservation50 Initiative.

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NATIONAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION ACT HELPS

Mississippi UNDERSTANDING MISSISSIPPI’S PAST is indispensable as we work to

U.S. SENATOR THAD COCHRAN

is chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee and serves on the appropriations subcommittee that funds the National Park Service and federal preservation activities. He has represented the people of Mississippi in the Senate since 1978. 8

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create a better future for all Mississippians. The rich parade of our state’s history has the tendency to prompt study and reﬂection, mourning and celebration. Interpreting all aspects of our heritage, the good and the bad, is integral to continuing to improve our state. This interpretation relies on the preservation of places that have been pivotal to our state’s history, culture and development. Thoughtful policies like the National Historic Preservation Act, which was enacted 50 years ago, can

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PRESERVE SHARED HISTORY

bring together federal, state, local and private interests to preserve and protect these sites. This law serves as an incentive to work together to save historically significant properties that enhance the understanding of our shared past, both for today’s Mississippians and the Mississippians of tomorrow. Throughout our state, unity and understanding have resulted from the cooperative involvement of individuals, communities, universities and local officials on preservation projects. All 82 counties in Mississippi have courthouses, public buildings, schools, homes, battlefields

Far left: Robert Saarnio describes the restoration of the Burns Belfry Museum in Oxford with a tour group from MHT’s Listen Up! Conference.

Photos courtesy of Belinda Stewart Architects • MHT / Amber Lombardo

Left: The Tallahatchie County Courthouse during the Emmett Till trial and after restoration efforts concluded in 2015. (Restoration by Belinda Stewart Architects.)

or American Indian archeological sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places, totaling nearly 1,400 throughout the state. Other sites, like the State Capitol, have received National Historic Landmark status. Mississippi communities work also with the National Park Service to commemorate our heritage. As the City of Natchez celebrates its tricentennial anniversary this year, its citizens, the Historic Natchez Foundation and the National Park Service, with direction from Congress, have worked to ensure that the Natchez Historical Park preserves and shares the story of Natchez in the American South. It has been a pleasure to help secure federal support for projects that preserve and restore sites in Mississippi that have helped deﬁne the American experience. These sites are located throughout our state, and played major roles in the Civil War, the Civil Rights Movement, or the lives of so many Mississippians who have contributed to American cultural and civic life. I am pleased the Congress agreed to provide resources to expand and preserve more of the Vicksburg National

Military Park. Its vast educational opportunities are helping us better study one of the pivotal conflicts in the Civil War while serving as an important anchor in our state’s tourism industry. Today, greater attention is also being focused on preserving significant places associated with the Civil Rights movement, as the nation commemorates the 50th anniversary of landmark legislation and the remarkable level of social engagement that made our nation more just for all its citizens. In the picturesque Delta town of Sumner, the federal, state, and local governments joined with non-profit organizations to help restore the stately Tallahatchie County Courthouse and added an Emmett Till Interpretive Center. This center will focus on the Emmett Till murder trial and its role in spurring the Civil Rights Movement in Mississippi and throughout the country. In another example, a quaint AfricanAmerican church in Oxford, originally established by freedmen in the wake of the Civil War, has been transformed into the Burns Belfry Museum and Multicultural Center. Restoration of this historic church will ensure that

it continues to play a vital role in the cultural and civic life of Oxford and Lafayette County. Mississippi’s congressional delegation is working cooperatively to protect these important sites. Senator Roger Wicker, Congressman Bennie G. Thompson and I recently introduced legislation to authorize a special resource study to evaluate the national signiﬁcance of the Medgar Wiley and Myrlie Evers House in Jackson and determine the suitability and feasibility of designating it as a unit of the National Park Service system. The Evers home is also being considered for designation as a National Historic Landmark. These are early and important steps in ensuring that these Civil Rights Movement sites – and the men and women who lived, worked, and fought for equality there – are not forgotten. The National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 created structure and organization to help states and local communities preserve our shared history, and Mississippi will continue to beneﬁt from it.

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WICKER CELEBRATES THE

Preservation 2016 MARKS 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ‘NATIONAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION ACT’

U.S. SENATOR ROGER WICKER

is a member of the Senate Republican leadership team, serving as chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee. As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, he chairs the Subcommittee on Seapower. He has represented the people of Mississippi in the Senate since 2007. 10

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Imagine if Elvis Presley’s shotgun home in Tupelo had not been recognized as a famous site. Or if the legendary Biloxi Lighthouse had fallen into disrepair. Valuable pieces of our state’s history – not to mention U.S. history – could have been lost or forgotten. Instead, our state has cultivated an estimable reputation for cultural and historic attractions, drawing international attention and creating a boon for tourism and tourism-related jobs. Based on recent

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OF ICONIC MISSISSIPPI LANDMARKS

data from Visit Mississippi, an estimated two million people came to our state last year primarily to see historic buildings and sites, spending hundreds of millions of dollars and supporting more than 10,000 direct and indirect tourism jobs. Overall, travel and tourism ranks as one of Mississippi’s top ﬁve industries.

NATIONAL REGISTER RECOGNIZES MORE THAN 1,400 MISSISSIPPI SITES Fifty years ago, a pivotal piece of legislation known as the “National Historic Preservation Act” became law, inspiring a national effort for preserving culturally and

Far Left: The Elvis Presley Birthplace in Tupelo is a Mississippi Historic Landmark.

Photos courtesy of National Park Service • Elvis Presley Birthplace

Left: The Shirley House rose garden at the Vicksburg National Military Park receives TLC from a group of volunteers during National Public Lands Day festivities. Below: Military Park volunteers take part in the Headstone Cleaning Project to celebrate the National Historic Preservation Act’s 50th Anniversary.

historically signiﬁcant places. Among the law’s initiatives was the establishment of the National Register of Historic Places and the list of National Historic Landmarks. The National Park Service is responsible for overseeing these designations and the nomination process. Today, Mississippi is home to more than 1,400 places on the National Register and 38 National Historic Landmarks. Last year, I led a letter from Mississippi’s entire congressional delegation to the National Park Service calling for the addition of our State Capitol to the National Historic Landmark list. We highlighted the Capitol’s acclaimed architecture and craftsmanship, from the grand colonnaded dome to the stained glass windows created by Chicago artist Louis Millet. The nomination was accepted. Other congressional efforts have been successful in ensuring that our state’s historic sites are protected. During the last Congress, I introduced a bill with

Sen. Thad Cochran to add 10,000 acres to the Vicksburg National Military Park, including battleﬁeld sites in Claiborne and Hinds counties. Our measure was signed into law as part of the defense authorization bill for ﬁscal year 2015. The added property encompasses several historic homes – such as the Shaifer House at Port Gibson and the Coker House at Champion Hill.

SOCIAL MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS #MISSISSIPPIMONDAY, #50FOR50 Each week, I try to feature Mississippi locations with interesting stories and history on my Instagram account, using the #MississippiMonday hashtag. The National Park Service has also launched a social media campaign to accompany the 50th anniversary of the “National Historic Preservation Act.” With the hashtags #50for50 and #Preservation50, preservation work will be featured from a different state each week. Mississippi was highlighted during the week of April 26.

There is still work to be done when it comes to preserving our cultural resources. For example, the home of Medgar and Myrlie Evers in Jackson is currently under consideration to be designated as a National Historic Landmark – a prestigious honor that I have supported and encouraged through legislation in the Senate. The Evers home is already designated as a Mississippi landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Since 1999, the Mississippi Heritage Trust has regularly released a list of 10 Most Endangered Historic Places to raise awareness about sites in need of restoration. This attention has helped save spaces that are meaningful to Mississippians and drawn people to our communities who may not have visited otherwise. Our continued vigilance will help ensure the survival of these landmarks for generations to come, building community pride and paving the way for future economic development. E L E VA T I O N

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Anniversary OUR 25TH

WHAT AN INCREDIBLE JOURNEY! Back in 1992, when a group of dedicated

preservationists got together to form the Mississippi Heritage Trust, they envisioned an organization that would work with local preservation groups and support them in their battles to save Mississippi’s rich architectural legacy. It is rewarding to share with you some important milestones in our organization’s 25-year history. 1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

LOLLY RASH

Executive Director of the Mississippi Heritage Trust, has been fighting for Mississippi’s historic treasures for over 22 years. She has served as Historical Administrator for the City of Biloxi, Vice President of White House Properties and as a consultant for the Land Trust for the Mississippi Coastal Plain, the Mississippi Department of Archives and History and the Mississippi Main Street Association. Lolly is a past president of the Mississippi Heritage Trust Board of Trustees.

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JANUARY 19, 1991

FEBRUARY 17, 1992

AUGUST 30, 1996

APRIL 1998

OCTOBER 27, 2001

The ﬁrst planning committee consisted of Chair, Sam Kaye; Vice Chair, Al Hollingsworth; Secretary, Nancy Bell; and Treasurer, Fred Briuer. At large members were Rufus Ward, Pamela Pendergrass, and Ron Miller. John Hildreth was the National Trust for Historic Preservation liaison.

The Inaugural Membership Meeting was held at the Mississippi University for Women (pictured above) during the Mississippi Downtown Development Association (now Mississippi Main Street) Annual Conference.

MHT’s Nonproﬁt 501(c)3 status was confirmed by the Internal Revenue Service.

MHT became a Statewide Partner of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

The first Fall Insider’s Tour was hosted at Fountainhead in Jackson, home of Robert Parker Adams.

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MARCH 1997

Stella Gray Bryant Sykes was hired as Executive Director.

NOVEMBER 19, 1998

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The first 10 Most Endangered Historic Places were unveiled. Erica Speed, current Special Projects Coordinator, was the first 10 Most chairwoman.

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES nominated by MHT and

The Annual

successfully listed include: • Belhaven Historic District (Jackson) • Raymond Historic District • Ripley Historic District • Cleveland Founders Historic District • Como Commercial Historic District • Highland Circle Historic District (Tupelo) • Broad Street-Church Street Historic District (Columbia) • Columbia North Residential Historic District • Eupora Historic District • Baldwyn Historic District • Forest Downtown Historic District • Gulfport Harbor Square Commercial Historic District 2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

The MISSISSIPPI HERITAGE AWARDS have recognized over 200 preservation success stories of Mississippians who have done their part to protect the irreplaceable. See page 36 for 2016 recipients.

PRESERVATION CONFERENCE has

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showcased some of Mississippi’s many preservation-minded places: • • • • • • • • • •

2007

Natchez Church Hill Columbus West Point Biloxi Ocean Springs Pass Christian Bay St. Louis Pascagoula Carrollton 2008

• Greenwood

MHT’s work with HISTORIC

• Mound Bayou

DISTRICT DESIGN GUIDELINES

• Clarksdale

has helped local preservation commissions make informed decisions in: • Philadelphia • Ripley • Columbia • Cleveland • McComb

• Meridian • Cleveland • Hattiesburg • Tupelo • Water Valley • Jackson

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2003

2006

2010

2011

2014

David Preziosi was hired as Executive Director.

MHT successfully advocated in the Mississippi Legislature for the State Historic Tax Credit to fund the rehabilitation of historic properties.

MHT nominated the Threefoot Building in Meridian for the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s 11 Most Endangered Places list.

MHT successfully advocated in the Mississippi Legislature for renewal of the State Historic Tax Credit.

MS MOD | Meridian kicked-off MHT’s first modernist program.

2005

Lolly Rash was hired as Executive Director. | t h e Jo u r na l o f t h e M i s s i s s i p p i H e r i tag e Tru s t Fa l l 2 0 1 5 Vo l u m e 1 | Number 1

MHT worked with local, state and national partners to help the Gulf Coast recover from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina through efforts such as the Pilot Stabilization Program and the Good Neighbor House Painting Program.

MHT nominated the King Edward Hotel for a National Trust for Historic Preservation Honor Award.

APRIL 2015

2013

MHT developed Save My Place, an educational outreach program to tell the stories of restoration and renewal after Hurricane Katrina.

2015

The Mississippi Legislature authorized funding for the Historic Preservation Toolkit. e l e va t i o n

MHT saved the Lowry House from demolition, beginning the $750,000 restoration project of the 10 Most Endangered site.

2014

OCTOBER 2015

The 10th 10 Most Endangered Historic Places in Mississippi celebrated as the first Lowry House event. The first edition of Elevation, the Journal of the Mississippi Heritage Trust was distributed to guests. t h e Jo u r na l o f t h e M i s s i s s i p p i H e r i tag e Tru s t

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2015

NOVEMBER 2015

The MS AIA presented MHT with the 2015 Friend of Architecture Award. E L E VA T I O N

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Reflect JANUARY

FEBRUARY

ON 2016 ACCOMPLISHMENTS MARCH

FEBRUARY The Winter edition of Elevation, was published, detailing the impact of the State Historic Tax Credit program. e l e va t i o n | t h e Jo u r na l o f t h e M i s s i s s i p p i H e r i tag e Tru s t Number 1

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JANUARY 19-21 MHT exhibited at Mississippi Main Streetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Back Stage Pass Conference in Meridian.

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JANUARY MHT led advocacy efforts in the Mississippi Legislature for the State Historic Tax Credit to be reauthorized after a year of uncertainty upset development projects across the state. Pictured above is Bill Boykin at a press conference for his tax credit project, The Lofts, a downtown catalyst for economic renewal in Greenville.

APRIL

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APRIL The Mississippi Legislature reauthorized the State Historic Tax Credit, increasing the cap from $60 million to $120 million.

MAY

JUNE

HISTORIC PLACES HAVE A

APRIL 1-2 The MS MOD | Delta bus tour sold out and included a reception at the home of Francine and Bill Luckett. Morgan Freeman was our surprise guest! APRIL 23 MHT headed to Mound Bayou to host the pilot Toolkit Preservation Summit at the Isaiah T. Montgomery House.

delightful JUNE 1-3 The ListenUp! Historic Preservation Conference and Heritage Awards were held in Water Valley, recognizing 31 sites for preservation excellence. See page 34 for details. JUNE 15-16 MHT attended the Mississippi Main Street Economic Vitality Training and Annual Awards in Jackson.

JULY

AUGUST

JULY MHT launched, Whole Places, a preservation curriculum and outreach program to educate students about shared values of historic preservation and environmental conservation.

SEPTEMBER 25-28 MHT visited Capitol Hill and met with all legislative offices (including Senators Cochran and Wicker; Congressmen Harper and Kelly and assistants for Palazzo and Thompson) to advocate for the Federal Historic Tax Credit Improvement Act. Five Mississippi legislators agreed to co-sponsor the bill.

JULY 28-31 MHT traveled to New Orleans to exhibit at the MS AIA Conference and build a coalition for support of the Federal Historic Tax Credit and the Tax Credit Improvement Act.

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER MHT Trustee Rico Chapman was inducted into the National Trust for Historic Preservation Advisory Council. OCTOBER 5 MHT Director of Programs, Amber Lombardo, was accepted into the inaugural class of ARCUS Fellows, a Preservation50 leadership iniative by the National Trust.

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

NOVEMBER 16-18 PastForward, the conference of the National Trust, was attended by MHT representatives Rico Chapman, Robert Saarnio and Amber Lombardo. NOVEMBER 17 MHT was featured on Mississippi Roads, a production of Mississippi Public Broadcasting. Pictured above. NOVEMBER 19 Guests enjoyed the Delta Drive-In, an evening at the Burrus House in Benoit, the location for the 1956 Tennessee Williams film, Baby Doll. See page 48.

DECEMBER

DECEMBER MHT completed the eleven-year, $750,000, restoration of the Lowry House, now the home of MHT and Jacksonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s newest event venue. Pictured above. See page 20 for details. DECEMBER 9 MHT hosted Libations at the Lowry, its annual holiday reception.

OCTOBER 13 Executive Director, Lolly Rash, was presented with the 2016 Presidential Citation Award from the Mississippi Chapter of the American Institute of Architects. See page 4. E L E VA T I O N

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Appeal

Please consider a donation

to support these important preservation initiatives. Our Funding Goal

for 2017 is $500,000 Elevation Lowry House Advocacy 10 Most MS MOD State/Federal Tax Credits Education Youth Whole Places What Makes Us MS Adult Listen Up! What Makes Us MS Publication Toolkit Workshops Toolkit Services

$ 40,000 $ 40,000 $ 50,000 $ 25,000 $ 25,000

$ 10,000 $ 10,000 $ 25,000 $ 50,000 $ 100,000 $ 125,000

Pictured are a few projects on our radar for 2017. 1] The Threefoot Building, a tax credit project, is being renovated as the much-anticipated Courtyard by Marriott Hotel - Threefoot for downtown Meridian. It was listed on the 2010 11 Most Endangered List by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the 2009 MHT 10 Most Endangered List. 2] Centennial Plaza in Gulfport will quality for $24 million in Federal Historic Tax Credits.

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FOR 2017 FUNDING

JANUARY

FEBRUARY 17

Launch What Makes Us Mississippi: Historic Places Saved, Lost and Endangered, an outreach program to demonstrate how the 200-year history of our state can be told through its historic places. (Currently funded in part through a grant from the Mississippi Humanities Council and Visit Mississippi.)

Celebrate 25 Years with a reception at the Mississippi University for Women, the location of the original foundersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; meeting.

JANUARY

APRIL

FEBRUARY

JANUARY - Deliver the Historic Preservation Toolkit to the Mississippi Legislature. (Funded in 2015 by the State of Mississippi.) Launch Historic Preservation Toolkit educational sessions and congressional site visits to key historic tax credit projects. The goal is to host 12 over the course of 2 years. Towns are encouraged to pledge the $2,000 required to bring the program to your town. (Details are on page 22.)

MARCH

MAY

JANUARY

Advocate in the Mississippi Legislature for policy that would allow MHT to be a tax credit clearinghouse, relieving developers of federal taxation on state historic tax credit dollars.

Produce Elevation, Winter edition.

MARCH Advocate for the Federal Historic Tax Credit at National Historic Preservation Advocacy Week in Washington, D.C.

JUNE 8-9 Educate the public about preservation at ListenUp! Historic Preservation Conference and Annual Membership Meeting in Cleveland.

HISTORIC PLACES HAVE A

delightful JUNE

JULY

MARCH 23-25 Host a tour of Jackson’s most notable examples of modernist architecture during MS MOD | Jackson.

APRIL

AUGUST

OCTOBER 19

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SEPTEMBER

Unveil the 10 Most Endangered Historic Places in Mississippi.

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

APRIL

JULY

OCTOBER

Produce Elevation, Spring.

Attend the MS AIA Conference to strengthen relationships with professionals in the preservation industry.

Produce Elevation, Fall.

MAY Attend the National Main Street NOW Conference to present the Preservation Toolkit, “Teach Your Town to Fish: Demystifying the Real Estate Development Process.”

Landscape the Lowry House.

JULY Produce Elevation, Summer.

DECEMBER 9 Celebrate MHT’s 25th Anniversary and the Mississippi Bicentennial Celebration at the Lowry House in Jackson.

3] McRae’s Meadowbrook, a project of Duvall Decker Architects, will qualify for $4.5 million in Federal Historic Tax Credits and will house the Venyu Solutions Tier III Data Center. 4] Chandler Griffin with Blue Magnolia films Jessica Crawford and Alan Huffman at Prospect Hill in Lorman.

E L E VA T I O N

P illars 2016

Contribute Time to renew.

Membership in MHT is annual beginning in January of each year. Please use the form below to renew or enroll. Thank you for your support. _______________________________ Name _______________________________ Name as it should appear in materials

OF SUPPORT

CORINTHIAN

DORIC

State of MiSSiSSippi MiSSiSSippi DepartMent of archiveS anD hiStory MiSSiSSippi Gulf coaSt national heritaGe area national park Service national park Servicelower MiSSiSSippi Delta initiative

Lolly Rash Jennifer and Darrell Baughn The Peoples Heritage Foundation Ethel Truly Yalobusha Brewing Company

_______________________________ Address _______________________________ City, State, Zip _______________________________ Home Phone _______________________________ Work Phone _______________________________ E-mail Method of Payment: Personal check # ________ enclosed (payable to MS Heritage Trust)

IONIC

aMerican inStitute of architectS, MiSSiSSippi chapter BaptiSt health SySteMS MiSSiSSippi artS coMMiSSion MiSSiSSippi Delta national heritaGe area MiSSiSSippi huManitieS council MiSSiSSippi Main Street aSSociation national truSt for hiStoric preServation

# ______________________________ Sec. Code ________ Exp __________ _______________________________ Signature Amount $ _______________________ _______________________________ Allocate donation to: Mail form and payment to: Mississippi Heritage Trust P.O. Box 577 Jackson, MS 39205 Join online at mississippiheritage.com or by calling 601-354-0200. All gifts are tax deductible and will be applied toward membership. E L E VA T I O N

BENEFACTOR Mimi and Charles Clark Martha Duvall Mr. and Mrs. William R. James Michelle and Briar Jones John A. Palmer Amy and Bart Shepherd-Allmand

2016 SUSTAINING MEMBERS

VISA/MC/Amex

TUSCAN Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Mississippi Catholic Diocese of Jackson-Saint Mary and Saint Therese Susan Higgs and Chad Miller Planters Bank Portico Jackson Peggy and Ken P’Pool SouthGroup Insurance Services James Rounsavall

Robert Parker Adams Rebecca Beard Donald A. Best Carol and Joseph Boggess Jane and Ray Britt Sam O. Brookes Cleveland Heritage Commission Janet Coursin Margaret and Brett Cupples Gale P. Cushman Marion and John Dean Mary Davidson Dunnell Chip Estes The T.H. Etheridge Trust Mary Sanders Ferriss Cinnamon Foster Barbara Frailey

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Susie Friou Gulfport Main Street Association Barbaree Heaster Historic Natchez Foundation Mr. and Mrs. G. Stevens Hollister William P. Howard Amber and Santi Lombardo Bill Luckett Anne W.S. MacNeil The Magnolia Lunch Club Larry May Lanier H. McCullough Mary Eliza and Howard McMillian Bob Montgomery Macon and Andy O’Bryan

Samuel B. Olden Don Potts Dominique and Brian Pugh Louis D. Rash Regions Bank Dickie Roberts and Sam Tucker Beverly Ray Toney Roberts William “Brother” Rogers Betsy and Otis Rowell Philip Schaeffer Lynn Shurden Bessie and Leland Speed Erica and Stewart Speed Judy and Sandy Steckler Ward Sumner Senith and Ancel Tipton Jan and Andrew Townes

Vise Architecture, PLLC WFT Architects Carla and Randall Wall Eva A. Read-Warden and Robert B. Warden Mark Watson Growth Alliance, West Point Main Street Association Rebecca and Mark Wiggs Wilma and Bob Wilbanks The Honorable and Mrs. William F. Winter Martha Kate and Billy Wiseman James Withey Rose Wittersheim Beck Jolly Wood

2016 CONTRIBUTOR MEMBERS Ann and Dale Abadie Melanie Allen Elizabeth and Warwick Alley Associated General Contractors of Mississippi Jerry Bangham Katrina Black Shawn and David Brevard James Bridgforth Leslie D. Bruning Byhalia Area Arts Council Byhalia Area Chamber of Commerce

Town of Byhalia C R Properties, LLC Jessica Crawford Cynthia Easterling Carolyn B. Gilchrist Heritage Guild of Vicksburg-Warren County Michael G. Herrin Claire and Elbert Hilliard Andee Hinton Institute of Southern Jewish Life Judy and Don Lacy

Land Trust for the Mississippi Coastal Plain Honey and Larry May Marion J. McCraw Deirdre McGowan Jan Miller Camille and Bill Morris Stacy Pair Mr. and Mrs. William E. Parrish Andrea Pessoney David Preziosi Anita and Charles Price

BOARD OF TRUSTEES Joy Saucier Susan A. Shands-Jones Kathryn Shanks Emily Taff Wanda and Mike Thorne Bruce B. Tolar Janet M. Webb Sara J. Weisenberger Richard Werne Jay Wiener Yelverton Consulting, LLC

2016 FAMILY MEMBERS Annie Laurie and David Barrett Sally and Jeremy Birdsall Florence and Larry Box Trevor Brown Betsy and Al Chestnut Karan and Doug Christopher Isabel Clark Rachel and Christopher Cockern Victoria and Joshua Conway Jan W. Katz and James G. Derbes Robert J. Dowdle

Page and Tim Elliott Joy and James Foy Cathy Giroux Carole and Buford Givens Anna Lazarus and Miguel Gonzalez Sheila Grogan Justin Heskew John Hooks Ruby Hooks John Huber Stuart Hudnall Sarah and Thomas Huston Emily Huston Vicki and Price Johnson Jennifer and Wesley Keyser

Eli Lazarus Pam Lieb Terrence Mosley Julia and Steve Nguyen Lon and David O’Bryan R. Orfila Lisa and Linden Potts Gary Randall Elizabeth and Jonathan Ray Allen Regan Eric Reisman Vivian and David Roach Mrs. Jimmie Rogers Peg E. Rollans Lauren and Jim Rosenblatt

Betty and Philip Shaw Mary Sue Spencer Stephanie and Bill Stewart Darlene and Keith Stuart Mary Love and Mike Tagert Lauren Chapman Thompson Eileen and David Threefoot Sarah and John Tipton Rufus Ward Mary Margaret and Barry White Ann Willett Kym and Clay Williams

2016 INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS Kasey and Chuck Adams Alan Barksdale Chuck Barlow John H. Barnes Michael A. Berk, AIA James Homer Best Gretchen M. Butler Richard J. Cawthon

Claire Cothren Sandy Cox Emma Crisler James Drennan Laura and David Flint Liz Ford Wessie E. Gee Leon Griffith

Barbara Guy Julie Hall Stuart Hudnall Eugene Long John Mark Looney, Jr. James McGraw Kathy Moody John S. McIntyre

Eddie Ray Etta Hicks-Rester Virginia S. Salmon Penny Schooler Gail S. Tomlinson Jon C. Turner D. Tracy Ward, Architect Jeannie Zieren

Kirk Taylor by Joseph L. Morris

Eugene C. Tullos

Alon Bee • Jackson Michael Berk • Starkville Katie Blount • Jackson Sidney Bondurant • Grenada Carter Burns • Jackson Claire Cothren • Natchez Martha Duvall • Pascagoula Darryl Grennell • Natchez Leon Griffith • Bassfield John Hooks • Jackson Leah Kemp • Starkville Jan Miller • Columbus Kasey Adams • Jackson Benjy Nelken • Greenville Sarah Newton • Bassfield Andy O’Bryan • Water Valley Swayze Pentecost • Jackson Ken P’Pool • Jackson Christian Preus • Ocean Springs Brother Rogers • Starkville Janice Rogers • Tupelo Tom Rosenblatt • Woodville Robert Saarnio • Oxford Lynn Shurden • Cleveland Michael Stevens • Jackson Annette Fortman Vise • Jackson Barry White • Jackson Eustace Winn • Benoit

STAFF Lolly Rash Executive Director Amber Lombardo Director of Programs

2016 IN MEMORIUM Libby Hollingsworth

Doyce Deas, President • Tupelo Phyllis Doby, Vice-President• Madison Brian Pugh, Past President • Jackson Rico Chapman, Treasurer • Jackson Chris Myers, Secretary • Jackson

Wayne Wall by Joseph L. Morris

Erica Speed Special Projects Coordinator E L E VA T I O N

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W ishList

The primary construction is complete but we still need help to appropriately furnish the Lowry House. Please consider sponsoring an item from our Wish List or donating decor. A plaque in the house will acknowledge your contribution. BRICK PAVERS $50 each, $5000 total | 97 more needed Milton Grishman • Hodge Podge Club of Jackson • Benjy Nelken

PLANTINGS $100 each, $4000 total | 28 more needed Lolly Rash • Alon Bee • Leon Griffith Amber Lombardo • Hilda Povall • Christian Preus Landscape Architecture (5) • Dominique and Brian Pugh • Erica Speed

DOOR HARDWARE $100 each, $2000 total | 15 more needed Kasey Mitchell Adams • Claire and Elbert Hilliard • Jan Miller (2) • William “Brother” Rogers

FIREPLACE TILE $250 each, $1000 total | 2 more needed Trish and Michael Berk • Michelle and Briar Jones

CHANDELIERS $500 each, $5000 total Charles Clark in memory of Governor Charles Clark • Phyllis Doby • Martha Duvall (5) • Peggy and Ken P’Pool in memory of Libby Hollingsworth • Julia Terry in honor of Mary Eliza McMillan • Isla Tullos

BRICK WALKWAYS $1000 each, $5000 total | 3 more needed Doyce Deas • Mary Eliza and Howard McMillan

DRIVEWAY $3000 | Sponsor needed

FRONT STAIRS $5000 | Michelle and Web Heidelberg

HANDICAP RAMP $5000 | Sponsor needed

SIDE STAIRS $5000 | Sponsor needed

FURNISHINGS Patience Rall • Mary Virginia Youngblood • Bettye and Dick Mason • Joe Morris

E L E VA T I O N

the

L O W R Y

H O U S E

1031 NORTH CONGRESS STREET

JACKSON

ELEVEN YEARS AND $750,000 MHT proudly announces that we have completed the eleven-year, $750,000, restoration of the Lowry House, now MHT headquarters and Jackson’s newest event venue. This milestone is due to the countless volunteers, sponsors, contributors, craftsmen and grants that helped along the way. We frequently advise property owners around the state that restoration can be a very long journey with unexpected twists and turns along the way. Seeing this project through to completion has been a valuable exercise to enable us to truly understand the perspective of the preservationists we help. (Pictured are Lolly Rash, Erica Speed and Roman Ingram discussing the plaster work to be performed.) The Lowry House, designated as a Mississippi Landmark in 2005, is a hiproofed galleried cottage. This house was originally located at 426 Fortification Street, but was moved in the 1910s when North Congress Street was extended north beyond Fortification Street.

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It was the residence of Governor Robert Lowry, who served as governor from 1882 to 1890, after his term in office. The house was also owned by the Hull family, who were responsible for the additions and alterations that occurred in the late 1920s to 1930s. The home and lot it now sits on were donated to the Mississippi Heritage Trust by Baptist Hospital in 2006 after the house was named one of the 10 Most Endangered Historic Places in Mississippi in 2005. With strong support from the State of Mississippi and the Department of Archives and History, MHT raised the money to move and restore the house. The Lowry House is now Jackson’s premiere event rental facility for weddings, receptions, meetings and community events. Rental fees are $1,500 (Friday - Saturday, 9am-12am), $850 (Sunday - Thursday, 5pm12am) and $350 (Sunday - Thursday, 9am5pm). If you are interested in booking an event, visit lowryhousejackson.com or contact Erica Speed, Special Projects Coordinator, events@lowryhousejackson.com or (601) 354-0200.

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Elevation, the Journal of the Missisisppi Heritage Trust is a quarterly publication delivered to a statewide audience including: • Elected Officials (local, state & federal) • Real-Estate Developers, Contractors, Property Owners • Non-profits, Utilities • Business Owners, Community Leaders and more!

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E L E VA T I O N

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Roadtrip

TOOLKIT DOWNTOWN NEEDS WORK.

The Mississippi Heritage Trust (MHT) is building a Historic Preservation Toolkit to help. Take a little roadtrip with me to explore why this is so vitally important to preservation and how we’re gathering all the right resources. Lets start with a drive north from our headquarters in Jackson.

AMBER LOMBARDO

is the Director of Programs at Mississippi Heritage Trust. Amber earned a B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies in Architecture, Civil Engineering and Marketing from Mississippi State University. She owned four downtown businesses (an ad agency, art gallery, print shop and magazine) until recently selling them after 17 years to focus on preservation work. Pictured above is Kevin Moore, Senior Vice President at Raymond James (Grenada and Oxford) speaking at the newly formed Grenada Downtown Innovation District’s Downtown 2.0 initiative.

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112 miles to GRENADA The National Park Service released its 2015 Annual Report on the Economic Impact of the Federal Historic Tax Credit produced by the Rutgers Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy. It cited two case studies in the entire country - Durham, North Caroline, and Grenada, Mississippi, specifically Deborah Midanek Bailey’s project, the First and Green building (pictured above, historically known as Doaks Hardware). It lists a total project cost of $2 million with $400,000 (20%) in Federal Historic Tax Credit (HTC) Equity and $500,000 (25%) in State HTC Equity. Yes, that’s $900,000 of her rehabilitation expenses returned to her through tax credits. Now she has a notion to use those resources to purchase an entire block of the city and keep that preservation steam engine rolling. She needs federal and state Historic Tax Credits and federal

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and state New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC) - all four - to get the bank to bite.

33 miles further to WATER VALLEY During MHT’s 2016 ListenUp! Historic Preservation Conference and Heritage Awards (flip over to page 34), preservation practitioners gathered to share their hard-earned wisdom in Andy O’Bryan’s Yalobusha Brewing Co. building (a tax credit project, formerly Hendrix Machine Shop). Financial models from four tax credit projects were dissected and reimagined for other similar projects in Mississippi towns. In the next few months, we hope to persuade one of Mississippi’s U.S. representatives to meet us at Bozart’s Gallery for a workshop hosted by Mickey Howley, the Main Street Director and owner of 3 historic buildings, two of which are tax credit projects. John Beaty, masonry expert, will teach Girl and Boy Scouts how to repoint mortar joints in brick walls. He plans to generate enough confidence in them and their parents that they’ll go back home and tackle their own towns’ crumbling walls. We plan to generate enough enthusiasm that our representative will go back to Congress equipped to defend the tax credits on which preservation projects in our state rely.

Photos courtesy of Grenada Downtown District • LaBrioche • LOR Foundation • Michael Allen Photography • MHT / Amber Lombardo

Continue 115 miles to GREENVILLE One of those practitioners mentioned above is Bill Boykin (pictured page 14). Greenville’s economic struggle has been brewing for generations. In the Spring of 2017, Boykin’s $9.1 million redevelopment of the Sears Roebuck and Company Store will bring new life to downtown as The Lofts at 517 (a luxury apartment and boutique hotel property), The Downtown Grille, entrepreneurial co-working space, retail spaces and the Mighty Miss Brewing Company. Nine other properties on Washington Avenue have recently sold, proving that progress is what’s brewing now. (By the way, Bill’s project depends on state and federal HTCs as well as state and federal NMTCs.) 62 miles later, MOUND BAYOU Let’s take the famous Highway 1 for kicks. We’ve been hanging out in the Delta quite a bit lately. They’re just so hospitable and the food, well... I digress. MHT sold out a bus tour of the Delta’s modernist architecture during its MS MOD | Delta program. One of those stops was in Mound Bayou, founded in 1887 by Isaiah T. Montgomery as an independent black community for former slaves. His home was the location of our first Toolkit Preservation Summit to explore redevelopment options that use HTCs and NMTCs and is discussed on page 28. 313 miles more, NEW ORLEANS, LA You see, Mississippi went without its State HTC in 2015 and it created a tidal wave of concern among developers who rely on it to close financial gaps. MHT stepped up, declaring the tax credit it’s 100th Most Endangered Historic Place, publishing an extensive article in Elevation about its impact, speaking with news outlets, gathering support signatures, encouraging letter-writing to lawmakers and more. It was reauthorized during the next legislative session. We took a deep breath and shared toasts. Then we heard from the National Trust: the Federal Historic Tax Credit is now at risk of elimination during proposed sweeping tax reform. They asked us to advocate for the Historic Tax Credit

Improvement Act as a means to educate legislators about HTC and NMTC use in our state. Think about that for a minute: Deborah’s block in Grenada, Mickey’s two buildings in Water Valley, Bill’s game-changing downtown residential project and Mound Bayou’s civil rights jewel - would all lack the financing on which they’ve counted to pursue restoration. And they represent just a small handful of projects throughout Mississippi. To build support on this crucial preservation issue, our next stop was New Orleans, where we walked the halls of the historic Roosevelt Hotel with brochures during the Mississippi Chapter of the American Institute of Architects’ annual conference. Our hip booth is pictured below - Erica did a fabulous job with our MOD appeal. We made some great allies over Tony Bennett and aperitifs. 1,094 miles to WASHINGTON, D.C. This next leg is a little long but trust me, roadside pizza and BBQ made it worth it. Mickey Howley, the Water Valley Main Street director, had spoken at the White House Convening on Rural Placemaking (pictured right) and became acquaintances with contacts at the National Trust. He was invited to come back to Capitol Hill to advocate for the HTCs but was unable to make the trip so Lolly and I drove (yes, drove) to Washington, D.C., with those brochures. Mike Phillips, Public Policy Manager with the National Trust Community Investment Corporation (pictured next page), was our guide for the day and helped us deliver the message personally via an endless maze of tunnels beneath Capitol Hill to every Mississippi Member of Congress. Our friends at the Trust (pictured at right with me is Renee Kuhlman, Director of Policy Outreach, Government Relations & Policy) teased us because we insisted on bringing baked goods. Macaroons (pictured) from LaBrioche in Fondren (a historic neighborhood in Jackson) prompted warm receptions and familiar stories connecting the Members to home. The National Trust later asked that we tell that E L E VA T I O N

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story to other statewide preservation organizations during a nationwide webinar. Who knew everyone didn’t bring pastries? It only seemed right. Evidently it was also effective since five of our representatives have agreed to cosponsor the bill. We’ll be back in March with a group of Girl and Boy Scouts for Preservation Advocacy Week with Preservation Action and the National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers. This time we will add Tennessee to our list of targeted representatives since our programmatic friend, Girl Scouts Heart of the South, also covers West Tennessee. Our new weapons of choice will be Thin Mints.

Add 1,408 miles to HOUSTON, TX A trip to PastForward, the Trust’s annual national conference in Houston, gave us the chance to become a part of several HTC coalitions forming all over the country and put us in touch with other states who have developed tax credit clearinghouse programs to help fund statewide organizations like MHT. We’re actively networking in ARCUS, a Preservation 50 leadership fellows program and are involved in the Partners Network of statewide preservation organizations. We’ve met with directors from neighboring states to work together to educate lawmakers so that our impact spanning more states will have greater impact in a national congressional arena.

Special thanks to Mark Castleberry for supporting our accommodations.

U.S. SENATOR

U.S. CONGRESSMAN • 1ST DISTRICT

And 441 miles back to JACKSON Back at home, we work to distill all of this knowledge into the Historic Preservation Toolkit, due in January 2017. Funded in 2015 by the Mississippi Legislature, the toolkit is a guide for navigating the language of incentives for historic preservation. It contains best practices and a list of resources. It has a concise decision tree to help property owners determine if a rehab project is feasible and, if so, which financing tools would be appropriate to pursue. It contains case studies of other developers who have been through this process, along

THAD COCHRAN

ROGER WICKER

TRENT KELLY

Senator since January 1979 Congressman (4th District) 1973-1978 Senator Cochran serves on the senate subcommittee that funds the National Park Service and is a steadfast supporter of historic preservation. We applaud his leadership on the Hurricane Katrina Relief Grant Program, the Preserving Civil Rights Heritage Act of 2016 and the Medgar Evers House Study Act.

Senator since December 2007 Congressman (1st District) 1995-2007 Senator Wicker has a history of sponsoring bills that favor Social Welfare, Public Lands and Natural Resources, and Health. We applaud his sponsoring S.Res. 519 Recognizing the 300th Anniversary and Historic Significance of Natchez. On November 16, 2016, he co-sponsored the Historic Tax Credit Improvement Act.

Congressman since June 2015 Kelly serves on the House Committee on Small Business and the Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Tax and Capital Access. We applaud his sponsoring H.R. 4332, Maximizing Small Business Competition Act of 2016. On December 9, 2016, he agreed to co-sponsor the Historic Tax Credit Improvement Act.

www.cochran.senate.gov | 202-224-5054 113 Dirksen | Washington, D.C. 20510 190 E. Capitol St, Ste. 550 | Jackson, MS 39201

www.wicker.senate.gov | 202-224-6253 555 Dirksen | Washington, D.C. 20510 501 E. Court St., Ste. 3-500 | Jackson, MS 39201

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www.trentkelly.house.gov | 202-225-4306 1721 Longworth HOB | Washington, D.C. 20515 318 N 7th St., Ste. D | Columbus, MS 39701 431 W. Main St. | Tupelo, MS 38804

with wisdom they gained the hard way. It teaches readers how to use their voice in government and how to rally their community to convince lawmakers to defend these resources. If we raise the funding, we plan to visit 12 towns over the next two years to “teach those towns to fish” by demystifying the preservation development process.

GAS UP!

Soon, 974 miles to PITTSBURGH, PA The Historic Preservation Toolkit concept has earned us a coveted spot as presenters at the 2017 National Main Street Now Conference in May 2017, where we will have the opportunity to teach other states about our strategies and likewise learn about theirs.

Hopefully, by now you understand that this roadtrip was our way to coerce you. Using our voices was empowering and knowing that they were heard has motivated us to encourage others to speak up. Now it’s your turn. Learn quickly. The Historic Tax Credit and New Markets Tax Credit programs could be repealed as part of proposed sweeping tax reform legislation, targeted for the first 100 days of the next Congress beginning in January. The loss of these programs will halt countless construction projects in Mississippi. Using your voice is a means of encouraging legislators. Many people

are reluctant, feeling that expressing their concerns may be perceived as confrontational. On the contrary - these gentlemen want to hear from us in order to know about the issues that most concern their 2 constituents. Begin by locating your district on the 3 map at right and then refer to the photographs below for contact details.

U.S. CONGRESSMAN • 2ND DISTRICT

U.S. CONGRESSMAN • 3RD DISTRICT

U.S. CONGRESSMAN • 4TH DISTRICT

BENNIE THOMPSON

GREGG HARPER

STEVEN PALAZZO

Congressman since April 1993 Prior to our visit, Congressman Thompson was the only Mississippi delegate who had co-sponsored the Historic Tax Credit Improvement Act. He signed on June 15, 2016 and actively encouraged other members to consider it. Pictured is former Legislative Assistant, Trey Baker, recently welcomed home as the City Manager for Grenada.

Congressman since January 2009 Harper serves on the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade. We applaud his sponsoring H.R. 194 Medgar Wiley Evers Congressional Gold Medal Act. On September 27, 2016, the day of our meeting, Congressman Harper co-sponsored the Historic Tax Credit Improvement Act.

Congressman since January 2011 Palazzo serves on the House Committee on Appropriations. On November 29, 2016, Congressman Palazzo cosponsored the Historic Tax Credit Improvement Act. Pictured is Legislative Director, Patrick Large. His father is a real estate developer who specializes in tax credit projects.

benniethompson.house.gov | 202-225-5876 2466 Rayburn HOB | Washington, D.C. 20515 107 W. Madison St. | Bolton, MS 39041

www.harper.house.gov | 202-225-5031 307 Cannon HOB | Washington, D.C. 20515 1901 Front St., Ste. A | Meridian, MS 39301

www.palazzo.house.gov | 202-225-5772 2349 Rayburn HOB | Washington, D.C. 20515 970 Tommy Munro Dr., Ste D. | Biloxi, MS 39532 641 Main St., Ste 142 | Hattiesburg, MS 39401

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Visit novoco.com/historic-mapping-tool for an interactive map of completed HTC projects in Mississippi. Of the ways to contact them, consider this:

economy and the creation of jobs. These are the prevailing goals of Members of Congress and how they are held statistically accountable for their effectiveness. Sign your name with your hometown and position. Don’t discount your stature in the community. They hear from powerful industry executives and lobbyists every day. It’s the downtown small business or property owner that gets their attention.

Email: It is the easiest and fastest method, however the least effective. Representatives and their staff receive thousands of emails just like you and me. If yours is noticed, it will likely be efficiently filed without much consideration or discussion.

•

Write a Letter: Handwritten letters are especially rare and precious. They evoke a sense of honest connection, represent the writer’s personal engagement and transform a message into meaning. Officials are known for keeping them as sweet reminders of why they endure the daily trials of their careers. If you are that letter, then you will likely become their resource when your topic next arises.

The key is to address the original letter to a local office and send a copy to the Washington, D.C. office. This will prompt the local staff member to mention it to the D.C. staff member, giving it a greater likelihood of being placed in the representative’s physical folder of items for review. If you craft it to be kind and encouraging, the pleasure of reading it will provide that member with a welcome reminder of home. This approach will reassure him that you are a positive supporter and that your influence will help, not hurt, his standing and reputation.

Follow these guidelines for writing: • First, express gratitude. Mention his many years of office, a special bill he sponsored or a simple acknowledgement about the challenges of public service. • Next, state concisely why you are writing: “I am writing to ask that you work to protect the Federal Historic Tax Credit and New Markets Tax Credit programs as a part of the coming tax reform.“ • Personalize the message. Talk about a building in your town that either needs to be saved or has been and how it enhances your community. • Mention the impact to the state’s 26

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Call: For some, calling is angst-inducing but it doesn’t have to be with a few simple guidelines. • Ask for the legislative or tax policy assistant. • Simply state: “I am calling to ask that Senator/Congressman _____ support the Federal Historic Tax Credit and the Federal New Markets Tax Credit in the proposed tax reform legislation.” • The staff member may ask for your hometown and why it is important to you. State that “it preserves

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•

our heritage, stimulates real estate investment and creates jobs.” Feel free to elaborate but keep your comments concise and on topic in order to demonstrate your respect for his/her time. Relax and engage in small talk if they lead in that direction. Emphasize your appreciation for their attention and wish them a good day.

Visit: If able, visit your representative in their field or D.C. offices. I trust that you, like us, will experience a friendly and professional staff that is happy to see you and to hear your perspective. Review their websites for guidance about visiting and a list of office locations.

ENJOY THE JOURNEY Friends, a final note about politics. Realize that having a differing view on one issue should not discourage you from contacting a representative about another. If, as preservationists, we maintain a reputation for dignified and engaging advocacy, then our message has a much greater chance of being heard. Your journey and theirs will be far more fruitful with a healthy dose of civility and a baked good or two.

TEACH As you learn what is effective, share your story (letters, emails, pictures, etc.) with us (amber@mississippiheritage.com). We will print a list of friends who helped and just might choose to include your journey in an upcoming issue of Elevation. Now, hit the road. There is much work to do. Vroom vroom.

My grandparents married in Clifty, Tennessee a town gone but not forgotten.

Restoration Preserves More Than Just Buildings Keeping family history alive is why we specialize in tax credit projects.

4841 Main Street | Flora, Mississippi 39071 601.316.1560 | annette@VISEarchitecture.com

4841 Main Street Post Office Box 813 Flora, Mississippi 39071

ANNETTE FORTMAN VISE

DEVELOPERS Transform the Historic Carnation Milk Plant A National Register Property in Downtown Tupelo Perfect for Apartments, Restaurants and Boutiques Circa 1928 • 19,100 sf • 3.51 acres

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601.316.1560 annette @VISEarchitecture.com VISEarchitecture.com

Contact Shane Hooper Development Services, City of Tupelo 662-841-6510 • shane.hooper@tupeloms.gov

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PRESERVATION HAVEN. REFUGE. SANCTUARY. OASIS.

“You see this is a pretty wild place. But this whole country was like this once. You have seen it change. You and your fathers have, for the most part, performed the work that has made it what it is. You and your fathers did this for someone else. Can’t you do as much now for yourselves?” - Isaiah T. Montgomery

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These are just a few of the words that were used to describe Mound Bayou, a community in Bolivar County between Clarksdale and Cleveland. In 1887, when it was founded by Isaiah Tecumseh Montgomery, it was merely a 840-acre wilderness with a large prehistoric Indian mound at the confluence of two bayous. Montgomery and Benjamin Green, his cousin and business partner, lived as frontiersmen, setting about the work of clearing timber, draining bayous, and building up the land. Even though Montgomery was born into slavery, he grew up in an atmosphere that encouraged slaves to acquire an education. His family managed the Davis Bend plantation which was owned by Joseph Davis, Jefferson Davis’ brother, and purchased it after the Civil War. The Montgomery family developed the plantation into the third largest producer of cotton in the South, which was the ideal preparation for the founding of the utopian town of Mound Bayou. In post-Civil War Mississippi, the black community faced hostile and segregated lifestyles. But Mound Bayou flourished, a welcome respite from the typical trades of

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Haven

sharecropping and housekeeping. No racial codes existed in Mound Bayou. Its citizens voted without consequence, elected their own leadership, founded their own banks and built their own cotton trade.

“In a certain sense, it may be said that the Mound Bayou town and colony have been a school in self-government for its colonists. They have had an opportunity there, such as Negro people have rarely had elsewhere, to learn the real meaning of political institutions and to prepare themselves for the duties and responsibilities of citizenship.” - Booker T. Washington, 1907 During the 1950s and 1960s, while other parts of the Delta were fraught with danger for African Americans, Mound Bayou provided a sanctuary for civil rights workers from the Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee and for Mamie Till, mother of Emmett Till, when she traveled back from Chicago to testify in the trial over her son’s murder. They, like so many others, knew that if they made it to Mound Bayou, they would be safe from the hostile white establishment that policed the state.

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Photos courtesy of Mississippi Department of Archives and History â&#x20AC;˘ MHT / Lolly Rash, Amber Lombardo

THE PEOPLE RALLY Thanks to the tireless efforts of its founder, Isaiah T. Montgomery, Mound Bayou has a remarkable story to tell. In recognition for his important contribution to American history, his 1919 home on West Main Avenue was designated a National Historic Landmark by the U.S. Department of the Interior. Since Montgomery’s death in 1924, the home has served as a private residence and a home for nurses and teachers at the nearby Taborian Hospital. Over the years, the home fell into disrepair and desperately needed a champion. The International Order of Twelve Knights and Daughters of Tabor is a fraternal organization dating back to 1846, founded in Missouri as a secret anti-slavery society. The Mound Bayou chapter, lauded for its initiatives in Mississippi, successfully completed the restoration of the Taborian Hospital, which was entirely funded and staffed by its black population when it was established in 1942. The Knights and Daughters of Tabor have now redirected their focus to the Isaiah T. Montgomery House, working diligently to determine a use for the property and raise the needed funds to push the project through to completion. The exterior was stabilized using grants from Save America’s Treasures, the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Mississippi State Legislature and the Mississippi African-American Heritage Preservation grant programs. In 2015, the Mississippi Legislature appropriated funding for the Mississippi Heritage Trust to develop the Historic Preservation Toolkit. A part of that program included funds to host a Preservation Summit. Mound Bayou’s Isaiah T. Montgomery House was chosen based on its historical significance to the state of Mississippi and the passion of its community to bring it back to a productive life. Additional funds were provided by the National Park Service Lower Mississippi River Delta Initiative. The Gulf Coast Community Design Studio, led by David Perkes, was hired to host 30

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Mississippi Heritage Tru Isaiah T to Join Us F

Public Open

to discuss plans for Isaiah Thornton Montgomery’s Hi

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Public Open House to discuss plans for

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the community input sessions, provide architectural guidance and prepare the final report. In preparation for the summit, students from Yale University gave up their Spring Break to remove debris from the house and secure hazardous areas so that participants could explore the building.

THE PEOPLE REVEL

WHEN? Saturday April 23, 2016 3:00 WHERE? First Baptist Church 301 North West Main Avenue, Mound Bayou

The story told on Saturday, April 23, 2016, was gentle and sweet, filled with joyful memories from the people who love their community. After touring the inside of the home, guests retreated to the First Baptist Church for a morning filled with memories of this special place, led by Myrna SmithThompson of the Knights and Daughters of Tabor. Mayor Darryl Johnson prompted hilarious laughter with stories about the local church ladies from his childhood. Countless others refused to give up the microphone, each having their own precious experience to share. The group then settled in for engaging presentations about preservation and funding challenges by visitors Wayne Timmer (WFT Architects), Mike Grote (Alembic Community Development) and N.Y. Nathiri (Association to Preserve the Eatonville Community) followed by breakout sessions for groups to brainstorm on financing, programming, design and heritage tourism ideas. To celebrate a productive and inspiring day, everyone reconvened on the grounds of the home for a picnic beautifully catered by Delta Meat Market.

THE PEOPLE ARE “PRESSING ON” Much work remains to be done. Preservation projects like this one require years of perseverance, the willingness to break the project into stages and a community devoted to a higher calling. The people of Mound Bayou clearly have an abundance of all three. E L E VA T I O N

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SpecialThanks

to the following individuals and organizations for their support of the Preservation Summit Alembic Community Development

John C. Stennis Center for Public Service

Association to Preserve the Eatonville Community

Kemetic Institute

Beard + Riser Architects

Mississippi Humanities Council

Carl Small Town Center

Mound Bayou Historic Preservation Commission

Center for the Study of Southern Culture

EXPLORE 20,000 sq. ft. of architectural salvage

Museum Concepts

City of Mound Bayou

Rachel Myers

Delta Center for Culture & Learning

James Rounsavall

Delta Design-Build Workshop

Lynn Shurden

Design Build Solutions

TALLstudio Architecture

First Baptist Church, Mound Bayou Historic Mound Bayou Foundation Hope Enterprise Corporation

USM Trent Lott National Center for Excellence in Economic Development and Entrepreneurship

Institute of Southern Jewish Life, Yale University

WFT Architects Eustace Winn

Participants Alembic Community Development - Michael Grote Beard + Riser Architects Dale Riser Carl Small Town Center John Poros Center for the Study of Southern Culture - Becca Walton City of Mound Bayou The Honorable Darryl Johnson Community Member Leighton Aldridge Tracey Prince Dolorisi Quinn Delta Center for Culture and Learning Rolando Herts Design Build Solutions Richard Elliott Emily Rousch-Elliott First Baptist Church Reverand Earl Hall

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Gulf Coast Community Design Studio - David Perkes Heidi Schattin Historic Mound Bayou Foundation - Eulah Peterson

Mississippi Heritage Trust Lolly Rash Martha Duvall Susan Higgs Amber Lombardo Erica Speed

Hope Enterprise Corporation Phil Eide

Mississippi Humanities Council Stuart Rockoff

James Velox & James David Hannans Ellsworth James Kendall Walker

Mound Bayou Historical Preservation Commission Hermon Johnson DeVoyce Morris

Kemetic Institute - Jackie Lucas

Museum Concepts Cissy Foote Anklam

Knights & Daughters of Tabor Sheila Bouie Cheryl Burnett Carmella Guy Walter Mays Preamiller McKinney Myrna Smith-Thompson Mississippi Department of Archives and History Ken P’Pool

Ofﬁce of the Governor Brian Pugh Preserve Eatonville Community Inc. N.Y. Nathiri Stennis Center for Public Service Brother Rogers Sundial Solar Power Developers, Inc. - Will Shirley WFT Architects - Wayne Timmer

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oldhousedepot.com • 601-592-6200 639 Monroe Street, Jackson, MS 39202

In 1994 Congress passed Public Law 103-433, entitled “Lower Mississippi Delta Initiatives” (LMDI). The Act established a comprehensive program to preserve the Delta region’s cultural and natural resources and to enhance heritage tourism. This year’s grant was awarded to the Mississippi Heritage Trust for the purpose of hosting a Preservation Summit at the Isaiah T. Montgomery House in Mound Bayou, Mississippi. This Preservation Summit serves as a model for the Trust to host additional Preservation Summits to support other non-profit organizations in their efforts to redevelop community landmarks. The grant also provided the research needed to complete an application to the National Park Service’s National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Program. This Program tells Underground Railroad stories of escape and flight, of Africans, from enslavement. Isaiah T. Montgomery escaped enslavement during the American Civil War. Anyone can nominate an Underground Railroad site to this Program. Applications are accepted every January 15 and July 15. For additional information, please visit www.nps.gov/ugrr

Live Healthy Live Blue

from the

msdeltaheritage.com

www.bcbsms.com 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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Stripes

EARNING OUR PRESERVATION LISTEN UP. On June 2-3, 2016, preservationists of every stripe gathered in Water Valley at the Yalobusha Brewing Co. (the restored Hendricks Machine Shop, a historic tax credit project, owned by MHT Trustee, Andy O’Bryan) for ListenUp! Mississippi, the annual Historic Preservation Conference. The primary goals of the conference were to learn about state and federal Historic Tax Credits, state and federal New Markets Tax Credits, grant programs, ﬁnancing options, how to evaluate the feasibility of a restoration effort, how to unify a community to support a public project, how to enroll elected ofﬁcials and gather lessons learned from experienced developers. The day began over breakfast from the 34

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B.T.C. Grocery with a welcome from Mayor Larry Hart and Water Valley Main Street Director, Mickey Howley. The group enjoyed Yalo, a documentary by Blue Magnolia Films before listening to presentations by Todd Morgan (Knox Heritage), and Keri Coumanis (City of Mobile). The group was then briefed on three projects as a part of the Historic Preservation Toolkit program: Davidson School in Water Valley (Mickey Howley, Water Valley Main Street Director), Carnation Dairy in Tupelo (Chris Chain, Renovations of MS, Inc., pictured above) and French Hotel in Senatobia (Buford Givens). The group divided into break-out sessions around town to discuss restoration strategies for each project with seasoned preservation professionals.

Later that afternoon, 31 winners were announced during the Heritage Awards Celebration honoring preservation victories across the state. The awards featured a hand-carved block print by artist, Lauren Stennis, the great-granddaughter of Senator John C. Stennis. Guest enjoyed Yalobusha Beer, music by Luke Fisher and the Wilburs and food by Between Friends. The next morning, the group boarded a bus for a trip to Oxford to learn from the innovative interpretive strategies of the Burns-Belfry Museum, Rowan Oak (William Faulkner’s home) and the L.Q.C. Lamar House. Robert Saarnio, Director of the University of Mississippi Museum, led the tour. The event wrapped up in Water Valley at the Crawdad Hole with MHT’s Annual Membership Meeting. Ever the gracious host, Water Valley gained a new property owner as a result of the conference. MHT Trustee and Butler Snow Attorney, Kasey Adams, purchased a home there shortly thereafter. The conference and awards ceremony was made possible through the generous contributions of the National Development Council, the State of Mississippi, the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, Lauren Stennis, Ink, Yalobusha Brewing Co., the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Water Valley Main Street Association and University of Mississippi Museum.

Photos by MHT / Amber Lombardo

Join the movement of CARD-CARRYIN’, T-SHIRT-WEARIN’ PRESERVATIONISTS with great t’s patterned after our 2016 Heritage Awards. Order yours today at http://bit.ly/2iIItOI.

The Mississippi Heritage Awards are presented to increase the public’s awareness of the valiant and successful efforts of Mississippians to preserve our architectural

heritage

2016 A W A R D W I N N E R S

HERITAGE AWARD FOR EDUCATION 1 Emmett Till Memory Project • Emmett Till Memorial Commission 2 Jackson • John Evans and Ken Murphy 3 Jackson County Historical Trail • Jackson County Historical and Genealogical Society 4 Mound Bayou Historical Trail • Historic Mound Bayou Foundation 5 Mississippi Mound Trail • Mississippi Department of Archives and History and partners HERITAGE AWARD FOR PRESERVATION 6 514 Cruise Street, Corinth • Cross City Properties, Briar Jones, Architect 7 711 North 6th Avenue, Laurel • Bill Holloway, Ben and Erin Napier 8 Amite County Courtroom • Amite County Board of Supervisors 9 Auburn Kitchen Dependency, Natchez • Auburn Historic Home 10 The Bay Bed and Breakfast, Hattiesburg • Joyce Hicks 11 Belmont Plantation, Lake Washington • Joshua Cain 12 Burns-Belfry Museum and Multicultural Center, Oxford • Oxford-Lafayette County Historical Foundation 13 Cathead Distillery, Jackson 14 Coalesce Building, Jackson • Shannon and Matthew McLaughlin 15 Cotesworth Culture and Heritage Center, Carrollton • Belinda Stewart Architects

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16 17

Falk House, Jackson • John Hooks First and Green, Grenada • Deborah Midanek Bailey 18 Gallery 106, Starkville • Tabor Construction and Development, Briar Jones, Architect 19 James Observatory, Jackson • Millsaps College, Robert Parker Adams Architects 20 The Mill at MSU, Starkville • Mississippi State University, Dale Partner Architects 21 North Mississippi Herald Building, Water Valley 22 Ogletree House, Hattiesburg • University of Southern Mississippi, Albert & Associates, Architects 23 Tallahatchie County Courthouse • Tallahatchie County Board of Supervisors, Belinda Stewart Architects 24 White House Hotel, Biloxi 25 Woodville Lofts • James G. Derbes and Jan W. Katz 26 Wyolah, Church Hill • Tate Taylor and John Norris HERITAGE AWARD FOR ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE 27 Bridge of Sighs, Natchez • City of Natchez

HERITAGE AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN STEWARDSHIP OF HISTORIC SITES 28 Cotesworth Culture and Heritage Center, Carrollton HERITAGE AWARD FOR INDIVIDUAL DISTINGUISHED SERVICE 29 Deborah Midanek Bailey (pictured on previous page)

MISSISSIPPI HERITAGE TRUST TRUSTEES AWARD FOR ORGANIZATIONAL EXCELLENCE 30 Auburn Historic Home MISSISSIPPI HERITAGE TRUST AND MISSISSIPPI AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORIC PRESERVATION COUNCIL AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN AFRICANAMERICAN PRESERVATION 31 Amzie Moore House • Belinda Stewart Architects E L E VA T I O N

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Windows PRESERVATION

FAREWELL KIND FRIEND

Former MHT Trustee and lifelong preservation warrior, Elizabeth “Libby” Shaifer Hollingsworth, passed away on July 2 at her home in Port Gibson after a battle against kidney cancer. Born in Vicksburg in 1933, Libby and her husband, Al, lived in Natchez, Hanford, CA, and Guilford, CT. She was active in historic preservation through MHT, the Main Street program (both local and national), Advisory Board of the Center for the Study of Southern Culture, the Port Gibson Heritage Trust (a founding member), the Mississippi Historical Society (board member), the Mississippi Department of Archives and History and the Port Gibson Battlefield. Her indelible spirit lives on through each and every project she touched.

of Laurel Mercantile Co. and Scotsman Co., combines her imaginative design sensibilities with Ben’s custom handiwork to show some love to their hometown. The pilot aired in January 2016 with future episodes scheduled for February 2017.

FREE FIELDTRIPS FOR 5TH GRADERS

HGTV LANDS IN LAUREL

As a part of MHT’s recently released program, Whole Places, 5th Graders are invited to explore the Mississippi Gulf Coast’s historical and ecological treasures including stops at the Charnley-Norwood House (pictured), Phoenix Naval Stores, 12 Oaks, Cedar Lake Island and Shaw Homestead. The program was developed by TALLstudio in partnership with the Land Trust for the Mississippi Coastal Plain and is made possible by a grant from the Mississippi Gulf Coast National Heritage Area. For more information, visit wholeplaces.net.

Known for popular television series, Fixer Upper, Rehab Addict and more, HGTV has been filming a new show, Home Town, in Laurel featuring local residents, Erin and Ben Napier. Several historic homes received a fresh new life with modern and affordable updates using found materials and old textiles. Erin, co-owner

On December 2, the Mississippi Department of Archives and History announced nearly $2 million in Community Heritage Grant recipients. They included Temple B’nai Israel (Natchez), Shaw High School, Okolona Elementary School, West Point Colored

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MDAH ANNOUNCES GRANT WINNERS

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High School, Meadville Armory, Bailey School (Jackson), LaPointe-Krebs House (Pascagoula), Poplar Hill Museum of African American Culture (Fayette), Jones County Courthouse (Ellisville), Wechsler School (Meridian), Columbia Waterworks, Aberdeen M&O Depot, Newton City Hall, Union County Courthouse (New Albany), Walthall County Courthouse (Tylertown), Southern Cultural Heritage Foundation Convent (Vicksburg) and Yazoo City City Hall.

REVIVING OLD MAN RIVER The Mississippi River Basin model in Jackson is the world’s largest physical model of its kind and some say the most successful experiment in hydraulic engineering ever conducted. Built from 1943-1966 (much by German prisonersof-war), it spans over 200 acres of concrete etched and molded by hand. Before computers could analyze flood events, it allowed engineers to predict the effect of hydraulic engineering choices. After decades of decay, the Friends of the Mississippi River Basin Model started hosting clean-up days in October 2016 to eventually renovate the site as an educational recreational area. For more information, visit friendsofmrbm.org.

Preservation in Mississippi a blog for building-huggers established 2009

photo by Mickey Howley

Be the

Change

It ain’t all moonlight & magnolias join the conversation at misspreservation.com

you wish to see in the world “Oxford’s Williamsburg that would be Brooklyn not Virginia.” - Wall Street Journal “They made Main Street their own.” - New York Times “Auferstehung eines Dorfes.” - Die Zeit

W AT E R V A L L E Y M A I N S T R E E T E L E VA T I O N

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SAVING

Georgiana

THE HOUSE KNOWN AS GEORGIANA PLANTATION, which

ALAN HUFFMAN

is the author of the nonﬁction books Here I am; We’re With Nobody (with Michael Rejebian); Sultana; Mississippi in Africa; and the photo-essay book Ten Point, Deer Camp in the Mississippi Delta. He has contributed to: the Atlanta JournalConstitution, The Atlantic magazine, the Los Angeles Times, National Wildlife, the New York Times, Outside, Washington Post Magazine, Preservation, Smithsonian, Vice, and numerous other publications.

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stands along Deer Creek a few miles south of Cary, a small Mississippi Delta town, has been empty for 65 years, yet would still be recognizable to George and Anna Hunt, who owned it before the Civil War. The same would be true for the Hunts’ nearly 150 enslaved workers who farmed the surrounding ﬁelds, as well as for Union Admiral David Porter, whose ﬂotilla of gunboats tied up at its landing during the Civil War, for the man who later found refuge inside it from a lynch mob, and for the multitude of sharecroppers who rode

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out the infamous 1927 Mississippi River flood on its upper floors. Throughout its history, the two-and-ahalf story house has been a key landmark for a diverse cast of characters, many of whom were involved in episodes of high historical drama. And despite significant wear and tear, its overall appearance has remained largely unchanged. Yet today, a traveler along the back road between Cary and Blanton could easily pass Georgiana without noticing it at all. For all its momentous history, it stands empty and forlorn, like a weathered, abandoned barn.

Photos courtesy of Alan Huffman and Mississippi Department of Archives and History (Jennifer Baughn)

Charles Weissinger, whose family owns Georgiana and who farms the surrounding land, hopes to find a way to bridge that gap, to preserve the house as an icon of the Delta’s long and complicated history and avoid the fate suffered by so many other vanished historic structures. Among remaining endangered historic sites, Weissinger asserts, “Georgiana is the number-one unaddressed house in Mississippi.” Because Georgiana and the last of its adjacent slave cabins are deteriorating, Weissinger said his family has decided to offer the structures and surrounding acreage to a individual, agency or group that will restore and protect them – for free. “My father talked to family members about restoring the house, but no one had the money,” Weissinger said. “If someone agreed to preserve Georgiana in perpetuity, we’d be willing to donate it,” he said. Anyone with experience restoring and maintaining historic buildings knows that “free” is a relative term, but there is no question that Georgiana is worthy of preservation. The house and its outbuildings are the only surviving antebellum structures in the area, and fill an otherwise empty niche in the state’s architectural inventory: That of a rustic, secondary plantation home with matching slave quarters that informs the workings of an antebellum cotton dynasty and remains largely unchanged. Though large in scale, Georgiana is unadorned, reflecting its role as a wealthy slave owner’s secondary investment in the slave-based cotton economy. It is essentially a grander expression of the simple building style of its ancillary structures, which were built at the same time, when much of the Delta was a wild frontier. Weissinger’s late father recognized Georgiana’s importance and labored for

decades to keep it intact, he said. “My father had a long, deep and abiding love for these old structures,” he said. “He felt it was his duty to be a steward.” In the 1960s and 1970s, the elder Weissinger rebuilt Georgiana’s roof, patched its foundation and covered its gaping windows with wood and tin to keep out the rain. He also re-roofed the slave cabin next door and preserved another cabin under a farm shed down the road. But the roof of the nearest cabin has since caved in, and a third, identical slave quarters, which floated away during the 1927 flood and was later moved back, eventually collapsed; its cypress timbers are stacked nearby, awaiting reconstruction. Meanwhile, all of Georgiana’s peers have literally fallen by the wayside, including an identical sister house that faced the Mississippi River a few miles away, which, like Georgiana, was originally owned by cotton planter David Hunt, and was destroyed by a tornado around 1970. All other nearby antebellum houses, barns and cabins, which could have been preserved as a significant rural historic district, have in recent decades fallen in or been demolished or salvaged for lumber. Among them was the Onward plantation house, which stood a few miles down Deer Creek and retained a complete set of outbuildings, all of which its owner inexplicably razed in the 1980s. Today, all that’s left of Onward plantation are an old live oak, a field of daffodils and a state historical marker on Highway 1. Georgiana, built around 1840, is an early house by the standards of the Mississippi Delta, which was settled primarily in the late 19th century, and faces Deer Creek, the main transportation link in the era before good roads. The structure’s brick ground floor elevates it above what were once seasonal inundations, and its main floor is constructed of the same hewn,

dovetailed cypress logs that were used in its 26 original slave cabins. The third floor, a half-story, is framed. The entire structure was originally whitewashed, traces of which remain on the inside walls. The ground floor is divided by an open breezeway that incorporates a large underground cistern. The house has problems: Two massive double chimneys that rose perhaps 50 feet from the ground floor to the peak of the roof have long since collapsed in a heap inside the lower level rooms, and fractures have developed in the two-foot-thick brick foundation walls. But it is otherwise sturdy, and aside from the metal roof, lacks any modern alterations, including plumbing or electrical wiring. The property on which Georgiana stands was part of a land patent granted by President Andrew Jackson to Joseph Dunbar and Samuel Mason in 1835. Soon after, the two men sold the property to David Hunt, who built the main house and cabins simultaneously as part of an expanding cotton dynasty. At the time, the south Delta was sparsely inhabited, its plantations confined to higher ground along navigable waterways; not long before, the area had been frequented by bandits preying on travelers along the Mississippi River and further inland on the Natchez Trace. Weissinger believes one of the bandits was the father of original co-owner Samuel Mason, because he had the same name and operated from

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a Mississippi River island nearby. The elder Mason was a Revolutionary War veteran whose base of criminal operations was initially a cave on the Ohio River and later Stack Island, near Lake Providence, La., a few miles west of Georgiana. Hunt, who was nicknamed “King David” due to his wealth and extensive land holdings, was a New Jersey native who owned about 1,000 slaves and 24 plantations on both sides of the river between Greenville and Natchez. He was among a small group of millionaires in the U.S. at the time – by some estimates, there were about 35, of whom 12 were Natchez area cotton planters. Hunt was a major benefactor to Oakland College (now Alcorn State University), the Rodney Presbyterian Church and the Fayette Female Academy. He was also a member of the American Colonization Society, which was set up to “repatriate” freed slaves to what is today the West African nation of Liberia, in a colony known as Mississippi in Africa. At least two of Hunt’s former slaves recalled what were, not surprisingly, sometimes harsh experiences for the Depression-era Works Progress Administration’s “slave narratives” oral history project. One of the men recalled frequent slave whippings and heated arguments between Hunt and his wife over the severity of the punishments. Hunt’s involvement in the colonization society puts Georgiana in the same historical context as the similarly endangered Prospect Hill 42

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plantation house, which was built downriver in Jefferson County by the grandson of Revolutionary War veteran Isaac Ross, who arranged for the largest group of slaves to be freed to immigrate to Mississippi in Africa. The Archaeological Conservancy, which owns Prospect Hill, is likewise looking for someone to restore that house, which is on the Mississippi Heritage Trust’s 10 Most endangered list. Hunt gave Georgiana and two other plantations to his son George Hunt and his daughter-in-law Anna upon their marriage in 1848, which explains the name they chose for it: “George” + “Anna”. Weissinger said it is his understanding the house was never intended to be a primary residence, but was used periodically, when the family visited the satellite plantation. In general, he said, the Hunts spent more time at the sister house facing the Mississippi River and at their primary home plantation in Jefferson County, which was known as Huntley. According to the 1860 agricultural census, 147 slaves lived in 26 cabins on Georgiana plantation, with more occupying the Hunts’ other holdings. During the Civil War, in April 1863, ﬁve ironclad gunboats, three troop transports and two tugboats under Union Rear Admiral David Porter stopped at Georgiana, Weissinger said. The ﬂotilla, which also stopped at Onward plantation, was involved in what was known as the Steele’s Bayou Expedition, a joint operation by Porter and Gen. Ulysses S.

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Grant during the Vicksburg Campaign. Notably, George Hunt died in September 1863, at age 35, though Weissinger said he does not know the cause of his death. Accounts vary about another death at Georgiana, of its plantation overseer, G.W. Johnson, who some say was killed during the Union occupation but others allege was murdered by free blacks after the war (based on historical accounts, it appears to have been a sort of hybrid of the two). Weissinger said he was told the overseer’s death came “at the hands of Yankees,” which he interpreted to mean some of Porter’s men, and that a missing stair step that marked the site of his death was reportedly never replaced, to preserve the memory (he isn’t sure which stair). But, Weissinger said, he was also told that Johnson was killed in a shootout with black troops during Reconstruction, at a time of white “pushback” against federally enforced black Republican rule. He said that a group of white men, “the Democrats,” had formed a militia, “and the freedmen in charge here sent word to Vicksburg, which was the headquarters of the occupational army, saying they were having some trouble and needed help, so they sent a small army of free black soldiers and there was a shootout in Blanton. A lot of people were killed. The Democrats won. There was a rumor that the foreman got killed in that scrap, but who knows?” Two episodes documented in separate historical accounts shed light on the subject. In Volume 1 of the

Photos courtesy of Alan Huffman

Mississippi Historical Society’s Centenary Series, published in 1916, Col. W.D. Brown recounts a series of attacks on white landowners and overseers along Deer Creek by black Union soldiers in August 1863, a month prior to George Hunt’s death. The raiders allegedly committed several murders downstream, and, Brown recalled, “Continuing northward they next came to what is known as Georgiana plantation, then the property of Mr. George F. Short [actually George F. Hunt]. There they shot to death Mr. Johnson, the overseer of the plantation.” The transcripts of a series of congressional hearings focusing on Mississippi’s Reconstruction-era elections in 1876 include testimony about a second series of murders by black vigilantes, as well as race riots, threats of attacks on plantations and towns, and white revenge killings, which prompted residents along Deer Creek to hold a biracial convention “for the purpose of quieting the public feeling on the part of the whites and blacks.” Among the white signatories to the convention was David Hunt, whose familial relation to George and Anna Hunt is unclear – he lived at Georgiana, but was not the same David Hunt who originally owned the plantation, who had died in 1861. Several black residents of Georgiana plantation also signed on. Included in the congressional record is the testimony of a Georgiana sharecropper, David Cameron, who said that after hearing that white vigilantes would be moving through from nearby Rolling Fork, he went to David Hunt’s Georgiana home late one night seeking protection. Cameron recalled that “Mr. Hunt came out with his slippers on,” and after hearing his concerns, invited him inside to stay the night. Hunt reportedly told Cameron he could do nothing to help others who lived on Georgiana

plantation who had been involved in racially motivated crimes, and in fact, a group of white men rounded up several black men from Georgiana’s former slave quarters who had allegedly been involved in local attacks, at least two of whom were later killed. At the time, according to another sharecropper’s testimony, about 100 black residents lived and worked on Georgiana plantation, but David Hunt was the only white resident. The Hunt family held on to Georgiana through the economic crash that followed the Civil War, but by 1927, the year the Mississippi River broke through its levees and flooded 27,000 square miles, the plantation’s manager occupied the main house, Weissinger said. The manager evacuated from the flood, enabling scores of sharecroppers to find refuge in the elevated floors, he said. Weissinger still has the boat that his great grandfather, who was sheriff at the time, used to rescue flood victims from roofs and trees. Around 1930, Weissinger’s great grandfather and his brother-inlaw bought Georgiana, and his son (Weissinger’s grandfather) later bought the uncle out. In the 1940s, when rural electrification came, his grandfather decided that wiring Georgiana would be an insurmountable task, so he had two of the log cabins moved together to create a dogtrot in which the farm manager lived until the structure burned. “My daddy cried when that house burned,” Weissinger said. No one has lived in Georgiana since about 1950, he added. Given that Georgiana has survived so much tumult, and is of obvious historical importance, Weissinger said he is hopeful the family can find someone with the means to save it. “It’s such a unique place,” he said. “It needs to be preserved.”

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THE HUNT FOR LEARN MISSISSIPPI HISTORY IN THREE SENTENCES OR LESS. That feat is possible

BROTHER ROGERS

is Director of Programs and Communication at the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, president of the Mississippi Historical Society and an MHT board member.

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by stopping to read any of the more than 1,200 historical markers across our state. Or simply visit my website (www.mississippimarkers.com), which I compiled by visiting all 82 counties during the past two years. My ﬁrst experience with historical markers was obtaining one for baseball legend Cool Papa Bell in 1999, and later my son obtained one for his Eagle Scout project. My compulsive quest to ﬁnd every historical marker in the state began in 2014 after photographing the refurbished marker on the campus of Mississippi University for Women. One photograph led to another until my new hobby became like a grand scavenger hunt.

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History

The state historical marker program was established in 1948 by a law authored by state senator Frank Smith, who would later become a U.S. congressman, with support from a young state representative named William F. Winter, who subsequently became governor and served more than 50 years on the board of trustees of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. Mississippi has ﬁve types of markers. There are more than 900 green historical markers that have been approved by the Department of Archives and History. The Department, along with the Mississippi Department of Transportation, also established the Mississippi Mound Trail in 2016 to raise awareness about the prehistoric Indian mounds primarily near

Highway 61. Visit Mississippi, the tourism division of the Mississippi Development Authority, operates three marker programs. The Mississippi Blues Trail has 189 blue markers and counting, including more than a dozen outside the state. The Country Music Trail has 30 red markers so far, including one in Nashville. The Mississippi Freedom Trail, which commemorates the Civil Rights Movement, has 20 black markers and plans for at least 11 more. Markers provide an opportunity to learn interesting historical nuggets. Hernando deSoto and his men crossed the Tombigbee River near Aberdeen in 1540. Civil War soldiers from the Battle of Shiloh are buried in Okolona. Woodrow Wilson spent his first Christmas as president in Long Beach in 1913. Charles Lindbergh stayed several days in Maben in 1923 selling rides in his airplane. The Marshall Plan to rebuild Europe after World War II was first announced on the campus of Delta State University. These are just a few of the fun facts available on Mississippi’s historical markers. While learning history is useful, the real joy is in the journey. The second most difficult marker to find was one for Grierson’s Raid that is located on

private land on the Leaf River northeast of Raleigh. The landowner assigned his foreman the task of taking me to the remote marker, which had been damaged and repaired after a tornado about 15 years ago. Due to erosion, the marker recently had fallen into a sandbar on the Leaf River. The day before I arrived, the foreman located the marker, retrieved it from the riverbank, and reinstalled it further away from the river in preparation for my visit. Still, he had to use a machete (in February!) to clear a path for us to get to the marker site. The marker tells about the Union cavalry under Colonel Benjamin Grierson burning a bridge over the Leaf River to stop the pursuing Confederates. Considering both the tornado and erosion, the foreman told me in jest, “I don’t think those Confederate ghosts want that marker for Yankees up here.” The most remote marker I have found is the one for the Jim Bowie knife ﬁght that took place on an island west of Natchez. Giles Island is surrounded by Louisiana and the Mississippi River and accessible only by boat. It was a peninsula in 1827 when Jim Bowie went there to perform the role of a second in a duel, and in the ensuing melee, killed a man in self-defense with his now famous

knife, and a legend was born. Our state’s impact on American history and culture is disproportionate to its relatively small population. Thanks to historical markers, we can learn about Mississippi history – three sentences at a time. Brother is pictured below with former Bryan Pugh (MHT Board President), Arthur Davis (Lorman Country Store owner), Governor William Winter and Andy Mullins (Chief of Staff to the Chancellor Emeritus at the University of Mississippi).

Join us for our

A N N UA L M E E T I N G Photos courtesy of Brother Rogers

Gulfport • March 2-4, 2017 In conjunction with the Mississippi Bicentennial Celebration For more information and to become a member, visit www.mississippihistory.org

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BUILDING ROLANDO HERTS, Ph.D.

is the Director of The Delta Center for Culture and Learning at Delta State University. Pictured above: Velma Moore of Benoit, Mississippi has 15 children, 145 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren, 23 great-great grandchildren and 14 greatgreat-great grandchildren.

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“My grandmother used to tell me that you learn something new every day. I passed that on to my own children. You have to learn to love life, to love living, and to be appreciative of every moment we’re given.” - Mrs. Annyce P. Campbell, Mound Bayou, MS

I MUST CONFESS: I have never thought of myself as a historic preservationist. I expressed this periodically during my ﬁrst year serving as director of The Delta Center for Culture and Learning at Delta State University. The Delta Center’s mission is to promote greater understanding of Mississippi Delta culture and history and its signiﬁcance to the world through education, partnerships, and community

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Stories

engagement. This expansive mission is fulﬁlled through various collaborative programs that The Delta Center manages, including the Mississippi Delta National Heritage Area, a cultural heritage partnership between the people of the Mississippi Delta and the National Park Service. Historic preservation is part of Mississippi Delta National Heritage Area’s management plan. My background in tourism planning and university-community engagement have been peripheral to historic preservation at best – or so I thought. Over the years, I have interacted with historic preservationists on a few occasions. Their primary interests generally have seemed to be restoration of historically signiﬁcant structures, conservation of historic landscapes,

Photos courtesy of Alysia Burton Steele, www.deltajewels.org

and identifying sites and buildings where pivotal events happened and prominent figures lived, spoke, protested, or slept. Then, in November 2015, I was invited to present at the PastForward Preservation Conference sponsored by the National Trust for Historic Places, the National Park Service, and the Kellogg Foundation. Participating in the conference’s Multiple Voices Learning Lab PreservationVoices track opened my eyes to the pluralistic lenses through which historic preservation is being viewed and defined now. The conference created a safe space for transformative, impactful conversations about how the preservation community is broadening its proverbial tent. This broadening process aims to include historically underrepresented voices in preservation conversations (e.g., African Americans, Native Americans, Latinos, women, youth, LGBTQ communities, disabled populations). Conference attendees also were challenged to consider how preservation is being defined beyond brick and mortar. Intangible cultural heritage is very much a part of the preservation community’s inclusion movement. UNESCO defines intangible cultural heritage as “traditions or living expressions inherited from our ancestors and passed on to our descendants, such as oral traditions, performing arts, social practices, rituals, festive events, knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe or the knowledge and skills to produce traditional crafts” (Source: “What is Intangible Cultural Heritage?” http:// www.unesco.org/culture/ich/doc/ src/01851-EN.pdf). By revising the very definition of preservation to include intangible cultural heritage, the preservation community has the opportunity to actively engage

historically underrepresented groups. How do we do this effectively? Over the past year, The Delta Center for Culture and Learning and the Mississippi Delta National Heritage Area have partnered with Alysia Burton Steele (pictured below), Pulitzer Prize-winning journalism professor at the University of Mississippi and author of Delta Jewels: In Search of My Grandmother’s Wisdom, a groundbreaking collection of oral histories and portraits of over 50 African American church mothers from the Mississippi Delta region. The Delta Jewels Oral History Partnership has engaged over 800 Mississippi Delta residents, visitors, and advocates and has served as a powerful tool for illustrating oral history’s relevance to the lives of everyday people. In March 2016, to celebrate Women’s History Month and the National Park Service Centennial, the Partnership gave a presentation at the Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum in Washington, D.C. Delta Jewel Mrs. Annyce P. Campbell, who is quoted above, attended the program with her daughters, along with Reena Evers, daughter of civil rights leaders Medgar Evers and Myrlie Evers-Williams, who also is a Delta Jewel. The Delta Jewels Oral History Partnership is very much a part of a broader movement aimed at retelling and reclaiming historical narratives of the African American South. The National Park Service recently conducted a Reconstruction Era study to recognize Southern landmarks from that often misunderstood period of American history. The Center for the Study of the American South at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has led an institutional effort to provide technical expertise to the Historic Black Towns and Settlements Alliance, a multi-state mayoral coalition representing towns and settlements established by slaves

and free people of color throughout the South, including Mound Bayou, MS. While not as broad in scope as these projects, the Delta Jewels Oral History Partnership has provided communitylevel access to living ﬁgures of history whose voices have gone unheard for too long. While earthly monuments may not be erected in most of the Delta Jewels’ honor, their powerful stories about sharecropping, the Jim Crow Era, civil rights activism, educating children, and loving relationships are acknowledged and preserved for present and future generations. So, now, I have a revised confession: I am a proud historic preservationist. Intangible cultural heritage is my specialization, not at all to the exclusion of brick and mortar projects. Inclusion works multiple ways. Indeed, the broadening preservation tent should allow plenty of room for groups of various talents and inclinations to tell stories of our diverse communities. I believe that we can make it happen.

During the Civil War, the home served as a hospital for hundreds of injured soldiers on both sides of the conﬂict. Fortunately, the home was spared from burning due to a friendship between the owner Judge J.C. Burrus and the Union commander, his former classmate from the University of Virginia. Confederate General Jubal Early, John Wilkes Booth and the James Brothers are rumored to have been among the house’s numerous notable guests.

IN 1956, THE BURRUS HOUSE in Benoit, Mississippi, was the ﬁlm site for the controversial movie Baby Doll, which was based on two plays by Tennessee Williams. In celebration of the 60th anniversary of the ﬁlming of the movie, the Mississippi Heritage Trust and the Burrus Foundation hosted the Delta Drive-In on November 19th, with friends from all around the state coming to Benoit to nibble on popcorn, watch the movie and explore the star of the show, the Burrus House.

After director Elia Kazan ﬁlmed Baby Doll, the house suffered vandalism and neglect in the hands of a steady stream of renters. In 1974, the Burrus heirs donated the property to the Bolivar County Historical Society, which raised the funds to keep it “breathing” until they returned it to the family in 1987 due to a lack of funding. The house suffered more vandalism and continued to deteriorate. A tornado in 2001 caused the front gable and columns to collapse, prompting then- owner Dr. E.H. Winn, Jr. of Greenville to install a tin roof to E L E VA T I O N

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Photos by MHT / Lolly Rash

prevent further damage. In 2005, Dr. Winn established the Burrus Foundation, which raised money to fully restore the home. The Burrus House now operates as an event venue, hosting weddings, receptions and special events. Guests are also able to ﬁnd accommodations in one of two shotgun shacks that have been moved to the property. The house, rentals, and accompanying grounds are managed by Eustace Winn, pictured above portraying the ﬁlm’s lead character, Archie Lee Meighan, along with Erica Speed as Aunt Rose Comfort. 50

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weddings • receptions • special events Eustace Winn, Proprietor TheBabydollHouse.com | 662/822 6711 77 Burrus Road | Benoit, MS 38725 Tours available by appointment only.

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Mad Mod Affair

DELTA Saturday, April 2, 2016

Architectural Tour led by John Beard

Reception & Tour of the home of Francine & Bill Luckett, with special surprise guest, Morgan Freeman WADE TRACTOR LOLLIPOP SIGNAGE

The iconic lollipop signs of Wade Equipment stand prominent in front of the two showrooms that were visited in Indianola and Greenwood. In Greenwood, the showroom features an all glass storefront under a rhythmic, butterﬂy structural roof (#3 next page). In Indianola, the building has a steel and glass storefront with a ﬂat roof found in many modern structures.

Georgiana

Photos compliments of Trip Farris • Chris Myers • MHT / Amber Lombardo

www.lovemsmod.com

SPECIAL THANKS to Mississippi Delta National Heritage Area and Planters Bank for their support of MS MOD | Delta.

DELTA STATE UNIVERSITY 1: Poised in the middle of Delta State University’s campus in Cleveland, Mississippi, the Young-Maudlin Cafeteria embodies a unique form of modern architecture known as “Googie Architecture”. Designed by W. W. Easley, this circular building is divided based on a radial geometry. 2: The Sillers Chapel is located in the renovated heating plant, the oldest structure on campus.

MUSEUM OF THE MISSISSIPPI DELTA 4 & 5: Formerly the home of Billups Petroleum, the Museum of the Mississippi Delta in Greenwood features a simple, gestural, spanning awning sheltering a beautiful mural than runs across the front of the building. It is home to memorabilia and items that tell the story of the Mississippi Delta.

MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY 6 & 9: In Itta Bena, a handful of modern buildings span across the campus of Mississippi Valley State University. Buildings like the Lois Aran Meditation Chapel and the James Herbert White Library hold stronger modern characteristics, while buildings all over campus contain elements of modern architecture.

DELTA ELECTRIC POWER ASSOCIATION 7 & 8: Delta Electric has two distinctly, yet individually modern ofﬁce complexes in the Delta. One is located in Greenwood, featuring a large rectangular, patterned concrete building face. Another, in Indianola, introduces modernism through its material palette and structural rhythm.

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Photos compliments of Trip Farris • John Hooks • Chris Myers • David Lewis • MHT / Amber Lombardo

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Master

MODERN E. FAY JONES (1921-2004) was an

ROBERT SAARNIO

is the Director of University Museum & Historic Houses at the University of Mississippi. He is a Board Member of the Mississippi Heritage Trust.

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internationally celebrated architect from Arkansas who was awarded the American Institute of Architects’ highest honor, the AIA Gold Medal, in 1990. From his small downtown studio in Fayetteville, he practiced architecture from 1954 to 1998, where he designed 2l8 projects, encompassing residential buildings, educational and commercial buildings, chapels and pavilions. The most acclaimed of Jones’s buildings is Thorncrown Chapel in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, and the School of Architecture at the University of Arkansas is named for Jones, who served

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as its Chair and first Dean from 1966 to 1976. Of the 218 projects by Jones and his firm for which records exist, 129 projects were built; eighty-four were built in his native Arkansas, and five in Mississippi. Jones’ Mississippi projects are the Deerfield Country Club clubhouse, Canton; Clara King residence, Iuka; Pinecote Pavilion at the Crosby Arboretum, Picayune; Pine Eagle Chapel at Camp Tiak, Wiggins; and the McNamee residence, Clarksdale. Jones (pictured at right) is celebrated widely in the annals of American architecture, and was a protégé of Frank

Photos by MHT / Amber Lombardo • Architect Magazine, the Journal of the AIA

Lloyd Wright, having attended Wright’s Tailesin West apprenticeship studio in Scottsdale, Arizona over a 10-year period. Jones was also deeply influenced by a two-year period of work under visionary modernist architect Bruce Goff, who chaired the University of Oklahoma School of Architecture where Jones began his teaching career between the years of 19511953. The Trust’s MS MOD | Delta event was fortunate and privileged to close its day of touring at the Clarksdale home of Bill and Francine Luckett, a Jones-designed residence of 1974 in the city’s Country Club neighborhood. Jones’ original clients were William and Nancy McNamee, whose fortune derived from publication of the Delta Farm Journal. The Lucketts are only the second owners to have occupied this masterwork of 20th century residential architecture, and they have been magnificent stewards of a home whose architectural significance resonates deeply with them. The McNamee / Luckett house exhibits multiple distinctive characteristics of Jones’ residential design principles, several of them also commonly employed in Wright’s Prairie Style homes of the E L E VA T I O N

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first two decades of the 20th century: predominant horizontality, punctuated by large chimney stacks; steeply pitched & deeply cantilevered gable roofs; continuity and interweaving of interior & exterior; architect-designed fixtures and furniture; floor plans which zone private and public functions (expressed in Clarksdale as two multi-room wings, extending perpendicularly from the longitudinal expanse of the main body of the house). Jones’ Wright-derived influences are both evident and are also given a distinctive personal expression - - it is often noted that among all of Wright’s Taliesin apprentices, Jones most successfully developed his own independent vocabulary of form-making. Subtle level changes are present in the Clarksdale design, prominent in the McNamee house’s half-floor sunken living room, and its four lofts reached by steep narrow staircases. Similar to Wright, there is architect-designed exterior metalwork,

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at McNamee in three examples: the mailbox, driveway lantern, and a cooking grill off the main outdoor courtyard. The motor vehicle is well-accommodated by an open-air, covered three-bay carport with an adjacent enclosed storage bay, in total accounting for nearly 30% of the main elevation’s total length. Passionate car owner Frank Lloyd Wright would surely have approved. Major resources exist for those who desire to deepen their knowledge of the life, career, and architecture of E. Fay Jones. His archives of correspondence, manuscripts, drawings, project ﬁles, and personal ephemera are publicly available at the Special Collections division of the University of Arkansas Libraries’ Fay Jones Collections, where a Driving Tour brochure of his designs in the Fayetteville area is also available. (https://libinfo.uark.edu/ specialcollections/manuscripts/fayjones/) Publications on Jones include a major monograph by Robert Adams Ivy, Jr.,

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Photos by MHT / Amber Lombardo

Fay Jones; The Architecture of E. Fay Jones, FAIA (AIA Press, Washington D.C., 1992). The Department of Arkansas Heritage published “Outside the Pale” : The Architecture of Fay Jones, in 1999. And the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program compiled The Arkansas Designs of E. Fay. Jones, 1956-1997 (authors Cheryl Nichols and Helen Berry). The international significance and revered stature of E. Fay Jones within his profession may be unique among architects native to the South. In addition to Thorncrown Chapel having been designated one of the “Top Ten Buildings of the Twentieth Century” by members of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), it was also designated the best work of American architecture of the 1980s in an AIA survey. Jones was ranked as one of the “10 most influential living architects” in a 1991 survey conducted by the AIA, and he won a total of three project-specific AIA Honor Awards: in 1990, his third Honor Award was for Mississippi’s own Pinecote Pavilion. The Mississippi Heritage Trust celebrates and safeguards myriad examples of modernism in the Magnolia State, and none more than those crafted by the hand of E. Fay Jones. We encourage you to visit the publiclyaccessible Jones buildings in our state, and in the process come to a deeper understanding of post-war 20th century modernism, and the role these buildings play in enriching our built environment and our communities.

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Photos by MHT / Amber Lombardo

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cheers

PRESERVATION ROBERT BIRDSONG, fourth generation Clarksdalian, is a local historian specializing in the blues. He retired from the Clarksdale Fire Department this year after 36 years of service but is still tending bar at Hopson’s Commissary (at the Shack Up Inn), where he has been serving drinks with a side of local history for over 13 years. He’s a great conversationalist, if you can get him to slow down. During my visit, he was hosting a wedding party - the lively little joint packed to standing-room capacity. He seems to know everyone in the room and takes time to small-talk each one who approaches his counter. He pauses long enough to read to me from the book “The Most Southern Place on Earth,” by James C. Cobb: “You get to a place in Mississippi, south of Memphis and north of Vicksburg, where people you have never seen before, and may never see again, will not let you pass without waving.” He then tells me about the author, “Jimmy” (the pair are now buddies) and how people from all over the country visit here because of his writing about the regional identity of the Mississippi Delta. He’s clearly a scholar - using cocktails as his bait to draw wayward travelers into an impromptu history lesson. We ask him to recommend a drink. He responded that busy ladies with road-dusted bumpers need something refreshing without a lot of fuss. I think he makes an excellent point. SOUTHERN BELLE 1 glass of ice 1.5 oz vodka 1 tsp. Crystal Light peach and cranberry powdered mix splash 7-up He slides the glass across the bar with a wink. “Sweet as a peach with a little bit of bite!”

the

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COMMITMENT TO

Commitment to community is one of our core values. BankPlus is committed to building strong communities throughout Mississippi by improving quality of life and making a positive difference where we live and work.

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