Category Archives: Historic Downtowns

On the Bluff: The Yazoo & Mississippi Valley Depot

Posted on May 25, 2019 by

In 1907, Brookhaven, Natchez, Vicksburg, and Grenada were all desirous of new depots to accommodate railway travelers on the Illinois Central/Yazoo & Mississippi lines. Mr. W. L. Smith, of Memphis, general agent of the Illinois Central…stated that the depot matters … Continue reading →

Posted in Historic Downtowns, Mississippi, railroad lines, train station depot buildings | Tagged , | Leave a comment

St. Mary’s Minor Basilica

Posted on April 28, 2019 by

My first visit to St. Mary’s Minor Basilica was back in Lottabusha County Chronicles I days. You can read more about St. Mary Minor Basilica in Natchez there.  These photos are from a brief view down the street, captured as the sun … Continue reading →

Posted in churches, Gothic Revival, Historic Downtowns, Mississippi | Tagged | 3 Comments

More Meskers in Natchez: W. J. Hogan Building

Posted on April 26, 2019 by

Historically, Mississippians purchased a lot of Mesker products, ranking the state as the 12th largest overall buyer with a combined estimate of approximately 1,356 facades.  (Darius Bryjka, November 25, 2014) Natchez leads the state with the most surviving Mesker Brothers storefronts, … Continue reading →

Posted in Historic Downtowns, Ironwork, Mississippi | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

107-111 North Pearl Street

Posted on April 24, 2019 by

Another surviving Mesker Brothers storefront is located at 107-111 North Pearl Street, Natchez. The iron front was aded sometime between 1893-1897 according to the Sanborn maps for Natchez.  Mary Warren Miller, 1979, described the building: Two-story fourteen-bay brick commercial building … Continue reading →

Posted in Bank buildings, Historic Downtowns, Ironwork, Mississippi | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

526 Franklin Street

Posted on April 19, 2019 by

526 Franklin, corner of Franklin and Union in Natchez, currently is home to Edward Jones Investments.  The circa 1890 building was restored from a pretty horrid mid-60s or thereabouts “update” when the lower floor was remodeled with jeweler’s windows.  The … Continue reading →

Posted in Historic Downtowns, Ironwork, Mississippi | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Mr. Pickens’ Livery Stable: Corner of Main & Canal, Natchez

Posted on April 14, 2019 by

While preparing for my recent trip to Natchez, and doing a little historic research, I came across an article that featured a photo of this building with a question as to anyone knowing the history of the building. I recalled … Continue reading →

Posted in Art Moderne, brick work, Historic Downtowns, Mississippi | Tagged | 5 Comments

The Marsaw Family: Levi, Levi, Jr., & Levi III

Posted on April 6, 2019 by

While visiting the Triangle Area of St. Catherine Street in Natchez, this unpretentious masonry block building–seemingly out of place amongst the historic buildings in the area–caught my interest. It carries a Streamline Art Moderne appearance with the rounded corner. Close … Continue reading →

Posted in Art Moderne, Historic Black Business Districts, Historic Downtowns, Mississippi | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Dr. John Bowman Banks

Posted on March 27, 2019 by

Dr. John Bowman Banks’ home and first office was in this house, which was constructed sometime between 1886 and 1892.  Dr. Banks was issued his Mississippi medical license in 1885, and filed to practice in Natchez in 1889.  The first … Continue reading →

Posted in Historic Black Business Districts, Historic Downtowns, Mississippi | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Sadie V. Thompson House, former home to John Stevens and Frances Smith

Posted on March 25, 2019 by

Right next to the Sarah Smith Russell house was originally home to another of Eliza Smith’s daughters, Frances, and her husband John Stevens.  Stevens was a police patrolman in Natchez, and retired in 1918 after 30 years of service.  The … Continue reading →

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Sarah Smith Russell house

Posted on March 23, 2019 by

The circa 1880 one-story frame house at 28 St. Catherine bears “echoes of the Italianate style” or Vernacular Italianate and was constructed by at least 1886″ at the beginning of Queen Anne period in Natchez” (Mary Warren Miller, 1995, NRHP … Continue reading →

Posted in Historic Black Business Districts, Historic Downtowns, Italianate architecture, Mississippi | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments