2003
“The Cotton Pickers” B.P.O.E. Lodge No. 148
Greenville
In its heyday, the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks, No. 148 Lodge, also known as the “Cotton Pickers” Elks Lodge, was the social center for Greenville. Originally chartered in 1890, the Neoclassic lodge was constructed in 1906 and opened its doors in 1907. Left to deteriorate for many years, the lodge was demolished by the City of Greenville in 2020.
First Christian Church
Jackson
The fate of this Gothic Revival-style church was uncertain after the congregation of the First Christian Church moved from downtown Jackson. Nearby First Baptist Church purchased the building with the intent to demolish the structure for parking. When word of First Baptist’s intention to demolish the building got out, a groundswell of local support surfaced. First Baptist Church heeded the call for preservation and had the church designated as a Mississippi Landmark in April of 2003. The church was recently purchased by the Church of God in Christ, which plans to restore the building as a center for worship and community outreach.
Historic Cemeteries
Statewide
Historic cemeteries have great historical significance yet are often faced with vandalism, theft and neglect. With annual cemetery tours from Biloxi to Columbus and dedicated volunteer groups such as the Beulah Restoration Committee in Vicksburg and the Greenwood Cemetery Association in Jackson, work is underway to preserve our state’s many historic cemeteries. While progress has been made in urban settings, rural cemeteries continue to be under threat.
Indian Mounds
Statewide
Many Native American Mounds in Mississippi have been irreparably damaged or destroyed by modern development and looting. Efforts such as the Indian Mounds Trail, which documents 33 mound sites, work to educate the public about these structures that stand as a testament to the vitality and creativity of their makers and their complex societies.
J.Z. George Law Office
Carrollton
Once the law office of J. Z. George, who was the state’s most dynamic leader during the Reconstruction era, this c. 1838 frame structure had fallen into disrepair before being restored by members of the George family. The building once again contributes to the overall historic character of Carrollton’s downtown square.
(Old) Hattiesburg High School
Hattiesburg
Consisting of two buildings, a rear section built in 1911 and the more imposing and highly decorated front section constructed in 1921, the old Hattiesburg High School was nearly lost to hurricane damage and a subsequent fire. The building has since been restored and opened in 2021 as Preservation Crossing, a 74-unit senior apartment complex.
The Robert Johnson Birthplace
Hazlehurst
Born in Hazlehurst on May 8, 1911, Robert Johnson spent much of his early life in levee camps and on plantations in the Mississippi Delta where he learned the blues from older musicians. Johnson began by playing the harmonica and later picked up the guitar. Today, he is known worldwide as the father of rock and roll. Johnson’s c. 1905 birthplace was moved nearly a mile from its original location when threatened with demolition due to the construction of the interstate highway. Today, the house sits vacant and deteriorating.
Rodney Presbyterian Church
Rodney
Constructed in 1832 in the Federal style, Rodney Presbyterian Church witnessed the rapid growth of the town in the 1840s and 1850s as well as its slow decline after the Mississippi River changed course in the 1860s. The church even saw action during the Civil War as the Union gunboat U.S.S. Rattler bombarded the town with shells, leaving scars on the church building that can still be seen today. The Mississippi United Daughters of the Confederacy acquired the building in 1966 and maintained it for many years before selling it to the Friends of Rodney. The Friends have stabilized the structure and are raising funds for a full restoration.
Tivoli Hotel
Biloxi
The Tivoli Hotel in Biloxi was constructed in the 1920s and featured 64 guest rooms on four floors. The first floor contained a striking barrel-vaulted lobby with a magnificent ballroom to one side and the large dining room to the other. According to the newspaper accounts, the Tivoli opened “in a whirl of dancing, a kaleidoscopic blaze of color and a musical festival of barbaric jazz.” It gradually slipped into decay and was vacant when a casino barge slammed into it during Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The owners chose to demolish the damaged structure rather than restore it.
The W.J. Quarles House – “Greenvale”
Long Beach
In 1884, W.J. Quarles moved his family to Long Beach from Tennessee, where he organized the first school and post office in town. Quarles was also instrumental in beginning the truck farming industry in Long Beach. The W.J. Quarles House house was vacant and deteriorating when winds from Hurricane Katrina removed the roof. The Mississippi Heritage Trust installed a new roof to buy the building time. Today, the Quarles House is undergoing a $2 million dollar restoration to become a community gathering place.