"On the edge of the Delta": the city Willie Morris put on the literary map is reinvesting itself as a cultural crossroads.Indians and oil wells, railroad and river, antebellum homes and war monuments, artists and literary figures--all these are Yazoo City Yazoo City, city (1990 pop. 12,427), seat of Yazoo co., W central Miss., on the Yazoo River; inc. 1830. It is a trade, processing, and industrial center in a cotton, cattle, and soybean area. Oil is refined, and clothing and fertilizer are manufactured. . "The Gateway to the Delta," the city proudly calls itself, yet its flavor is not entirely Delta. Another moniker (1) A name, title or alias. See alias. (2) A COM object that is used to create instances of other objects. Monikers save programmers time when coding various types of COM-based functions such as linking one document to another (OLE). See COM and OLE. , "Where the hills meet the Delta," is more descriptive. The landscape is rolling, and seen from old Bell Road or the Country Club, the view of the Yazoo River Yazoo River River, west-central Mississippi, U.S. Formed by the confluence of the Tallahatchie and Yalobusha rivers north of Greenwood, Miss., it meanders 189 mi (304 km) south and southwest to join the Mississippi River above Vicksburg. and the town is enchanting. Its history is the true strength of the city and one that compels the visitor's attention. The county was named for the Yazoo Indians who became extinct in 1740. Greenwood Leflore Greenwood LeFlore (June 3, 1800 – August 31, 1865) was an American Indian of the Choctaw tribe. A wealthy and regionally influential trader with many connections in state and federal government, he was elected chief of the entire Choctaw tribe shortly before the Treaty of received the land on which Yazoo City stands as a part of the Treaty of Doak's Stand The Treaty of Doak's Stand (7 Stat. 210), also known as Treaty with the Choctaw, was a treaty signed on October 20, 1820 between the United States and the Choctaw Indian tribe. In it the Choctaw agreed to give up one-third of their land. and sold it for $10 per acre to developers. The developers laid out a grid plan The grid plan or gridiron plan is a type of city plan in which streets run at right angles to each other, forming a . Ancient grid plans The grid plan dates from antiquity; some of the earliest planned cities were built using grids. for the town, named it Manchester, and auctioned off lots in the early 1830s. In 1839, the town's name was changed to Yazoo City; it became the county seat in 1848. Mississippi's first oil well was drilled nearby in 1939. Any visit to Yazoo City should begin with a trip to the Visitors Bureau, where Karen Smith Karen Smith (born January 30, 1979 in Toowoomba, Queensland) is a former field hockey midfield player from Australia, who earned a total number of 257 international caps for the Women's National Team, in which she scored 45 goals. and Shanitra Finley greet and ply the curious with all the information needed to ensure a fascinating weekend. The Bureau is located in the Triangle Cultural Center, formerly Main Street Elementary School elementary school: see school. . Built in 1904, it served the young of Yazoo City for much of the past century. Cultural Center director John Byrd calls it a "building in transition." "We have great plans, but there is so much competition for grants that progress is slow," Byrd says. The ground floor houses the Bureau, several displays of historical information on local musicians, a Jerry Clower This article or section needs sources or references that appear in reliable, third-party publications. Alone, primary sources and sources affiliated with the subject of this article are not sufficient for an accurate encyclopedia article. room, and prehistoric pieces including petrified pet·ri·fy v. pet·ri·fied, pet·ri·fy·ing, pet·ri·fies v.tr. 1. To convert (wood or other organic matter) into a stony replica by petrifaction. 2. logs and mastodon mastodon (măs`tədŏn'), name for a number of prehistoric mammals of the extinct genus Mammut, from which modern elephants are believed to have developed. The earliest known forms lived in the Oligocene epoch in Africa. bones. The best qualities of the original auditorium have been preserved here, and the auditorium is still used for public events. The building also has facilities for a dance studio, art exhibitions, art and pottery classes, and civic organization meetings. The second floor of the old school is dedicated to housing a museum. At present, the museum is incomplete and closed to the public, but, Finley winks, "A request to the staff will give you a peek at the second floor and its enormous possibilities." The Willie Morris William Weaks "Willie" Morris (November 29, 1934 — August 2, 1999), was an American writer and editor born in Jackson, Mississippi, though his family later moved to Yazoo City, Mississippi, which he immortalized in his works of prose. Foundation placed a booth there honoring Yazoo City's favorite son, and a similar booth explains the great fire of 1904. Two of the most interesting pamphlets found at the Bureau set the tourist on walking tours of the historic downtown area. The first leads a review of handsome antebellum and Victorian homes and churches in the Broadway and Madison Street area ("especially beautiful in the spring with azaleas blooming," says Janet Nail, assistant director of the local B.S. Ricks Memorial Library). The second, a My Dog Skip tour, points to places of interest in the life of young Willie Morris and his dog. In his book North Toward Home, Morris described this place as "on the edge of the delta, straddling strad·dle v. strad·dled, strad·dling, strad·dles v.tr. 1. a. To stand or sit with a leg on each side of; bestride: straddle a horse. b. that memorable divide where the hills end and the flat land begins." Another must-see is the handsome Ricks Library, the oldest library building in Mississippi and one of the few buildings standing in 1904 that escaped a fire which destroyed much of the town. Inside, history and reference librarian John Ellzey gladly shares his vast knowledge of both the library and the town. "I love this town. I wouldn't live anywhere else," Ellzey says. Like a phoenix, Yazoo City has risen from the ashes of destruction not once but twice. After the 1904 fire completely destroyed the business area, a 1927 flood swept away much of the town. Today, after some economic hard times, the city once again sets about re-inventing itself. The excitement generated by this process is evident in the voice of vivacious Susan Cartwright-Guion, owner of Grace Hardware and past president of the Main Street Association. "We have so much going on here!" she says. "We have a marvelous history in this town, and people are investing in its preservation." Cartwright-Guion's store is a prime example of this effort. When she and her father purchased the old Saxton Hardware building on Main Street for an art gallery, she chose to accentuate the beauty of the 1904 building as it stood. She left untouched the rough and slightly uneven flooring, the stately staircase leading to the mezzanine, and the handsome shelving and cabinets that formerly housed tools, electrical, and plumbing fixtures. Today, Grace Hardware is a showplace for the works of SS area artists such as Arthur Green Arthur Green is a prominent scholar of Jewish spirituality and Jewish thought, as well as an innovative leader of rabbinic institutions. Raised in the Conservative movement, Green studied with Nahum Glatzer and Alexander Altmann at Brandeis University, where he received his , Will Erickson, Jan Keels, Candy Pace, and Dwayne May, painters; Sandra and John Cartwright John Cartwright may refer to:
A similar example of beautiful preservation of a historic building and commercial entrepreneurship is Cindi's, a gift shop located catty-corner to Grace Hardware in the old Morgan Pharmacy building. Helen Nicholas has owned this gift shop for "thirty-some-odd" years. "For many years, I worked in Duane Morgan's pharmacy, right here," Nicholas says. When her first gift shop, just a block away, burned three decades ago, Nicholas took refuge in the then-vacant pharmacy building. Here, she too chose to retain the character of the old establishment, one wall of which is lined with beautiful wood cabinetry. The store carries a vast assortment of china and crystal, furniture, books, lamps, clocks, perfume, pewter--in short, "a little bit of everything," Nicholas says. Be sure to listen for the happy sounds of her miniature parrot, housed in the back of the store. Above several of the stores on Main Street and nearby, investors are developing new housing options. About half a dozen apartments are completed or nearing completion, and several more are in the works. Another notable renovation is the old Elks Building on Broadway Street, which will be rented for meetings, receptions, and parties. More than one merchant echoes Cartwright-Guion's sentiments: "We are on the verge On the Verge (or The Geography of Yearning) is a play written by Eric Overmyer. It makes extensive use of esoteric language and pop culture references from the late nineteenth century to 1955. of going somewhere in this town." Two more local artists deserve mention. Hope Carr, a watercolorist, works in a studio on Main Street and also sells her work at Essco on 15th Street. Her painting of the Ricks Library hangs near the circulation desk. Library assistant director Nail exclaims, "Hope Carr is our town treasure." Potter LeiAnn Parker also sells her wares at Essco. "Every piece comes from my heart," Parker says. "I use no poured molds; therefore, no two pieces are alike." Her dishes, crosses, and ornaments are also sold at S & J Art Gallery in Oxford, Christian Creations in Clinton, Sisters by Design in Brookhaven, and Laudee's Legacy in Port Gibson. This town is also the home to another noteworthy creator: the famed Mississippi Cheese Straw Factory, which began with Mary Margaret Yerger's original recipe and now offers varieties including lemon, pecan, and peanut butter straws. Finally, a trip to Yazoo City would not be complete without a visit to Glenwood Cemetery Glenwood Cemetery could refer to:
tr.v. dev·as·tat·ed, dev·as·tat·ing, dev·as·tates 1. To lay waste; destroy. 2. To overwhelm; confound; stun: was devastated by the rude remark. fire of 1904; her story is related in Morris's Good Old Boy. Julius King, a 20-year employee of Stricklin-King Funeral Home, says, "I work in Glenwood almost every day. More people than I can say, people from all over the world, stop me to ask directions. And the two graves they want to find are the witch and Willie Morris." He points the way and adds, "They leave a lot of strange things on Willie's grave." Crossing the yard, I find the modest Morris marker, flanked by a wilting poinsettia poinsettia: see spurge. poinsettia Popular flowering plant (Euphorbia pulcherrima), best-known member of the diverse spurge family. Native to Mexico and Central America, it grows in moist, wet, wooded ravines and on rocky hillsides. and a Moon Pie A moon pie or MoonPie® [1] is a pastry invented around 1917. [2] A MoonPie consists of two graham crackers shaped into round cookies, with marshmallow filling in the center. The confection is then dipped in chocolate (or other flavors). . yazoo to do WHAT TO DO Bell Road A historic narrow road used since the 1820s and widely used during the Civil War period. Bells placed at each end that sounded warning signals as wagons entered gave the road its name. Runs off Monroe Street, just past the Oakes Center. B.S. Ricks Memorial Library The oldest library building in the state, built in 1900 with a $20,000 donation from the Ricks family. 310 N. Main St. 662/746-5557 www.yazoo.lib.ms.us Confederate Memorial Monument Commemorates the role of Confederate women during the Civil War. 332 N. Main St., in the yard of the Triangle Cultural Center. Glenwood Cemetery Here are buried the "Witch of Yazoo County" and author Willie Morris. Corner of Grady and Mike Espy Alphonso Michael Espy, usually called Mike Espy, (born November 30, 1953) was a U.S. political figure. From 1987 to 1993, he served in the U.S. House of Representatives from Mississippi. He served as the Secretary of Agriculture from 1993 to 1994. Streets. 662/746-1815 Oakes African-American Cultural Center Beautiful former home of a prominent black family houses a collection witnessing to African-American culture. By appointment only. 312 S. Monroe St. 662/746-5038 Triangle Cultural Center Located in the former Main Street Elementary School. 332 N. Main St. 662/746-2273 www.triangleculturalcenter.com Yazoo County Convention & Visitors Bureau Located inside the Triangle Cultural Center. 332 N. Main St. 800/381-0662 www.yazoo.org Yazoo County Courthouse Built in 1849 by architect William Nichols There is more than one person called William Nichols:
It is located at 316 East Capitol Street. It is the second oldest executive residence in the United States that has been continuously occupied as a gubernatorial residence. . 201 E. Broadway. 662/746-1872 Yazoo City Catfish Craze A fund-raiser for the Junior Auxiliary, this event includes food, entertainment, and a silent auction. Set for April 22. 2006. 800/381-0662 Jerry Clower Festival Arts and crafts arts and crafts, term for that general field of applied design in which hand fabrication is dominant. The term was coined in England in the late 19th cent. as a label for the then-current movement directed toward the revivifying of the decorative arts. , food, children's entertainment, music, drama, and dance downtown. This free event is set for May 6, 2006. 800/381-0662 Delta Yazoo Blues Festival Live entertainment and food at Summerfest Park on Highway 16. Tentatively scheduled for July 2, 2006. 800/381-0662 Yazoo County Fair Amusement rides and exhibits at the Yazoo County Fairgrounds n. pl. 1. same as fairground. on Hugh J. McGraw Drive. Set for September 25-30. 2006. 800/381-0662 Christmas Tour of Homes Held in December each year. this event is sponsored by the Junior Auxiliary. 800/381-0662 FAMOUS FOLKS FROM YAZO0 CITY Haley Barbour Haley Reeves Barbour (born October 22, 1947) is the current Republican governor of Mississippi. He gained a national spotlight in August 2005 after Mississippi was hit by Hurricane Katrina. Since then he has been mentioned as a possible 2008 vice presidential candidate. : Governor of Mississippi from 2004-present; served as director of the White House Office of Political Affairs Political Affairs has several meanings:
Willie Brown The name Willie Brown may refer to:
This article is about an American football team. For other uses, see Raider. The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in the city of Oakland, California. from 1963-1978. Jerry Clower: The comedian's first album, "Jerry Clower from Yazoo City, Mississippi Yazoo City is in Yazoo County, Mississippi, United States. It was named after the Yazoo River, which, in turn was named by the French explorer Robert La Salle. "Yazoo" is said to be of Native American origin, meaning "River of Death". , Talkin'," achieved gold status within a month of being released. Herbie Holmes: Famed musician and orchestra leader known for his lively "big band" sound. Skip James: Blues musician who "helped redefine what could be done with three-chord music." Willie Morris: Acclaimed author and the youngest editor-in-chief in the history of Harper's magazine. John George Quekemeyer: Served as Aide-de-Camp to Gen. John J. Pershing John Joseph "Black Jack" Pershing GCB (September 13, 1860 – July 15, 1948) was an officer in the United States Army. Pershing is the only person, while still alive, to rise to the highest rank ever held in the United States Army—General of the Armies—equivalent and was appointed Commandant of Cadets at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Stella Stevens: Actress who starred opposite Elvis Presley in "Girls! Girls! Girls!," Jerry Lewis in "The Nutty Professor," and Gene Hackman in "The Poseidon Adventure." Sarah Mary Taylor: Folk artist whose vibrant appliqued quilts are prized by collectors; her "Hand Quilt" was commissioned for the movie "The Color Purple." James "Son" Thomas: Blues musician from rural Yazoo County who toured the world as "one of the Delta's last living originals." Zig Ziglar: Motivational speaker and trainer who has appeared on platforms with U.S. presidents, generals, Congressmen, and religious leaders and has written several books. WHERE TO DINE Clancy's Catfish and barbecue. 1505 Jerry Clower Blvd. 662/746-2339 Divine Delights Lunch and take-home baked casseroles and cakes. 1551 N. Jerry Clower Blvd. 662/746-8111 Fannie's Cafe Great soul food. 769 W. Madison St. 662/746-9988 Hastee Tastee Fans proclaim the "best milkshakes and fried okra okra: see mallow. okra Herbaceous, hairy, annual plant (Hibiscus esculentus or Abelmoschus esculentus), of the mallow family, grown for its edible fruit. Okra leaves are deeply notched; flowers are yellow with a crimson centre. in town." 1502 N. Jerry Clower Blvd. 662/746-5243 Howell's Full menu, buffet lunches. 618 Center Park Ln. 662/746-9194 Pig Shack 1427 East Broadway St. 662/746-2005 River-Bend Catfish House 1017 S. Industrial Pkwy. 662/746-6081 Steak House "Best steak in this part of the Delta," say locals. 5720 Hwy. 49 E. 662/746-2542 Stubs stubs The shares of equity in a firm that is financed almost completely with debt. Stubs are often created when firms go through a leveraged buyout or pay big cash dividends in order to fend off a takeover. Serves "home-cooked" meals with cafeteria line at noon. Known for fried chicken and chocolate chess pie. 1902 Jerry Clower Blvd. 662/746-1204 Ubon's Prize-winning barbecue. 801 N. Jerry Clower Blvd. 662/716-7100 WHERE TO SHOP Anderson's Jewelry 207 S. Main St. 662/746-3754 Arnett Jewelry 218 S. Main St. 662/746-1821 Carmen's Florist & Gifts 509 E. 5th St. 662/746-6026 Cindi's A wide variety of pottery and gift items. 201 S. Main St. 662/746-6520 Essco/Shooz Too! Original art and gift items. 732 E. 15th St. 662/746-7423 Exceptions Upscale consignment. 214 S. Main St. 662/746.6592 Gilbert's Gourmet & Gifts 101 Dr. M.L. King Dr. 662/746- 2665 www.gilbertsgourmetandgifts.com Good Hope Feeds Plants and clothing as well as farm necessities. 809 N. Jerry Clower Blvd. 662/746-7776 Grace Hardware Original art, furniture, rugs, and more. 128 S. Main St. 662/746-7555 www.gracehardware.com Health Integration Whole Foods 225 E. Jefferson St. 662/716-0332 Hines Farm Fine sausages and "the best meat anywhere." Hwy 49 W. 662/746-6604 Hope Carr Art 106 S. Main St. 662/571-7981 Knutty Knitters Handmade knitted items and premium yarn. 128 S. Main St. 662/746-7555 Main Street Antiques 211 N. Main St. 662/746-9307 Mijo's Main Street Station 304 S. Main St. 662/746-4693 Mississippi Cheese Straw Factory Several yummy varieties of cheese straws. 342 S. Mound St. 662/746-7171 www.mscheesestraws.com Tickled Pink Boutique and salon. 2011 Jerry Clower Blvd. 662/746-2395 Vanjon's Pharmacy & Gifts 320 E. 15th St. 662/746-3562 Yazoo Florist & Gifts 330 E. Canal St. 662/746-4265 Yazoo Garden Center 666 E. 15th St. 662/746-5008 Yazoo Tomatoes Produce stand that sells carry-out tamales, soups, casseroles, chili, and jellies. 1309 E. Broadway St. 662/716-0505 WHERE TO STAY Best Western Gateway Inn 286 Wyeth Dr. 662/716-0930 Comfort Inn 1600 Jerry Clower Blvd. 662/746-6444 Days Inn 1801 Jerry Clower Blvd 662/746-1877 Relax Inn 810 East 15th St. 662/746-1388 PHOTOGRAPHY BY TEMPY SEGREST |
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