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City at the crossroads: history and hospitality intersect in charming Corinth.


While its successful preservation of Civil War resources garners national attention, the north Mississippi city of Corinth nurtures the joys of small-town life in cultural pursuits and unique traditions.

For the 14,000 residents of 21st-century Corinth, coexisting with the past reaps greater benefits with each passing year. At Borroum's drugstore, located across the street from the Alcorn County Courthouse since 1913, the staff hustles behind the original soda fountain to meet the lunch crowd's appetite for fresh-daily pimiento pimiento: see pepper.
pimiento
 or pimento

Any of various mild peppers of the genus Capsicum that have distinctive flavour but lack pungency, including the European paprikas.
 cheese or chicken salad sandwiches, hand-mixed fountain drinks, and milkshakes in at least 16 flavors.

For visitors with overwhelming curiosity, slugburgers are also served. Despite unsavory yarns spun by locals at the annual Slugburger Festival in July, the patty's origin is quite tame. During the Depression, when both fake coins and nickels were called slugs, resourceful cooks added pork and cornmeal corn·meal also corn meal  
n.
Meal made from corn, used in a wide variety of foods. Also called Indian meal.

Noun 1.
 or potato flour potato flour nfécule f

potato flour potato nKartoffelmehl nt

potato flour n
 to stretch what little beef they had. The resulting fake hamburger sold for a nickel--hence, a slugburger. Today, since the FDA FDA
abbr.
Food and Drug Administration


FDA,
n.pr See Food and Drug Administration.

FDA,
n.pr the abbreviation for the Food and Drug Administration.
 frowns on mixing meats, they're made with soy flour and only pork.

Very real are Camille Borroum Mitchell's memories of Corinth's "marriage capital" era from the 1930s through the 1950s, when no blood tests were required. A descendant of the army surgeon who founded her drugstore in 1865, she confesses to spying on ceremonies performed in their back room (followed by milkshake celebrations up front) and delights in the many couples who return to Borroum's for special anniversaries.

A few doors away, the Corinth Downtown Deli features inventive soups, salads, sandwiches, and baked goods--the products of Chef Luke Doehner, who also prepares the breakfasts at the Generals' Quarters. Since buying the historic bed and breakfast inn in 1994, he and his wife Charlotte have expanded into the Victorian home next door, landscaped a garden area in between, and launched the deli.

That same innovative spirit led John Frame to create a new lodging option for Corinth. Working downtown, he admired the 1886 building on the corner of Cruise and Franklin. When he bought the deteriorated property in 2002, he admits, "No one shared my vision for it." Two years later, he opened Franklin Cruise, consisting of an antique and rug showroom on the first floor and two hotel suites with separate entrances above. Privacy, roominess room·y  
adj. room·i·er, room·i·est
Having plenty of room; spacious. See Synonyms at spacious.



roomi·ly adv.
, and attention to creature comforts define his vision, which has appealed so far to an even mix of business and pleasure travelers.

Visionary leadership has been hard at work in Corinth since 1855, when the originally named "Cross City" was settled where the Mobile & Ohio and the Memphis & Charleston railroads were surveyed to cross. Ironically, the same strategic crossover that helped Corinth prosper attracted more than 200 generals and 300,000 troops between 1861-1865. They left behind an unparalleled visual record familiar mainly to military historians until recent efforts raised the town's stature among casual history buffs.

In 1862, a spring siege and a bloody two-day battle in October produced a massive system of fortifications This is a list of fortifications past and present, a fortification being a major physical defensive structure often composed of a more or less wall-connected series of forts. . According to according to
prep.
1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians.

2. In keeping with: according to instructions.

3.
 the National Park Service (NPS NPS National Park Service
NPS Naval Postgraduate School
NPS Net Promoter Score (customer management)
NPS Non-Point Source pollution
NPS Native Plant Society
NPS Norfolk Public Schools (Virginia) 
), Corinth's surviving earthworks earthworks: see land art.  are "one of the largest and best preserved groups of field fortifications An emplacement or shelter of a temporary nature which can be constructed with reasonable facility by units requiring no more than minor engineer supervisory and equipment participation. " in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. . To foster their protection, the NPS declared 16 individual sites, including batteries, rifle pits, four houses used as military headquarters, and the Corinth National Cemetery Corinth National Cemetery is a United States National Cemetery in the city of Corinth, in Alcorn County, Mississippi. It encompasses 20 acres, and as of the end of 2005, had 7,137 interments. It is administered by the Little Rock National Cemetery. , as the Siege and Battle of Corinth The Battle of Corinth may refer to a Roman battle, or to one of two American Civil War Battles:
  • The Battle of Corinth (146 BC)
  • The Battle of Corinth I (April 29–June 10 1862). Also known as the Siege of Corinth.
 National Historic Landmark A National Historic Landmark (NHL) is a building, district, site, structure, or object, almost always within the United States, officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance. .

Rosemary Williams, who lives in Oak Home, one of those historic houses The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view of the subject.
Please [ improve this article] or discuss the issue on the talk page.
List of historic houses is a link page for any stately home or historic house.
, has been a driving force in the acquisition and care of the sites. "The opportunity not only to preserve the community's history but to be involved in a viable economic development project was worth the diligence," she says.

Since 1981, Williams has also volunteered as manager of the 1924 Coliseum Theatre For other uses, see Coliseum.

The Coliseum Theatre (also known as the London Coliseum) is on St. Martin's Lane, in the City of Westminster. It is one of London's largest and best equipped theatres and opened in 1904, designed by theatrical architect Frank Matcham
. Built for silent movies and vaudeville vaudeville (vôd`vĭl), originally a light song, derived from the drinking and love songs formerly attributed to Olivier Basselin and called Vau, or Vaux, de Vire. , it was to be demolished when she rallied support for its ornate interior and perfect acoustics. Resurrected as the Coliseum Civic Center, its 900 seats now hold audiences for productions by community, school, and church groups; the Corinth Symphony Orchestra; and "Pickin' on Courtsquare." The popular Pickin' group performs bluegrass bluegrass, any species of the large and widely distributed genus Poa, chiefly range and pasture grasses of economic importance in temperate and cool regions. In general, bluegrasses are perennial with fine-leaved foliage that is bluish green in some species. , folk, and gospel outside the courthouse on Thursday evenings, moving inside the Coliseum during cold weather.

As chair of the Siege and Battle of Corinth Commission since 1993, Williams has dedicated herself to preserving the city's past. A complete list of the commission's accomplishments, including the rescue of 800 acres from development and the establishment of a historic hiking and biking trail, is mind-boggling, but most prominent has been the creation of the $9.5 million Corinth Civil War Interpretive Center by the National Park Service. The center, which opened in July 2004 near the site of Battery Robinett, features interactive exhibits, state-of-the-art videos, and captivating cap·ti·vate  
tr.v. cap·ti·vat·ed, cap·ti·vat·ing, cap·ti·vates
1. To attract and hold by charm, beauty, or excellence. See Synonyms at charm.

2. Archaic To capture.
 artwork within a stark bermed-design building that mimics the city's earthworks. Artisans from the Lugar Foundry in Eads, Tennessee, masterfully crafted a life-sized bronze relief of marching soldiers at the front door and randomly embedded bronzed battlefield debris along the winding walkway. A water feature in the back courtyard symbolically traces the course of American history up to 1870.

An abundance of artifacts artifacts

see specimen artifacts.
 also fills the Northeast Mississippi Museum, opened in 1986. By spring 2006, the museum will move into the depot at the historic crossroads. Director Kristy White describes the museum's collections as "general history," although Civil War memorabilia predominates. "Our new professionally designed depot exhibits will complement those in the national park facility, not compete with them," White says.

In 2004, C & D Jarnagin Company opened a retail showroom near the depot. For 30 years, they have filled mail orders for replica military clothing and gear from wars between 1750 and 186S. Movie and stage companies, national parks This is a list of national parks ordered by nation. Africa
See also:
  • Algeria
  • Botswana
  • Chad
  • Ethiopia
  • Gabon
  • Kenya
  • Madagascar
  • Morocco
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
, and reenactors all rely on their specialized inventory--now available to history buffs.

Whether buff or casual visitor, a number of self-guided tours produced by the Siege and Battle of Corinth Commission and the city will enhance a stay in Corinth with glimpses of the rich history and architectural treasury here. Even with all of the permanent resources, the Corinth Area Tourism Promotion Council still strives to enlighten travelers to the wealth of attractions found in this area. Executive director Del Horton says the reenactment re·en·act also re-en·act  
tr.v. re·en·act·ed, re·en·act·ing, re·en·acts
1. To enact again: reenact a law.

2.
 of the Battle of Corinth planned for October 1-2 will be the largest ever, with at least 5,000 costumed participants expected. Before then, Corinth will hold a three-week celebration of its 150th anniversary, starting June 25 with a Sesquicentennial ses·qui·cen·ten·ni·al  
adj.
Of or relating to a period of 150 years.

n.
A 150th anniversary or its celebration.

Noun 1.
 Parade. Expect fun, food, music, and--of course--special events built around the city's historic legacy.

The Corinth Companion

WHAT TO DO

Black History Museum of Corinth

Open Thursdays and Fridays.

1109 Meigg St. 662/665-8500

Corinth Civil War Interpretive Center

Open daily; free admission.

501 W. Linden Linden, city, United States
Linden, city (1990 pop. 36,701), Union co., NE N.J., in the New York metropolitan area; inc. 1925. During the first half of the 20th cent.
 St. 287-9273

Historic District Tours

Self-guiding tours for walking or driving.

Corinth Area Tourism Promotion Council, 602 E. Waldron St. 287-8300

www.corinth.net

Northeast Mississippi Museum

Loaded with artifacts and photographs.

204 E. Fourth St. 287-3120

Verandah-Curlee House Museum

National Historic Landmark open for tours.

301 Childs St. 287-9501

www.curleehouse.org

Battle of Corinth Reenactment

Set for October 1-2.

800/748-9048

www.corinth.net

Corinth Theatre-Arts

"Little Shop of Horrors" performances May 6-8.

303 Fulton Dr. 287-2995

www.corinththeatrearts.com

Sesquicentennial Celebration

Special events June 25-July 14.

287-8300

WHERE TO DINE

Borroum's Drug Store

Ice cream favorites, sandwiches, and slugburgers.

604 Waldron St. 662/286-3361

Corinth Downtown Deli

Homemade soups, salads, and baked goods.

510 Waldron St. 665-0277

Cross City Grille

Steaks, seafood, sandwiches, and salads.

307 E. Waldron St. 287-7282

Datan's Fine Cuisine

Steaks, seafood, pork, and chicken.

707 Foote St. 287-5504

Dilworth's Tamale Tamale (təmä`lē), town (1984 pop. 136,828), capital of the Northern Region, N Ghana. It is a road junction and agricultural trade and education center.  Shop

Drive-through only since 1962.

111 Taylor St. 665-0833

Gilmore's at Shiloh Ridge

Steaks, salads, and buffet overlooking the 18th green.

3303 Shiloh Ridge Rd. 286-8000

KC's Espresso

Coffee specialties and pastries.

415 N. Fillmore St. 287-5360

Martha's Menu

Where the locals eat all day.

702 Cruise St. 287-2590

WHERE TO STAY

Franklin Cruise

Luxury hotel suites downtown.

515 Cruise St. 662/287-8069

www.franklincruise.com

The Generals' Quarters

Bed and breakfast inn in historic district.

924 Fillmore St. 286-3325

www.thegeneralsquarters.com

Samuel D. Bramlitt House

Victorian bed and breakfast.

1125 Cruise St. 396-4979

www.bramlitthouse.com

WHERE TO SHOP

Ann's Home & Gift Gallery

1808 E. Shiloh Rd. 662/287-3606

Biggers Hardware

Fourth-generation downtown business.

602 Cruise St. 287-1445

C & D Jarnagin Company

113 Fillmore St. 287-4977

www.jarnaginco.com

Corinth Artist Guild Gallery

507 Cruise St. 665-0520

Downtown Books

515 Franklin St. 284-2665

Fabulous Finds

1905 Hwy. 72 E. 287-4011

Franklin Cruise

Antiques, rugs, home decor.

515 Cruise St. 287-8069

Ginger's

Apparel and gifts for all ages.

Harper Square Mall. 286-2821

JB Outdoors

Bicycles, gifts, and clothing.

800 Cruise St. 287-5650

Junkers Parlor II

Antique furniture Antique furniture is the term for collectible interior furnishings of considerable age; often its age, rarity, condition, utility, or other unique features makes the furniture desirable.  and collectibles.

2017 Hwy 72 E. 284-5980

Kates & Company

Dolly Mama's, candles, soaps, china, etc.

504B Foote St. 287-9998

Little's Jewelers

607 Cruise St. 286-5041

Sanctuary

Antiques in a historic church building.

1009 Taylor St. 287-3770

Spice of Life Books & Gifts

Harper Square Mall. 287-9471

Waits Jewelry

Historic business in a historic building.

410 Fillmore St. 286-2177

Waldron Street Market

Candles, foods, fashions, and children's gifts.

606 Waldron St. 665-9164

Yesterday's & Today's Dolls

2019 Hwy. 72 E. 287-9181
COPYRIGHT 2005 Downhome Publications, Inc.
No portion of this article can be reproduced without the express written permission from the copyright holder.
Copyright 2005, Gale Group. All rights reserved. Gale Group is a Thomson Corporation Company.

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Article Details
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Author:Copp, Darlene
Publication:Mississippi Magazine
Date:May 1, 2005
Words:1523
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