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IMAGES
From
Nostalgiaville |
NOTE: A Click of your Mouse on most of the pictures will enlarge them for better viewing
| HISTORIC HOMES OF VICKSBURG, MISSISSIPPI |
| HISTORIC HOMES |  |
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901, 905, 913 CRAWFORD STREET Middle house constructed ca 1830 by John Lane, a member of Vicksburg's founding family. Flanking Italianate townhouses constructed ca 1872: 901 by a niece of Jeff Davis: 913 by Judge Upton Young. |
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HOME OF FANNIE VICK WILLIS JOHNSON
(1855 - 1931) Descended from the first Vick, she became the greatest individual contributor to her city, state and church. To all Saints College, YMCA, Christ's Church, St Mary's, Salvation Army, orphans and even strangers. Benefactor by her quiet unassuming leadership took Vicksburg well into the 20th century and became perhaps the greatest of the Vicks. |
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| Mc RAVEN HOUSE |  |
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| CHURCHES OF VICKSBURG, MISSISSIPPI |
| FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH |
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| FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH |  |
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| KING SOLOMON M B CHURCH |  |
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| CRAWFORD STREET UNITED METHODIST CHURCH |  |
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FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST SCIENTIST | 
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| CHURCH OF THE HOLY TRINITY EPISCOPAL |  |
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| ST PAUL CATHOLIC CHURCH |  |
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St George
Antiochian Orthodox Church |
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| PARKS OF VICKSBURG, MISSISSIPPI |
| RIVERFRONT PARK | 
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THE MAKING OF A CITY The City of Vicksburg was founded in 1819 by Newit Vick, a Methodist minister. He died of yellow fever before the town could be laid out, however, leaving that task to his son-in-law, John Lane. Incorporated in 1825 with a population of 180, the city grew rapidly because of its location on high bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River and soon became the largest and most progressive city in the state. The city administration worked diligently to provide educational facilities, fire and police protection, and a new city hall in the latest Beaux Arts style. Public transportation began with horse drawn trolleys to the far corners of the city. One of the highlights of recreational activities was watching the Vicksburg Billies, a semi-pro baseball team. |
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JOSEPH BIEDENHARN AND THE FIRST
BOTTLING OF COCA-COLA On a summer day in 1894, Joseph Biedenharn, a candy merchant and soda fountain operator, had an idea that would reshape the soft drink industry. He took the popular fountain beverage, Coca-Cola, put it in bottles and delivered it to rural areas outside of Vicksburg. It was the first time Coca-Cola had been sold in bottles. Mr Biedenharn created a totally new concept of marketing the beverage and established the cornerstone of the independent network of franchise bottlers who now distribute bottled Coca-Cola all over the world. Born in 1866, Joseph Biedenharn was the eldest of eight children and in his teens became part of the candy business founded by his father and uncle. Later he and his brothers Will, Harry, Lawrence, Herman, Ollie, Albert and sister Katy acquired franchises to bottle Coca-Cola in Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas. The building located at 1107 Washington Street, where the first bottling took place, was built in 1890 and is operated today as a museum interpreting this important moment in our Nation's history. |
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WASHINGTON STREET, VICKSBURG'S
COMMERCIAL CENTER Washington Street became the commercial center of Vicksburg in 1839 when a fire destroyed the downtown area on Main Street. This scene, c. 1912, shows the 1400 block looking north toward the Yazoo Canal. In the early 20th century, Vicksburg was the state's chief commercial and banking center. On Washington Street, one could purchase any necessity, service, or luxury desired. In the 1400 block alone, retailers offered groceries, candy, ice cream, liquor, tobacco, business machines, clothing, shoes, furniture, stoves, and pharmaceuticals. Services were provided by tailors, barbers, doctors, advertising agents, printers, banks, and restaurants. Two movie theaters featured the latest films. Residents came downtown by trolleys that plied more than ten miles of track. The trolley in the foreground has the sides removed for summer. |
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TEDDY ROOSEVELT BEAR HUNT On November 12th, 1902, the Washington Post reported that President Theodore Roosevelt was headed to Smedes, Mississippi, 25 miles north of Vicksburg, for a 4 day bear hunt. The article said the president "did not anticipate the pleasure of killing a bear so much as the pleasure of a few days complete recreation in the woods." The guide for the hunt was Holt Collier, a scout during the Civil War and later a guide for General Wade Hampton. Collier had helped kill 1000 bears, nearly 150 in a single season. On November 14, the hounds cornered a 235 pound bear. Collier tied it to a tree and called for the president. When Roosevelt arrived, he would not shoot the bear. Political cartoonist Clifford Berryman drew Roosevelt with a little bear tied to a tree with caption, "Drawing the Line in Mississippi." Soon toy manufacturers were producing "Teddy's Bears," later called Teddy Bears. |
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VICKSBURG WATERFRONT CIRCA 1907 The river determined the location of Vicksburg to be on the hills above the Mississippi, safe from floods. The river was the highway of Mid-America, the lifeblood of the town and a haven for flatboats, barges, snag boats, dredges, steamboats and towboats. Buildings grew to line the hills, church spires pointed heavenward, and a handsome courthouse dominated the skyline. The river carved a new channel in 1876 leaving Vicksburg without a port until 1903 when the Yazoo River was diverted into the old bed. The scene of the city, circa 1907, is a reminder that Vicksburg was born of the river. |
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THE STEAMER SULTANA On April 24, 1865, the Sultana left Vicksburg with over 2,300 Union soldiers abroad, many of whom were former prisoners of war. Some 200 civilians were also on board, despi9te a legal limit of 376 people. Due to a faulty boiler, the Sultana exploded north of Memphis, killing at least 2,800, the greatest maritime disaster in U S history. |
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C. S. S. ARKANSAS The C. S. S. Arkansas, an ironclad built in Yazoo City, met the Union vessels Queen of the West, Tyler and Carondelet on July 15, 1862, on the Yazoo River. Moving into the Mississippi, the Arkansas ran past thirty-nine Union vessels on her way to Vicksburg, inflicting numerous hits on the enemy. The Arkansas was later scuttled to avoid capture. |
| LEVEE STREET STATION |  |
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MEMORIAL PARK |
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| NAVY CIRCLE PARK |  |
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U S BATTERY BENTON. ACTING
MASTER J FRANK REED A detachment of Battery E, 1st Missouri Light Artillery. Under Lieutenant Joseph B Atwater and a detail of enlisted men of the 34th Iowa Infantry, all under acting Master J Frank Reed of the gunboat "Benton," served two 42 pounder rifled guns in this position, Battery Benton. From the morning of July 1 to the end of the siege, July 4, 1863. A shell from the Confederate mortar in South Fort exploded in the battery, July 1, killing two and badly wounding 4 enlisted men of the 34th Iowa Infantry. |
| LOUISIANA CIRCLE PARK | 
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"THE WIDOW BLAKELY" Because it was the lone Blakely rifled cannon in all the Vicksburg defenses, the Confederate soldiers called this 7.44 inch gun, "The Widow Blakely." During the siege it was mounted about one mile north of its present position. On May 22, 1863, the "Widow" was manned by a detachment of Company H, 1st Louisiana Heavy Artillery, Lieutenant A L Slack, commanding the detail. In that day's action against Union gunboats, one of the "Widow Blakely's" own shells exploded in its muzzle. Later, the Confederates cut away the damaged end and used the gun as a mortar. After the war, "The Widow Blakely" spent 96 years on display at the U S Military Academy's Trophy Point. |
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C S MARKS' COMPANY, 22D LOUISIANA River Batteries: Army of Vicksburg. Captain Washington Marks. A detachment of the company under Lieutenant Samuel Barnes served one ten inch Columbiad in this position from about May 26 to the end of the defense, July 4, 1863. |
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1953
TORNADO MEMORIAL December 5, 1953... the day began in a normal way. It was warm and blustery which we all know isn't all that uncommon down south during the holiday season. |
Christmas wreaths and decoration had been placed downtown and shoppers filled the family-owned mom and pop stores on Washington Street. Many locals were busy planning for the Leo Puckett benefit game in which Carr Central and Redwood schools would battle against best from Culkin and Jett. Meanwhile at the Soonger Theater, a crowd of children were enjoying a Saturday afternoon matinee... having no idea what they would soon face. Reports claimed that throughout the day it would rain and then the sun would suddenly shine again. A little after 5 PM, the clouds became darker and rain fell intermittently. Shoppers began to go home and most store owners prepared to close. Suddenly at 5:35 PM, out of the southwest tornado winds roared through the downtown area creating destruction unlike anything seen since the Siege of Vicksburg 50 years earlier. The tornado cut a path of complete ruin from the Mississippi River near the mouth of the Yazoo Diversion Channel across the main business district, leveling blocks of residential areas and then disappearing into the National Military Park and the reaches beyond The aftermath was unbelievable... hospitals overflowed with those injured, locals were lifted from their homes, motorists were killed as they rode through the streets, debris buried victims, phone and power lines were down and the Saturday afternoon matinee ended abruptly with children being trapped by a massive roof collapsing. Its toll... 38 dead, over 200 injured, 1200 or more left homeless, and a city that would have to work hard to heal the pain caused by such a disastrous beast. For Vicksburg, the tornado not only became a painful and distressing memory in the minds of all those who experienced its wrath, but it became a benchmark and part of Vicksburg's rich history. After the tragedy, people began to refer to events as "before the tornado" and "after the Tornado." The Vicksburg Post even won a Pulitzer Prize for its outstanding coverage of the tragedy. The tornado's destruction completely changed the face of the downtown area, and those store owners who worked hard to create a life for themselves and their families were forced to adapt the best way they could. Before the tornado, many of the businesses and buildings in the downtown area were several stories high. However, after the tornado, many of these floors were completely leveled or blown away. The look of downtown changed... the business district emerged from the rubble with a modern look. Now store fronts were added and the upper stories of the businesses that were destroyed by the winds... many of which served as living quarters were never rebuilt. Brick replaced wood, walls were reinforced with steel and interiors were renovated. |
| For residents and business owners the process of rebuilding was monumental, yet not as monumental as trying to forget the horrible tragedy that took the lives of loved ones and destroyed the dreams of many business owners. The look of today's downtown shopping area is a tribute to the courage and perseverance of those business leaders who worked to rebuild their lives after the tornado. This memorial is dedicated in the memory of those men, women and children who became victims on that sad December day and who will forever live in the storybooks of Vicksburg's history. |
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