A Town Called Yazoo City ... Part 1

The town of Yazoo City, Mississippi, is perched high on the foothills overlooking the edge of the flat, fertile lands of the Mississippi Delta. Located 36 miles northwest of Jackson, Yazoo City is a sleepy little town where the sights and sounds of days gone by will surround you with the charm and nostalgia of the past.

It's the birthplace and/or home to many well-known celebrities -- renown Southern writer Willie Morris, the late comedian Jerry Clower, Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour, and actress Stella Stevens, to name just a few. Willie Morris's best selling book My Dog Skip, which was made into a movie, was inspired by his memories of growing up in Yazoo City.

Mr. Willie Morris

Yesterday, I decided to make the pleasant 45-minute drive from Vicksburg to Yazoo City, and thoroughly enjoyed exploring its historical downtown district, shops, and its legendary cemetery where Mr. Morris is buried, as well as the infamous "Witch of Yazoo," whose story is detailed in Mr. Morris's book, Good Old Boy.

Highway 3 connecting Vicksburg with Yazoo City is flat and bordered by endless corn and soybean fields stretching as far as the eye can see. I loved seeing the lush green corn swaying in the hot Delta breezes and finally just couldn't stand it. I had to get out and take some pictures so I could share it with you.

This field is beginning to turn yellow and will be harvested soon ...

But look how green and lush these rows are ...

It is my understanding that most of this corn will be sold to make ethanol, but I don't know that for certain.

It surely did look good enough to eat, though ...

I passed by this little fellow and had to turn around and go back to get his picture.

Isn't he cute! They could paint his nose red for Christmas and call him "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Mailbox."

This is the view coming down one of the hills in Yazoo City. I took this one while I was driving and was pleased with the way it turned out ...

Although fire destroyed much of downtown Yazoo City and many of its finest homes in 1904, the structures that were rebuilt within a year, bear such uniformity and quality of design that almost the entire downtown district has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

It's such a pretty town and is the epitome of what "southern hospitality" is all about.

As is true of most small towns theses days, Yazoo City has its share of abandoned buildings. This is the "other end of the downtown district" ...

I love this old building with its faded Coca Cola lettering ...

I have a lot more to share with you, but this has become so lengthy I'm going to finish my journal in a second post for tomorrow. I hope you've enjoyed my day trip to Yazoo City so far and will join me tomorrow for a photo tour of the shops I visited, two beautiful old homes, and a story about the legendary Witch of Yazoo.

Sincerely,

The Gates of Vicksburg ...

Set high on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River, Vicksburg is literally a photographer's treasure trove. Not that I'm a photographer ... I come closer to being just a "picture-taker" ... but I dearly love the excitement and satisfaction of capturing unique pictures of people and things through the eye of my camera lens.

And in Vicksburg, everywhere you look there are historical buildings, antebellum homes, beautiful old churches with steeples that are truly works of art, and ... old gates, which I love.

Yesterday morning I left home fairly early, camera, cell phone, and glasses in hand, and drove the streets of Vicksburg in pursuit of some of these old gates.

I'm happy to say my search was successful and I'd like to share my findings with you.

This first gate welcomes you to Beaulieu. Built in 1899, as a private residence, it is the only Victorian mansion of its architectural type in the city.

I love the ornate floral center ...

The "scrolly" birds on this beautiful gate caught my eye, and I love the posts ...

I think this little gate is neat, although it may not be very old ...

This old ornate gate welcomes guests to Cedar Grove Mansion and Inn ...

[Note of interest: Construction on Cedar Grove was completed in 1852, and during the Civil War Cedar Grove experienced bombardment by cannon. A cannon ball is still lodged in the parlor wall.]

And this old gate is at one of the guests cottages across the street from Cedar Grove. The cottages were renovated and are available to guests.

I love the front door and brick columns as much as the gate on this one ...

From one extreme to another, but I dearly love this shabby old gate and fence with the trumpet vine growing on it ...

I hope you're still with me ... I have MORE!

The little brass latch on this gate caught my eye, as well as the lush green landscaping and steps ...

I wish I had gotten a closeup view of the detailing on this elegant little Fleur De Lis gate ... Unfortunately, some of its finials are missing, but isn't it sweet!

I love the simple elegance of this gate at the entrance to the Harding-Johnston House. Built in 1900, the house is on the National Register of Historical Places.

Here is a closeup view. Notice the little clover-shaped design in the center ...

This is a little sweetie ...

A photo tour of gates would not be complete without a white picket fence and gate, and I love this Victorian lady ...

This old gate belongs to the Corners Mansion and Inn, another antebellum home in Vicksburg, which was built in 1873.

Notice that the little flower design is on both sides of the gate ...

And last, but certainly not least, I found this old gate on a condemned building that was boarded up. I wish I could find out if they'd like to sell it -- I have a perfect place for it in my backyard.

I had fun on my little "gate adventure" and hope you enjoyed seeing my pictures. And now, I can't wait to see what kind of adventure today brings.

Sincerely,