Gautier Home Gone

Link - Hurricane Katrina claimed the Henry Gautier home, built in 1870. A bit about the home's history is in the article.

CD Life

Link - Interesting article on life expectancy of CDs for those of us storing info on them. (Hat tip to Dick Eastman.)

NARA Releases Funds for Gulf Coast Archivists

Dick Eastman reports that NARA is releasing up to $25,000 to state archives to provide disaster recovery of documents and such in areas affected by Katrina.

New Online Genealogical Journal

Annals of Genealogical Research is a new online genealogical journal. For a review, see Dick Eastman's blog.

Caragen House

Link - A Starkville home is Mississippi's only Steamboat Gothic-Style home. A brief house history is included.

Historic Tunica Home to Be Restored

Link - A home on Harris Street just west of School Street is getting some much needed attention.

There is some controversy over the original date of construction of the building, but the property on which it sits was deeded in November of 1911 from Annie Irwin to her daughter Amanda Iddella Irwin, who became the wife of the Honorable Judge J.T. Lowe. Many believe that the building was constructed around 1912 by Judge Lowe. Amanda's father, R.C.Irwin, the husband of Annie Irwin, had purchased the property from Town of Tunica founder Mr. E.L. Harris in June of 1887 and later purchased the entire east half of Section 32 on which the Town of Tunica now sits.

Blythe Creek Baptist Church

Link - Blythe Creek Baptist Church is Choctaw County's Church of the Week.

Comments Off

Due to comment spam, I'm disabling comments from now on.

Winston County Book Published

Link - Louis Taunton has published Excerpts from the Winston County Journal and Plattsburg Times October 14, 1892 through December 29, 1899. The book is available for $25 plus $1.75 tax plus $3 shipping from Taunton Publishers, 108 Meadowview Drive, Louisville, MS 39339.

Friendship Oak: A Symbol of Strength

Link - The 500 year old tree has survived Camille and Katrina.

Tunica Historic Home to be Renovated

Link - One of Tunica's homes will be completely renovated.

There is some controversy over the original date of construction of the building, but the property on which it sits was deeded in November of 1911 from Annie Irwin to her daughter Amanda Iddella Irwin, who became the wife of the Honorable Judge J.T. Lowe. Many believe that the building was constructed around 1912 by Judge Lowe. Amanda's father, R.C.Irwin, the husband of Annie Irwin, had purchased the property from Town of Tunica founder Mr. E.L. Harris in June of 1887 and later purchased the entire east half of Section 32 on which the Town of Tunica now sits.

Lovelady's Legacy

Link -

FOREST--He leaves behind a legacy of land, family and respect.

For 94 years, Alart Lovelady was one of the oldest black landowners in Forest who dedicated his life to preserving the heritage of the black race.

When he died on Aug. 30, the Lovelady family grieved the loss of their beloved father, grandfather and uncle, but they also celebrated the heritage that he left behind.

Museum Schooners Survive

Link - The Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum's replica schooners survived Katrina with "barely a scratch."

Is There a "Bayland" in Mississippi's Future?

Link - Apparently they've been debating merging Bay St. Louis and Waveland for many years. With both towns in such devastating states, some people think the timing is right for the merger to take place.

Bear Creek Baptist Church - Weir

Link - Choctaw County's featured church history this week is Bear Creek Baptist Church of Weir.

Genealogical Meeting Still on in Ocean Springs

The following was posted to the ALAUTAUG-L listserv by Larry Caver who is the speaker:

FYI... I have just received a letter from Linda Robinson of the Ocean
Springs Genealogical Society in Ocean Springs, MS. She and a pet cat rode out the
storm at here home. Both are alive and well in spite of the horrific storm
that came ashore in that state. Linda has stated to me that the workshop I am
scheduled to do there in October is still a go. She says that the Mary C.
O'Keefe Building, where the workshop is scheduled to be held, is still
standing.

Due to the overwhelming determination that exists in Oceans Springs I still
plan to conduct the workshop. Linda states that she has no phone lines and
email at this time. Any registrations should be sent in to her by mail. Her
mailing address is: Linda Robinson, 6101 Moreton Pl, Ocean Springs, MS
39564. Below is an article which appeared recently regarding the article. It
shares more information on the workshop.

If you are in the Gulf Coast area, make plans to attend this event and show
your support for the cause of "genealogy" and in lifting up this genealogical
society which has been tried so much this year. Also, please share this email
with others. We want to get the word out that the workshop is still scheduled
as planned. If you or your society have any "door prizes" you would like to
donate, please send them with a note ("dorr prize") to Linda Robinson.
These will be given out to participants at the workshop.



September 2, 2005
American Indian research on agenda
By Nancianne Parkes Suber
Special to The Clarion-Ledger (Jackson, MS)

It's time to get your calendars out as the fall schedule is rapidly filling
up with interesting opportunities for family researchers. Among those
opportunities is a workshop being hosted by the Ocean Springs Genealogical Society.

The workshop will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Oct. 22 at the Mary C. O'Keefe
Cultural Center of Art and Education at 1600 Government St., Ocean Springs.

Larry E. Caver Jr. of Wilmer, Ala., will speak about American Indian research
and the use of vital records. Caver is a noted Alabama genealogist who has
researched and written 11 books on the topics. Caver plans to discuss tools that
are available for American Indian research and provide an overview of
Southeastern tribes including the Cherokee, Creek, Choctaw and Chickasaw. Case
studies of individuals who have documented their American Indian ancestry will be
examined. The Vital Records presentation will be an overview of the various
records that exist (birth, death, marriage,
divorce) and how to gain access to them.

A donation of $15 is requested to cover workshop expenses. Participants are
asked to register by Oct. 15. Proceeds will be dedicated to the Mary C. O'Keefe
History and Genealogy Room in memory of Regina Hines Ellison, a founder of
the OSGS.

For details, contact Linda D. Robinson at robinsonld@i-55.com or call (228)
875-1480.

Pascagoula Historic Homes Destroyed

Link - All of Pascagoula's historic beachfront homes were destroyed by Katrina. The Old Spanish Fort was damaged.

1820 Breath House Gone

Link - The only thing left of the historic Breath house in Bay St. Louis built in 1820 is an oak.

Beauvoir Can Be Restored!!!!!!!!!!

Link - Wonderful news today. Jefferson Davis' home, Beauvoir, is "structurally sound and can be restored."

Katrina & Historic Preservation

Link - Mississippi Heritage Trust has placed online photos of before and after damage to many of Mississippi's historic structures affected by Katrina. Some have both before and after photos; some have only one or the other. They have also set up a fund to assist in the recovery of damaged historic structures.

Biloxi Old City

Link - Some wonder if the Old City will survive Katrina, particularly if historic preservation is not considered as important as rebuilding the economy.

Battle of Corinth Reenactment Set

Link - The Battle of Corinth reenactment is set for October 1 & 2.

Interesting Katrina Article

Link - Although this article primarily focuses on the New Orleans relocation efforts, it is a very interesting perspective of Katrina's effects on history.

Rescuing Pass Christian History

Link - Unofficial town historian Billy Bourdin salvages what he can of Pass Christian's history.

Katrina Photos

Here are some links to photographs taken by Walter Fleming of the damage caused by Katrina.

Katrina damage in General
Katrina damage in Waveland

Civil War Damage Assessment from Katrina

Link - A blog devoted to blogging damage caused by Hurricane Katrina to Civil War sites.

Thoughts on Katrina

We are watching history in the making as we see the terrible destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina not only in Mississippi, but also in Louisiana and Alabama. Maps will be redrawn. Communities such as Waveland, Mississippi have suffered so much destruction that they are in essence obliterated. I've watched video clips at WLBT and WLOX in addition to the coverage by all the national networks. It's just so overwhelming. The economies of Southern Mississippi and New Orleans have been ravaged. We're now hearing estimates on the networks of 25% unemployment rates for the affected areas, but when I view the destruction, I can't help but wonder how it cannot be higher. I believe we saw a turning point today as they were able to finally coordinate efforts to really get people out of New Orleans. I know that part of the problem was that there was so little fuel available for the tractor trailers and buses that were bringing relief. I heard today that one of the pipelines that had been closed is now back up to full capacity. That should be good news.

I've not been able to do much blogging because I've just been so overwhelmed. I've finally heard from all my cousins in the affected regions, and all are safe. Today I looked through some of my history books that dealt with the coastal counties. Some of the places in those books are no longer existing. I was very grateful to see on one of WLOX's videos that some of those gorgeous Pass Christian homes are still standing. The shots were not close-up, but I'm hoping that many of them can be spared. My heart aches for those who have lost homes, family, jobs, etc. by this hurricane. As I was looking at Philip D. Hearn's Hurricane Camille: Monster Storm of the Gulf, I couldn't help but wonder what they would subtitle books on Hurricane Katrina. Our thoughts and prayers are with the people displaced by Katrina.