
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Community \| Obits \| Editorial & Columnists \| Society \| Sports \| Education \| Classified Ads \| Calendar of Events \| Features \| Newsbriefs \| Legals \| Archives \| Subscriptions \| Photo Gallery

Society

City Personals
Mary Clay Brooks

Charlie Douglas and children visit with parents this weekend

Charlie Douglas and children, Caroline and Chandler, of Starkville, were the weekend guests of his parents, Leigh and Dick Douglas.

Lee Stewart of Memphis was the weekend guest of Tom and Linda Stewart and their children, Brittany and Thomas.

Something fantastic is happening in Holly Springs next week! Come to the square and see a part of history. The Collins Hurdle VFW Post, in conjunction with the Holly Springs Chamber of Commerce, is sponsoring the “Cost of Freedom Tribute.” Included with this phenomenal exhibit is an 80 percent scale replica of the Vietnam Memorial, which is located in Washington, DC; a 9-11 tribute which includes all of the names of the innocent victims lost in that tragedy; a tribute by name of all of our military men and women who have lost their lives in action between Vietnam and 9-11 and also a tribute by name of all of the military who have died in Operation Iraqi and Enduring Freedom.

This exhibit is something we all need to support as a community. It pays homage to those who died in action and honors those who are currently serving our country, whether it be in the military or any other form of “protect and serve” occupation. In today’s hustle and bustle life, sometimes things are taken for granted - freedom for one. We need to remember those who have died for us so we may live as a free nation. We need to remember the parents who have lost children, the children who have lost their parents, a friend whose laugh will no longer be heard and honor the empty seat at the Thanksgiving table waiting for the soldier to return home safely.

What better time than Thanksgiving week for this tribute to roll into town. What an honor it is for us to be able to host such a magnificent exhibit. This has been in the works for a long time and is finally coming to fruition.

Tuesday, Rolling Thunder (a Vietnam Tribute Motorcycle Brigade -- they travel all around the country to honor those who have died for our country) will be leading the exhibit into town. It should arrive on the square on or around noon. Please come out and show your support. It will be on display through December 1. This is a chance to take a glimpse at the past and thank those who now serve. What a moving event this is going to be for everyone.

(To put your news in City Personals, please e-mail maryclayb@yahoo.com; mail to City Personals, The South Reporter, P.O. Box 278, Holly Springs, MS 38635 or call 662-252-4261. You may also e-mail your City Personal news to south@dixie-net.com).

LaShundra White and Anthony Johnson to wed November 22 at Shiloh Baptist

Ruvina Cathey of Memphis, Tenn., announces the forthcoming marriage of her daughter, LaShundra Renee White to Anthony Eugene Johnson, son of Eugene and Dorothy Johnson of Byhalia, Saturday, November 22 at Shiloh Baptist Church, 4 p.m.

LaShundra is the granddaughter of Detroit White and Ida Mae Martin, both of Memphis, Tenn. She is a 1994 graduate of Byhalia High School.

Anthony is the grandson of Bennie Johnson of Byhalia and the late Martha Ann Johnson and the late Elton and Eula Mae Hullett. He is a 1997 graduate of Byhalia High School.

All family, friends and classmates are welcome to attend.

The couple will reside in Byhalia.

“Christmas in Holly Springs”...there’s something for everyone – tours, concerts, dinner theatre, Dec. 6-7

Polk Place - circa 1830s

A sparkling “Christmas in Holly Springs” tour will be held Dec. 6 and 7, sponsored by the Marshall County Historical Museum. We invite every one of you to come, enjoy and participate in this delightful event. We need “home folks” to make this tour successful.

This is the only fund-raiser for the Museum all year and we work very hard to make the tour wonderful.

Each year the event is a little different and the tours are never exactly duplicated.

This year we have on the tour a “new” house, never on tour before -- Lismore Cottage, owned by Mark and Maia Miller.

We have two local concerts each at 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Mitch Stone, a local, talented artist, will perform Christmas music, accompanied by his guitar on Saturday.

On Sunday, the Marshall Academy Patriot Performers will sing. Both concerts will be held at the First Baptist Church sanctuary.

On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, there will be a marvelous Christmas dinner theatre at the Baptist activity building.

Tickets for the tour may be purchased for $22 each if bought before November 29. They can be bought for $20 each for 10 or more. The week of the tour tickets will be $25 each. Call the Museum at 662-252-3669 for more information. We take checks, credit cards or cash.

Polk Place

The house called Polk Place was built by Gen. Thomas Polk in the 1830s. Polk’s brother was the Episcopalian “Fighting Bishop” Leonidas Polk, who graduated from West Point and was a friend of Jefferson Davis. Bishop Polk was killed at the battle of Pine Mountain in 1864.

James K. Polk was a cousin, running for president of the United States, as a Democrat. Thomas was an ardent Whig, so he was never invited to the White House.

Polk Place was built as a small, L-shaped house facing Craft Street. It was a two-story house, with a full basement used for living as an English, raised-basement style house.

In this style, families would rise with the sun, go down to eat breakfast and stay downstairs, partially underground, where it was cooler and only return upstairs when the sun had set, to go to bed.

The Holly Springs Episcopal Church was formed here by Rev. Foster. Miss Emily Polk bought it in 1849 from Foster and was the guardian for his children. She was the daughter of General Polk.

Oscar Johnson bought both Polk Place and Featherston Place in 1900, to be used as guest cottages for his hunting buddies that he brought down from St. Louis on his private Pullman train car. He hired architect Theodore Link to create a private park located between the two houses and Walter Place. The park was 40 acres, going from Chulahoma to College Avenue. At the very back, westernmost parcel of the park, there was to be a large, boating lake.

Theodore Link determined to make Polk Place and Featherston match. He had his workmen dig out the dirt around each house so windows could be lowered for more light. He built the entire northernmost, gabled wing at Polk, adding a grand Palladian style porch, parlor and music room, raising the ceiling in this addition to be grand and more formal than the original house.

Link also designed the grand Beaux Arts gates that were to be the grand entry to Oscar Johnson’s park. The four iron gates were actually made by neighbor McEwen’s iron foundry for another estate in Holly Springs, before 1860, and were moved to Polk Place by Link.

Report News: (662) 252-4261 or south@dixie-net.com
Questions, comments, corrections: south@dixie-net.com
©2004, The South Reporter, All Rights Reserved.
No part of this site may be reproduced in any way without permission.
The South Reporter is a member of the Mississippi Press Association.

Web Site managed and maintained by
South Reporter webmasters Linda Jones, Kristian Jones
Web Site Design - The South Reporter

Back | Top of Page