Historic District information Preview

1

Okolona Elementary School

Okolona Elementary SchoolThis building was built in 1924 in same location as former building and served grades 1-12 of the white population. It was a three-story structure with a large front landing and flights of steps leading to the second floor. These steps could be hazardous in bad weather and presented maintenance problems. In 1957, as part of a large school building program in town, this building was remodeled, and the front steps and landings removed. This drastically altered the appearance of the school. With integration in 1970, this school building became part of the elementary school.

2

Grace Episcopal

Grace Episcopal Church-c.1908 TudorThis church building is a replica of an English chapel. It was consecrated by Bishop Dubose Bratton in 1909. Organized in 1851, the first church was located on the corner of Church and Main St. The bell is from the only steamboat that traveled up and down The Tombigbee River (Source: Mattie Buchanan in Okolona WPA). The designs of this church and Church of the Resurrection in Starkville are based on that of St. Columb’s Chapel in Jackson. Included in the Inventory of the Church Archives of Mississippi – Protestant Episcopal Church – Diocese of Mississippi (1940) (#37, pp. 72-73) and Historic Churches of Mississippi (2007).

3

Okolona Presbyterian Church

Okolona Presbyterian ChurchThis church was constructed in the 1880’s. The Presbyterians formed their church in 1856 and built a church around 1859 on the corner of Jefferson and School Streets.

4

Okolona Health Department

Okolona Health Department -Construction 1960-Colonial Revival-This health center was constructed through funding provided by the federal Hill-Burton Act of 1946. It is a good example of a small, mid-century clinic in a rural community A plaque on the façade of the building reads: “Okolona Branch Health Center, Okolona, Mississippi, 1960—Erected and equipped under provisions of the Hospital Construction Program of the Public Health Service and the State of Mississippi.”

5

Carnegie Library

Okolona Carnegie LibraryThis building was built in 1914. In 1915, a really extraordinary thing happened. The mayor and city council after ‘much deliberation’ decided to allow women to vote in an election to select a librarian for the new library.

6

US Post Office

US Post OfficeThis location was built in 1937. There is a hidden treasure in the lobby. In 1939, a mural entitled ‘The Richness of the Soil’ was painted by Harold G. Egan. This was part of the Works Progress Administration, later called the Works Projects Administration (WPA), established in 1935 as Depression Era aid to provide jobs for the unemployed who were able to work The art program gave artists a chance to do their work and gave rise to new art movements. Although the Okolona mural has been painted over, it can be restored when found.

7

First United Methodist Church

First United Methodist ChurchThis church building was erected in 1908. Organized in the 1840s, the first Methodist Church was built in 1846 or 47 on corner of Main/Church; another was built there in 1865. The next location was built in 1878 on Olive Street, that is now Lifeline Baptist Church.

8

Brumby’s Laundromat

Brumby’s Laundromat-213 Main Street-c. 1926

9

Masonic Hall

Masonic Hall(New Era Lodge No. 13)-c. 1897. Demolished in April 2010 and rebuilt

10

Okolona Messenger

Okolona MessengerBuilt in 1900. The Okolona Messenger is the oldest business establishment in Chickasaw County. It was first owned by Frank Burkitt and then by the Quinn Family, Criswell Family, and now the Blankenship Family. It has been family owned and operated for 148 years. New front windows replaced the large plate glass picture window when vandals broke the window. An awning was added in 2010. Original items used during the past 148 years are on display. There is also original printing equipment that still is operational.

11

Welcome Center

Welcome Center c. 1905. Building fell and will be rebuilt

12

Stanfield building

Stanfield Building - c. 1905

13

Carter building

Carter Building -c.1924

14

Chickasaw County Courthouse/Masonic

Chickasaw County Courthouse/Masonic Lodge-234-238This building was constructed in 1924. It is a three-story brick building of commercial appearance, which contains Masonic lodge rooms on the third story, the Chickasaw County Second District court facilities on the second story, and a commercial space (and county offices) on the ground floor.

15

Okolona Dentistry

Okolona Dentistry -c. 1899

16

Excel Commons

Excel Commons-c.1889-formerly Rubel's Department Store and Howard’s Department Store

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Excel Commons

Excel Commons - c, 1889Formerly Fisher’s Hardware

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Excel Downtown Apartments

Excel Downtown Apartments -c. 1889Formerly Fisher’s

19

Excel Commons

Excel Commons -c. 1889Formerly Fisher Furniture and Tom Gregory Grocery

20

Bank of Okolona

Bank of OkolonaThis building was built in 1924 by the Okolona Banking Company. It has been occupied by the Bank of Okolona since January 3, 1931 when R.W. Chandler was president of the bank.

21

Okolona Area Chamber of Commerce

Okolona Area Chamber of Commerce - c. 1889

22

Unoccupied Building

Unoccupied - c. 1942.Formerly Chandler Furniture and Sidney’s Department Store

23

Okolona Payment Center

Okolona Payment Center217 Main Street-c. 1889

24

Unoccupied Building

Unoccupied c/ 1889Formerly Colbert’s New Deal Grocery (McGee’s Main Street Food Mart)

25

Unoccupied Building

Unoccupied c. 1889Formerly Dawson Grocery

26

Angel Homemakers

Angel Homemakers 1925

27

Okolona Pharmacy and Okolona Gifts

Okolona Pharmacy and Okolona Gifts

28

First Baptist Church

Okolona First Baptist ChurchThis structure was built in 1924. The original Baptist Church in Okolona was built in 1849 on the northwest corner of Main and Church Streets. In 1895, one was built in the location of the present one.

29

Calvary Baptist Church

Calvary BaptistThis building was built in 1974 and replaced one already located there. Calvary Baptist represents the merging of two Black Baptist Churches in Okolona in 1920. Theearliest Baptist Church for Blacks in Okolona was organized in 1868. Okolona College began here.

30

Lifeline Baptist Church

Lifeline Baptist ChurchThis building was purchased by the congregation of the Christian Church in 1923 and was originally built in 1878 by the Methodists. It was used as a residence between 1908 and 1923. The first record of a Christian Church congregation in the town of Okolona is 1893.

31

Mt. Pisgah United Methodist Church

Mt Pisgah United Methodist ChurchThis building of the 1990s replaced one built in 1896 that stood practically in the same location. Mt. Pisgah, organized in 1867, was the first church in town established solely for Blacks.

32

St. Theresa’s Catholic

St. Theresa’s CatholicThis Gothic Revival church structure was built and dedicated in 1922. The original Catholic Church was dedicated on September 23, 1883 and was located on corner of Washington and N. Olive. The original church was named Our Lady of Good Help.