Mississippi Roads is stationed in the heart of the Mississippi Hills Region. We are in the county seat of Union County; the fair and friendly city of New Albany.
http://www.visitnewalbany.com/
”The past is never dead. It isn’t even past.”
That quote from the William Faulkner book Requiem for a Nun is especially true here at the Union County Heritage Museum in his birthplace of New Albany. There are five exhibit rooms in the museum which houses some amazing artifacts from the days that the Native Americans ruled the land to the communities’ roots in the assembly line furniture making business that originated in the town.
The outdoor exhibit area at the museum includes a Burlington Northern caboose, a country store, a jail cell, an early 20th century doctor’s office, a blacksmith shop and the beautiful Faulkner Literary Garden.
And speaking of beautiful gardens; in our first segment we trek over to the river city of Vicksburg and marvel at a historical home in full bloom. http://www.ucheritagemuseum.com/
When you visit Linden Plantation Gardens, it’s like taking a step back in time. The former plantation dates back to 1820. That’s when John Wesley Vick, son of the founder of Vicksburg, established this home.
For more than 188 years, the gardens at Linden have had a very rich and challenging history. They have endured many hardships including the Civil War, the Great Depression, and most recently, nearly forty years of neglect.
Today, through decades of hard work by the direct decedents, and current owners of Linden, Joy and Bryan Brabston, eight of the original twelve acres of Linden Plantation Gardens have been restored. The Brabston’s greatest pleasure for bringing back the numerous formal and informal gardens is not only to preserve the past but as a way of sharing the beauty of nature with future generations. http://www.lindenplantationgardens.com/
Like many Mississippi towns New Albany has grown and progressed over the years but they still hold onto their roots very tightly; thus they have carefully preserved their historic downtown in the process of modernization.
Featured on the National Register of Historic Places, the 1909 Union County Courthouse stands out as a jewel in the crown of downtown New Albany. There are also many unique shops, quaint eateries and specialty businesses to be discovered in downtown. Another interesting tradition that still exists is that people just park their cars in the middle of the street here. It’s just another practice that makes this town a distinctive and unique place to live.
In our next story, we meet a New Albany wood carver who creates works that are also unique and distinctive.
Zack Steward discovered a new hobby after deciding he could make a wooden bowl similar to one he had seen on display at the local museum. He already had the equipment to make the bowl, had had it for years and just never used it until that moment of inspiration came along. Now he turns out pleasure for himself in creating the pieces, and passes that pleasure along to friends who are recipients of the gifts of his handiwork.
For a trip back in time stop into Latham’s Hamburger Inn on Main Street in downtown New Albany; they have been in business for more than seventy-five years serving what they call Dough-Burgers which they still fry in a cast iron skillet. The recipe for these mouth-watering sandwiches is a tightly guarded family secret.
The restaurant originally operated out of a trolley car in the 1920’s and when they moved the business across the street to their current location the original counter and old wooden swivel bar stools were brought along. They even continue to use a 1937 cash register to ring up purchases. It is truly a great place to experience the past in pristine fashion.
And speaking of the past; in our next segment we mosey on over to Jackson and discover a store that specializes in candy and soft drinks from days gone by.
Reminiscent of corner stores in Mississippi and across the nation, the Fondren Beverage Emporium seems to have something that brings people back to being a kid again; whether you’re 18 or 80. With hundreds of different sodas and drinks, they are bound to have something from your childhood like Orange Crush, Bubble-Up, Wax Lips and candy cigarettes. Situated right in the heart of Fondren in downtown Jackson, it is literally a corner store, perfect for kids looking for candy, young people on a first date or adults seeking a moment of nostalgia. www.fbeweb.com www.fondren.org
When you come to New Albany get out and see the beautiful scenery at The Park Along the River and Nature Trail, located in downtown near the Tallahatchie River. It is recognized as a Mississippi Statewide Arboretum. The Park also has a pavilion, picnic tables and two playground areas for family enjoyment.
The Park Along the River is also an entrance to the Tallahatchie Trails, a 1.5 mile walking and biking trail that connects the downtown area to the wonderful new 70-acre City of New Albany Sportsplex.
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