Mississippi Roads comes to you this week from the county seat of Winston County. We invite you to “step into the good life” and discover the town of Louisville.

Winston County and the town of Louisville were both named for Louis Winston, a Natchez lawyer prominent in Mississippi politics.

Timber was an important factor in spurring growth in the region and today that industry is still the backbone of the local economy.

If you come into Louisville on Highway 14 west this is what greets you; Mr. Bill Taylor’s Water Wheel. This picturesque landmark is a welcome site for visitors and residents alike.

Well, the same man who owns the water wheel is responsible for this. The American Heritage Big Red Fire Museum is Bill Taylor’s hobby. The building houses one of the finest collections of antique fire trucks and wagons in the county. It’s truly a rare gem in the crown of downtown Louisville. The Museum is open by appointment only.

And speaking of rare gems, in our next story we meet a Stewart family that found a diamond in the rough on the side of the road. The Kelley family picked up a stray dog that turned out to be from one of the oldest breeds known to man.

We are at Lake Tiak-O’khata which means lake of the pines. This privately owned resort is operated by descendants of the Smyth family, who were early settlers in the Louisville area. Here at the one hundred acre lake you will find cabins, a motel, r. v. park, swimming, fishing, hiking trails, lighted tennis courts and of course plenty of natures beautiful scenery.

In our next story, we introduce you to a group of guys who are getting out and enjoying nature with help from some high tech devices. These men are using G.P.S. systems to hunt for hidden treasures.

Just outside of the town of Louisville is the legendary birthplace of the Choctaw Indian Nation and the site of their Sacred Mound, Nanih Waiya, was occupied by the Choctaws from approximately the time of Christ until European contact with North America. The Nanih Waiya historic site features a swinging bridge leading to a cave under the Sacred Mound. A Choctaw burial mound is also located in the area.

Next, we travel to another burial site down in South Mississippi that’s in danger of being lost forever. In Port Gibson some Union Soldier’s graves are facing certain extinction without the help of some unlikely people.

In our next story we travel over to French camp and visit one of the premiere observatories that can be found in the area. The Rainwater Observatory and Planetarium is an educational ministry of French Camp Academy. Even though there is some research-grade equipment, the facility's mission is primarily educational. The facility is shared with interested amateur astronomers, school science classes, scout, church, or civic groups. The observatory site is located on State Highway 413 just off of the Natchez Trace Parkway in central Mississippi near the village of French Camp (about halfway between Jackson and Tupelo).

The Observatory, the largest in the state, has 16 telescopes plus other optical instruments. These instruments are spread out on our fenced-in hilltop site, which is open, by appointment, to both individuals and groups. The instruments are housed in nine small buildings and on five outdoor piers. The largest telescope is a 32-inch Tectron with Starport computer assist.

(top of page)