Mississippi Roads is headquartered in north central Mississippi in one of the two county seats of Carroll County; we are in the picturesque town of Carrollton. http://www.carrollcountyms.com/home.htm
Coming to Carrollton is like stepping back in time. In fact when the movie “The Reivers” was being filmed here in 1968 they laid pea gravel on the asphalt road and covered up one storefront on the square. The rest of historic Carrollton was just perfect for the movies setting in 1904.
Today the town continues to keep its charm intact with some 66 different homes and dwellings on the National Register of Historic Places.
As a matter of fact; this could be a perfect scene for an artist to paint. Maybe like the one in our first story.
Don Jacobs is a local artist that has quite literally learned to think outside the box. Don studied graphic arts in Germany and went on to have a successful career as a graphic artist designing many popular logos for Hooper’s Sound and Peavey Electronics. Don eventually decided to start working larger, by taking on faux finish projects in large homes. It was by doing faux finishing work that Don discovered his talents as a muralist. Since then Don has gone on to do a variety of murals in homes, churches, and even the governor’s mansion. http://www.donjacobs.net/home.html
Mississippi John Hurt spent most of his life just outside Carrollton in the community of Avalon. He was a pioneer blues and folk guitarist who lived in relative obscurity until he was rediscovered in the 1960’s. Today his old home has been moved near his birthplace and serves as a museum to honor the legendary bluesman.
A gospel and blues festival is also held each year here on the grounds of the museum. Musicians and fans from around the world converge to play and listen to their favorite John Hurt songs. http://www.msjohnhurtmuseum.com/
And speaking of making music, in our next segment we meet a group whose reputation precedes them.
The Jackson State University Sonic Boom of the South lives up to its name. For over 65 years the Sonic Boom has entertained with their contemporary music and maneuvers, while still striving for musical excellence. More than just a SWAC marching band, the Sonic Boom performs for crowds of all sizes across the state, while they continue to rock the house at JSU football games every fall. www.sonicboomofthesouth.com
The Community House in Carrollton was built in 1936 out of native pine logs under the Depression-era Works Project Act. Generations of Carrollton residents have used the building for birthday parties, wedding receptions and family reunions over the years. When the building began to deteriorate the citizens rallied together to raise money to restore this treasure to its former glory. You see, the people here in Carrollton have a great sense of community and they are striving to keep this nostalgic town alive and flourishing by maintaining integrity.
In our next story, we meet some other Carrollton residents who are bringing nostalgia and good times back to the courthouse square.
The Carroll County Market is a community based business featuring products that are locally made, acquired (or bartered) for. "Local" in this case means as local as possible. We are hoping to find local growers to provide fruits and vegetables in season, arts and crafts people who make suitably functional items for use in the home, business or personal life. A portion of the market will hold a small but wide range of reading materials in concert with Turnrow Books. Some selected functional antiques and pieces will be for sale as well as the occasional fine recycled clothing. A fountain drink and ice cream-frozen yogurt bar is coming soon, and Field Kitchen cooks Gregor Jones and Cecil Abels plan to put on provide monthly-weekly catered home style "come as you are" meals that not only taste great but make you feel good. Lastly but not least, the Carroll County Market will feature live performance art, music on a stage and maybe a little art house movie that you can't find out there on the big screen.
http://www.carrollcountymarket.com/
The Carroll County Courthouse in Carrollton was built in 1876 after a fire destroyed the first one. It is one of two courthouses in the county. The other is located in Vaiden.
The reason for two courthouse in some counties was there was a law in Mississippi that said you should be able to travel to the county seat from anywhere in the county in one day by mule or wagon. The original size of the county was 908 square miles. It was later broken up to form three other counties and the size was reduced to its present size of 615 square miles.
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