'Labor of love': Hattiesburg, Jackson among cities honored for historic preservation
Saving historic buildings not only takes a lot of work, but it also takes creative minds to turn an eyesore into a shining star.
The Mississippi Heritage Trust recently recognized the efforts of some of those who have made a difference in their communities in the realm of preservation.
The awards also are given to leaders in education, legislation and other ways of keeping the state's history intact for future generations.
Among this year's winners is the Smith Drug Co. in Hattiesburg, one of several sites in the city's Sixth Street Museum District.
The city also was recognized for making historic preservation a priority — a commitment that has been in effect through city ordinances for nearly 40 years. The award was given by the Mississippi Department of Archives and History in addition to the Heritage Trust.
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"Hattiesburg now proudly boasts six historic districts that are locally and nationally designated," Heritage Trust officials said during an awards presentation June 9. "The city of Hattiesburg cites its commitment to partnerships as the key to the strength and success of its preservation efforts."
Some of those community partnerships include the Downtown Hattiesburg Association, Visit Hattiesburg, Hattiesburg Alliance for Public Art and Hattiesburg Convention Commission.
“In Hattiesburg, we believe the stories of people, buildings, neighborhoods and communities are important,” Hattiesburg Mayor Toby Barker said. “That belief translates into action and investment to preserve history while growing and evolving. We are honored for the recognition that these awards bring; however, we are more grateful for the people whose vision and commitment made them happen.”
Smith Drug Co. is an example of how the city's partnership with the Hattiesburg Convention Commission has made a positive impact.
The city purchased the building in 2020. The Convention Commission spent the next year restoring the building, which sits on Mobile Street, next to a historic marker that notes the roots of rock and roll are in Hattiesburg. The former pharmacy is now a museum dedicated to the legacy of the Smith family and the vibrant community that once thrived on Mobile Street.
"It is always nice to be recognized for the hard work and dedication to detail we put into the restoration of Smith Drug," said Rick Taylor, Executive Director of the Hattiesburg Convention Commission.
The drug store was at the center of Hattiesburg's African American commercial district, but it also served as "a focal point for civil rights activities in the 1960s, the Convention Commission said in a news release.
“The preservation of Smith Drug Co. was truly a labor of love and we’re honored to be recognized in this way,” said Latoya Norman, Director of Museums for the Hattiesburg Convention Commission. “We hope this recognition will entice visitors from across the state to visit this unique attraction.”
Norman was in Raymond to accept the Hattiesburg awards at The Raymond Venue, another recipient of a Hertiage Trust award.
The Raymond Venue was transformed from an "old Ford dealership" into an event space and store and has become one of the more popular wedding venues in the area.
One project in the Fondren District of Jackson that received a Heritage Trust award has ties to Hattiesburg. The renovated Capri Theater and entertainment complex "was many years in the making," the Heritage Trust said.
"Utilizing incentives including historic tax credits, developers Jason Watkins and David Pharr worked closely with (Hattiesburg) restaurateur Robert St. John and architects WBA to reinvent this place at the heart of the Jackson neighborhood of Fondren into a bustling community destination," Heritage Trust officials said during the award presentation.
“I would like to congratulate Jason Watkins, David Pharr and Robert St. John for literally changing the landscape of our city," Mayor Chokwe Lumumba said in an email. "Your efforts to redevelop certainly went through some hardships with the pandemic. But you persevered. You took a chance on Jackson and now Jackson is returning its appreciation.”
The Zoo Area Progressive Partnership was recognized for its volunteer efforts in contributing to the restoration and beautification of the Jackson Zoo and Capitol Street Corridor.
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ZAPP is an all-volunteer non-profit organization, with members donating time to support the zoo, which is one of Mississippi’s 10 Most Endangered Historic Places, according to the Mississippi Heritage Trust.
"Their community work to beautify the zoo and west Jackson is a labor of love," Lumumba said. "The city stands firmly behind these volunteers as they dedicate their free time to not only making sure the zoo stays where it is, but also ensuring it will again return to prominence.”
The 2022 Heritage Award recipients include:
Heritage Awards of Merit for Restoration
The Banker’s House, Natchez
Knox House Kilmichael
Stewart House, Kilmichael
Dunleith, Natchez
Threefoot Building, Meridian
Spencer Building, Senatobia
Square View, Grenada
The Lofts at Lee and the Lyceum at Lee, Columbus
Hotel 27, Greenville
Simmons House, Water Valley
Smith Drug Company, Hattiesburg
Bolivar Multipurpose Expo Complex, Cleveland
Marshall County Courthouse, Holly Springs
CCC Lodge at Percy Quin State Park
Heritage Award of Excellence for Restoration
LaPointe-Krebs House, Pascagoula
Heritage Award for Catalyst Projects
Everest, Water Valley
Pix-Capri Theater, Jackson
The Raymond Venue, Raymond
Heritage Awards for Education
The Buildings of Mississippi, Jennifer Baughn and the late Michael Fazio authors, with contributions by Mimi Miller
Heritage Awards for Organizational Excellence
Zoo Area Progressive Partnership, Jackson
Byhalia Area Arts Council
Rodney History and Preservation Society
Heritage Awards for Excellence in Stewardship of Historic Sites
University of Mississippi Museum, Rowan Oak, Oxford
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, Perkinston Campus
Heritage Awards for Distinguished Service
Wayne Timmer
The Honorable Isla Tullos
Charles Sullivan
Heritage Award for Excellence in Public Policy
The Honorable Trey Lamar
MHT-MDAH Heritage Award for Excellence in Historic District Preservation
City of Hattiesburg
Heritage Award for the Preservation of African American History
Phoenix Naval Stores Paymaster’s Office, Turkey Creek, Gulfport
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This article originally appeared on Hattiesburg American: 31 honorees recognized by Mississippi Heritage Trust for preservation