WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Mississippi Coast On Endangered Historic Places List

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Mississippi Coast On Endangered Historic Places List: "'It was the oldest house in Biloxi before the storm and it's still the oldest house in Biloxi after the storm,' said Bobby Mahoney, standing outside Mary Mahoney's Old French House restaurant."

Colmer Family Reunites at Historic Second St. Home
A family rich in history is celebrating a post Katrina return to their South Mississippi roots. Descendants of former Mississippi congressman Bill Colmer gathered at his childhood home on Second Street Sunday. The home was severely damaged due to Katrina, but one member of the family felt very passionate about building back.

LaPointe-Krebs House gets $250,000 grant for repairs

LaPointe-Krebs House gets $250,000 grant for repairs: "PASCAGOULA -- One of the state's oldest buildings will receive a share of a $26 million grant to restore historic structures affected by Hurricane Katrina.

The Mississippi Department of Archives and History awarded a $250,000 grant to help restoration efforts at La-Pointe-Krebs House in Pascagoula, also known as Old Spanish Fort. The money will be used for interior, exterior and foundation repairs.

The house and accompanying museum are situated on Krebs Lake on the East Pascagoula River. The house was built in 1721 by French-Canadian carpenter Simon de LaPointe and is said to be the oldest existing private building in the Mississippi Valley."

Contractors sought for Beauvoir work - The Clarion-Ledger

Contractors sought for Beauvoir work - The Clarion-Ledger: "The last home of Confederate President Jefferson Davis, which drew 75,000 to 100,000 visitors annually, was heavily damaged by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. It has been closed since. Restoration of the National Historic Landmark, expected to cost millions, will take both public and private support.

Bids will be for restoration of Beauvoir House only, with the hope of a grand re-opening June 3, 2008, Davis' 200th birthday. The building will be restored to the period 1877-89, when Davis lived there.

A prequalification committee of representatives from FEMA, Mississippi Department of Archives and History, board of Beauvoir and Albert & Associates Architects will approve a general contractor with the experience and capability to work on a heavily damaged national landmark."

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Landmark Gulfport Church Comes Down After 91 Years

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Landmark Gulfport Church Comes Down After 91 Years: "It's a place where several generations of families have gone to worship and to pray. Now the members of First Baptist Church in Gulfport are saying goodbye to the downtown church. Wednesday, crews began demolishing the 91-year-old church.

Katrina destroyed First Baptist Church's sanctuary as well as several adjacent buildings. Although the church has been the waterfront since 1915, the congregation decided not to rebuild there."

Roths make Longfellow a residence for first time since 1938

Roths make Longfellow a residence for first time since 1938: "PASCAGOULA -- The Drs. Roth made history this week when they purchased the Longfellow House, making it the first time in almost 70 years that the national landmark will be used as a private residence.

Randy and Tracy Roth, both Pascagoula physicians, closed on the Beach Boulevard property Thursday. The property was listed for $750,000. It was not known Friday how much the house sold for.

After Hurricane Katrina wrecked their previous historic Beach Boulevard home, the Roths and their five children have been renting a house in Mobile."

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Lighthouse Committee Looks To Restore Landmark

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Lighthouse Committee Looks To Restore Landmark: "The most photographed landmark on the coast is about to get some renewed attention. The Biloxi Bay Chamber of Commerce wants to spruce up the lighthouse. And the group has big plans for the historic structure."

It will always remain a mystery why some landmarks were spared.

Biloxi Lighthouse

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Longfellow house, oldest Pascagoula beach-front home, up for sale

WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Longfellow house, oldest Pascagoula beach-front home, up for sale: The city of Pascagoula's oldest beachfront house is being put up for sale by the University of Mississippi Foundation. The Longfellow House is a survivor of Hurricane Katrina."


I am so sad about this that I will only say a few words. The Longfellow House has withstood many hurricanes in its long history and recently stood strong against the disastrous Katrina. We have lost so much of our southern history "up and down" the coast that to lose another is incomprehensible.

Previously I had a link in this post to the Sun Herald on an article dated 2/10/06 reporting on a homeowner being delayed starting construction of a new home because some new ruling from Fema stated that any house built before 1960 had to be approved before demolishing to ascertain if there was historical value. I am happy to update that article. The homeowner was given permission for "a go ahead".

Thought this would be of interest. Yet another frustrating delay to people who are anxious to rebuild their lives. We once owned a home in Gulfport, Mississippi built in 1957. Maybe we should have kept it.

Beauvoir, the last home of confederate president Jefferson Davis was damaged by Camille. By restoration, in my opinion, it then became a replica of what it originally was. Katrina inflicted devastating damage and in its present restoration, logically speaking, "Won't it become a replica of a replica"?

Actually I have never understood what makes for historical status. I definitely know that age alone isn't the only criteria. The picture below is of the old home I grew up in along with two brothers, a sister and our parents. It existed in the 1920's and reliable sources say it goes back further in time.


Why my fixation with the old house? It is the one thing left of a once nice area. Progress destroyed the neighborhood. Memories of both my grandparents homes, as well as those of aunts and uncles, are buried under tons of concrete. Deterioration due to old age has brought ridicule to the now dilapidated house. Demolition is a certainty. It will be gone but not forgotten. Whatever the land is used for my children and grandchildren will keep the memory alive by pointing to where their ancestors homes once stood.