Saturday, March 31, 2012



Identified in The Daily Leader as Isom and Averline Rembert Smith. Identified on a copy of this photograph belonging Art Studio as "Isham Smith, youngest son of Thomas C. 'Tom Crum' and Jemima Smith - dtr. of Stephan Smith."  Picture is from the early 1900s.

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

The 50th Anniversary Celebration of Johnson's Grocery.  Note the size of the crowd and the timbers added to help support the overhang.

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

AnteBellum Home in Downtown Brookhaven

Information on file at the local library indicates that this home may have been built in 1832, making it one of the oldest in town.  Further fact-checking is needed, but I am hopeful others with information on this home (across from Brookhaven Elementary) might see this and offer up in the comments section what they know of its history. 

Sunday, March 25, 2012

For Mrs. Abrams ...
Copy of an older photograph
in John H. Williams' Old School collection. No other identifying information.

Saturday, March 24, 2012

Unidentified Family, Lincoln County, Roughly 100 Years Ago

Brookhaven Steam Laundry, Circa 1920-30

Moak's School, Circa 1910, 1911, Part of John H. Williams' Old School Collection

Left to right are (1st row) Leon Moak, Henry Buckley, Don Price, Bill McClelland, Sam Williams, Herbert Mercier (?), Fred Williams, Lonnie Moak, Aubrey Gatlin, Lester Price, Acie Thornhill, Sharp Williams /(2nd row) Jessie Lee McClelland May, Bertie McClelland Brown, Lillie Martin, Hazel Price, Myrtle Price, Bertha Hutson, Laura Moak Kyzar and 2 sisters, Lizzle Johnston Martin /(3rd row) Albert Johnston, Eva Moak Phillips, Ellen Buckley, Carrie Price, Era Thornhill Roberts, Liller Gatlin Moak, Betty Buckley, Lillie Mercier, Ola Mae Williams, Florence Martin, Era Reeves, Mandy Roberts Crawford, Annie McGuffee, Della Mae Moak Green, Mattie Brown, Mary Price, Carrie McGuffee McCormick, Plez McGuffee, Louis Howell, teacher, Selena Norman Rawls, teacher/(4th row) Ovie Thornhill McGuffee, Bill Stubbs, Claude Stubbs, George Mercier, J Q Roberts, Charlie Moak, Bonnom McGuffee, Emmit Martin, George Stubbs, Lafayette Stubbs, Houston Williams, Van Mercier, Elbert Gatlin. 

Unidentified Family, Lincoln County, Round About 100 Years Ago

The F.F. Becker Family of Brookhaven, MS -- Updated

This is the family of Ferdinand F. Becker and Mary E. McGrath Becker (far left) on the porch of their home which is now the home of the Sessums family- 514 W Chippewa St.--in late 1890's. On porch rail l to r: Josephine (Drane), William, Susie (Seeman)...on sidewalk l to r: Louise Mullins, James, John, Pierre/"Pete", Kathleen (Wuescher), Ferd V. (my G'pa), and Aileen (Phillips)

This is the family of Ferdinand F. Becker and Mary E. McGrath Becker (far left) on the porch of their home which is now the home of the Sessums family -- 514 W Chippewa St. --in late 1890's. On porch rail l to r: Josephine (Drane), William, Susie (Seeman)...on sidewalk l to r: Louise Mullins, James, John, Pierre/"Pete", Kathleen (Wuescher), Ferd V. (my G'pa), and Aileen (Phillips) -- Caption provided by Bettie Drane Hatcher Cox.

Bettie, thank you for identifying these folks.  This photograph is one of my all-time favorites in the John H. Williams Collection and it's nice to have names with the faces!


Sunday, March 18, 2012

Unidentified Barefoot Child from Cooper Collection at MDAH

This photo is circa 1905 or later.  If anyone recognizes this child, please leave a comment. 

Saturday, March 10, 2012

Mickey: Rin Tin Tin He Wasn't


From the Sam Jones Interview
February 18, 1989
By Bob and Betsy Jones
(Earlier stories redacted – For entire interview, please see http://www.llf.lib.ms.us/LLF/Oral%20Histories/SJones.htm)

[Female]: You had another story about Mickey ... 


Mickey’s Trick.

Sam Jones: Oh, yes. Mickey, that good for nothing, my dog. He always slept in the room with me except, as I said, when it was too cold then he went upstairs with Ruth and Ella Mae.

He slept by the side of my bed and the last thing I’d do is reach down and pet him before I went to sleep.

Bob Jones: He was a German Shepherd dog.

Sam Jones: Yes. This night it was a cold night and he kept trying to get in the bed with me and I wouldn’t do it.

I said, “Get down, Mickey, get down. Go lie down. So, he went off to the window and looked out and began barking, looking out barking like he was barking at somebody.

And I said, “Can’t do that, Mickey. Come sit down.” But he kept on so I thought I’d better go out and see, there might be somebody out there.

And I did. I went to the window and while I was doing that, why Mickey got in bed in my warm spot.

Betsy Jones: No one was there, no one was outside?

Sam Jones:  NO.  That concludes my part of the entertainment.

Bob Jones: Thank you. It’s been nice having you on the program. I hope you’ll come back.