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First Presbyterian Church in Port Gibson, Mississippi by Brett Gover |
When I was a teenager, my family passed through Port Gibson once on a spring vacation. I remember my mother reading from a guidebook as we drove through the town. We learned that it had escaped destruction during the Battle of Port Gibson in the Civil War because General Grant declared it “too beautiful to burn.”
Ever since that day, I’ve carried around a hazy mental picture of the town: well-kept old brick homes along a quiet, shady street, the late-afternoon sun throwing long shadows and casting a warm glow over the whole scene.
Today, en route from Natchez to Vicksburg, I stopped in Port Gibson. I drove along Church Street, which is also US 61 and almost certainly the street on which my family passed through the town all those years ago. I looked for the place where I had snapped my mental picture, but I couldn’t find it.
But there were other things to see. Thanks to Grant’s clemency, Port Gibson has dozens of pre-Civil War homes and churches, and many of them are located along Church Street. I parked my car and walked a few blocks, pausing to look at the First Presbyterian Church (circa 1859), the Methodist Church (1860), St. Joseph’s Catholic Church (1850-51), and Oak Square (1850), the town’s largest antebellum mansion.
It seemed unfortunate that all of these lovely historic buildings should be located along a busy four-lane street.
And then I noticed that in almost every yard there was a "Save Church Street" sign. "Save it from what?," I asked a woman walking a dog. Her answer shocked me. She explained that the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) had announced plans to make Church Street even wider and more expressway-like. She spoke darkly of powerful local timber interests whose only concern was how quickly their big trucks could race through town. She said that the project threatens the beautiful old oak trees that line the street and give it much of its character.
Could all of this be true? Was there more to the story? I couldn’t stay around to find out. But as I drove out of town I was hoping that the townspeople would win this Second Battle of Port Gibson.—Brett Gover
October 30, 2009
COMMENT: In Search of a Trip Momento Collection
Posted by Hilary Solan under Comment | Tags: Florida, miami, Momentos, Trip |1 Comment
A good magnet collection by turtlemom4bacon
Blame the change of seasons or how quickly the January 2010 page is approaching in my day planner. But I can’t stop thinking about all the places I’ve visited this year. I was lucky enough to drive the California coast, make it north into parts of rural Canada, and see most Midwestern states. Along the way I’ve picked up books, wine glasses, and sunburns but my quest to find a common souvenir from all the trips has gone unfulfilled. One of my mentors used to collect rocks from each trip she had taken. After a while, she was unable to tell the difference between the stones, and her collection froze in time. Another friend scouted out antique shops for the perfect picture postcard. Me? I haven’t decided yet. But when I was waiting at the Miami airport on Tuesday, I picked up a bright magnet in the shape of Florida along with my overpriced bottle of water. Maybe it was just a lark or the start of something bigger. I haven’t decided yet. So, what do we think? Magnets—too pedestrian or a fun (and easy-to-bring-home) momento?
Have a good collection of your own? Let me know! I may just steal your idea.—Hilary Solan