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CONTENTS 2016 • VOLUME 13 • NO. 5
features 48 Reclaimed Treasures Explore the South’s best finds
64 D-Day Remembered Virginia’s National D-Day Memorial
56 It’s Showtime! Panola Playhouse plays on
departments 14 Living Well CoolSculpting revealed
42 A Day Away Holly Springs, Mississippi
18 Notables Architect Doug Thornton
46 Greaters Goods 70 Homegrown Finding new in the old
22 Exploring Art Art with a digital canvass
72 Southern Harmony The legendary Kenny Rogers
26 Exploring Books Pillows to envy
74 Table Talk Dining at The Dinner Bell
30 Into the Wild Mississippi’s Moss Point
76 In Good Spirits The Mint Julep
34 Exploring Cuisine Life in the BBQ fast lane
78 Exploring Events
38 Exploring Destinations Charming Carrollton, Mississippi
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80 Reflections The Space Within
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editor’s note } may
Designing Life While working on this issue focused on art and architecture, ironically, I experienced a personal high and low. Thanks to the wonderful people like Adam at the Hemingway Pfieffer home in Piggott, Arkansas, I claimed top prize as Mary Poppins during an evening soirée where literary characters like Mark Twain and Hester Prynne vied for the honor as well. What fun in the name of literature. On the downside, I read a reposting of the demolition of Cathrine Hall, the first structure on the historic Mississippi Industrial College campus in Holly Springs. While this interesting relic was bulldozed back in 2012, it reminded me of the collective inability to see the value of ruins. The Roman Coliseum, Stonehedge….these are ruins and relics that draw visitors with their mystique. Mississippi can do the same thing if we find new value and reasons to save our endangered places. In this issue, we talk trash, particularly all those ruined and discarded items which some folks, like Nancy Clark, turn into unique treasures like those on page 70. On a bigger scale, salvagers in Nashville, Memphis and Jackson, Mississippi are busy preserving everything from lighting to doors to stained glass windows. Having shopped for years at Preservation Station in Nashville, I hold particular respect for those who can see past the rust and missing knobs. Let Jim share some fascinating tales about these preservation
May 2016 • Vol. 13 No.5
PUBLISHER & CREATIVE DIRECTOR Adam Mitchell
PUBLISHER & ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Paula Mitchell
EDITOR-AT-LARGE Karen Ott Mayer businesses on page 48. If ever I could hold a grudge against Chere, it would be for tracking her cool story about “Once Upon a Pillow”. You’ve never seen pillows like these. They are works of art. Now, if I can only talk Chere out of her book… Finally, legendary country music singer Kenny Rogers shares his thoughts on music, kids and retiring in Debra’s piece on page 72. What a career and contribution to the musical world. Our lives are forever made richer surrounded by the arts, so what’s your preference? We hope this month’s issue rekindles your interest in the arts and old things. And Happy Mother’s Day to all of our moms out there.
Until the next design project,
Karen on the cover
The Shadesrest home in Carrollton, Mississippi, now owned by the Fergusons, graces our May cover. Built around 1875, the home combines Queen Anne massing in its bayed front with Eastlake detailing on its porch. Photo courtesy of EL Malvaney, www.misspreservation.com
ASSISTANT EDITOR Andrea Brown Ross CONTRIBUTORS Jim Beaugez James & Dorothy Richardson Robin Gallaher Branch Charlene Oldham Chere Coen Devin Greaney Debra Pamplin Clint Kimberling
PUBLISHED BY DeSoto Media Co.
2375 Memphis St. Ste 205 Hernando, MS 38632 662.429.4617 Fax 662.449.5813
ADVERTISING INFO: Paula Mitchell 901-262-9887 Paula@DeSotoMag.com
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©2016 DeSoto Media Co. DeSoto Magazine must give permission for any material contained herein to be reproduced in any manner. Any advertisements published in DeSoto Magazine do not constitute an endorsement of the advertiser’s services or products. DeSoto Magazine is published monthly by DeSoto Media Co. Parties i n t e re s t e d i n a d v e r t i s i n g s h o u l d email paula@desotomag.com or call 901-262-9887. Visit us online at desotomagazine.com.
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living well }
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coolsculpting
CoolSculpting Defined
By Robin Gallaher Branch. Photography courtesy of Goshorn Aesthetics and santannaturalmedicine.com
“I hate how my stomach looks!” That’s an exclamation Laura Cate Permenter, a registered nurse at Goshorn Aesthetics, a plastic surgery practice, frequently hears. It makes her smile, nod, and offer encouragement, for she knows a solution. Often the complaint comes from a young mother of two who has not lost her tummy bump or a woman in her 40s who feels the inevitable pull of gravity as her body changes. CoolScupting™ provides an answer to the age-old search for perennial youth as symbolized by a flat tummy— or at least a partial answer. CoolScupting™ eliminates fat by freezing it. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons states that cosmetic plastic surgery includes surgical and nonsurgical procedures that reshape the body in order to improve appearance and to enhance self-esteem. CoolScupting™ is the latter, a nonsurgical procedure. “CoolScupting™ is body contouring,” Permenter said. “It’s been around about five years and is the next big thing in the medical specialty of plastic surgery.” The simple, painless procedure takes about an hour for each fat section. Jell is applied to the skin on a specific body area; an apparatus, which Permenter described as “a big suction device,” is placed on the jelled area. A machine then applies intense cold that soon measures minus 10 degrees Celsius. “The cold has direct contact with the skin and fat area,” said Permenter, the procedure’s supervisor and administrator. “It feels like an ice pack.” Sometimes an appointment targets four sections “It’s basically a vacuum,” Permenter continued. “The jell protects the skin from frostbite.” The dimensions of the
suction devices vary from four to about 10 inches. Body areas include a double chin, the abdomen, “love handles” (the fat overflow in the back over the waistband of jeans), and the inner and outer thighs. The procedure has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Permenter said that Dr. Neumon Goshorn, a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon, is the only Memphis plastic surgeon who offers the CoolSculpting™ technique. According to Permenter, the procedure was found unexpectedly. “Kids with sore mouths sucked on popsicles,” she began. In addition to calming a fractious, teething baby, the popsicle froze some facial fat cells. “The freezing later led to an indentation on the cheek known as a dimple,” she said. Confirmation came from Europe. European women who rode horseback in the winter for several hours found their inner thighs lost fat. The reason? Cold saddles. CoolScupting™ targets what is charitably called stubborn fat. That’s the body area that nothing seems to change—whether specific exercises or purpose-filled diets. Freezing kills fat cells—and they don’t come back. Over a period of weeks, the body removes these dead fat cells, sends them to the kidneys, and they’re eliminated. In medical language, technically what happens is this: The frozen fat cells die within one to three days; the body’s lymphatic system absorbs them and carries them to the kidneys. DeSoto 17
The patient then excretes them in urine over the next couple of months, Permenter said. Permenter noted the benefits of the office procedure. Zero anesthesia. Zero down time. “It’s extremely safe,” she said. “There are no restrictions before or after the procedure.” Since CoolScupting™ is not a life-or-death surgical issue, it offers no health benefits. “But it is a self-esteem booster,” Permenter said. A typical reduction is an inch off the waist. A typical reaction is “Wow!” “I went in for the tire on my stomach,” recounted Ginny, a client who asked that her full name not be used. At 33, she had not lost her tummy fat since her son was born five years previous. TV ads about CoolSculpting™ attracted her. She arrived at the doctor’s office “not knowing what to expect” and nervous. She said the procedure made her a little uncomfortable for about a minute until the tummy area went numb. The left and right sides of her stomach received treatment. The price was $1,500. While shy about giving her full name in print, she said she’s open about what she had done with her co-workers in Somerville, Tenn. “I tell everybody it’s the easiest way to trim your body I’ve ever seen!” Then she added with a pleased smile, “My body looks pretty good right now.” Likewise Jim, a Memphis businessman who also did not want his last name used, had two sections on his stomach done. He described himself as a lifelong athlete. However, a section of his stomach never responded to exercise, “no matter how many sit-ups I did!” After CoolSculpting™, his trousers fit better. But there’s more to this story. “My wife teased me about it,” he laughed. “But then she went and had it done herself.” Permenter offered this caveat: CoolSculpting™ is not a forever and ever fixall for a contoured body. “You must maintain a healthy diet and exercise for optimal results.”
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notables } doug thornton
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Designing with Greater Purpose By Robin Gallaher Branch. Photography courtesy of AERC
People measure their lives in different ways—children, jobs, and places. Hernando, Mississippi architect Doug Thornton, measures his in projects. President of AERC, a 10-member firm, he mentions three memorable projects: one building, a memorial design, and a design for his new home. “I think my favorite building is, quite selfishly, our AERC office,” Thornton, AIA, said. AERC is known for its holistic, green-leaning, and award-winning projects. Located in downtown Hernando, the 3,000-square-foot structure retains its exterior look from the 1960s, but inside is renovated with state-of-the-art and energy-saving features. “We decided to be our own guinea pig, so to speak, by designing and constructing our office to LEED standards,” Thornton said. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is an internationally-recognized environmental program. “We investigated the green movement first hand and publicly.” Throughout the renovation, the architects kept design, earth impact, and landfill debris in mind. They recycled most of the gutted interior, from the lumber to the plumbing; they bought a chipper to mulch interior beams. “The roof is made
of recycled steel that has a coating which reflects the sun’s infrared heat,” Thornton said. The building won a LEED Gold rating, one of only two in Mississippi; LEED’s Platinum standard, its highest rating, goes to buildings like airport terminals. “We’re proud of it,” Thornton said. Incorporating energy-saving materials and green strategies required more up-front capital than do usual renovation projects. However, the firm’s initial 2008 investment paid off by 2014. Thornton said AERC’s utility bills are half of what a regular 3,000-square-foot building pays monthly. “Our building was an experiment that resulted in success,” he said. “It proved a concept and design methodology; it reflects much of who and what we are about as a firm.” In addition to lower utility bills, the building “more importantly has much better lighting, better temperature DeSoto 21
Inside the AERC office building
control, better sound control, and a less toxic, cleaner, indoor air quality. It also has less negative impact on the outdoor environment and community infrastructure, and requires much less maintenance, cost, and effort,” he said. Thornton likes coming to work and giving impromptu tours. Hernando is a small, friendly town. People talk. People are interested in the building. People just drop by. Thornton, a Christian, sees his profession as a calling. “True architecture is man’s attempt to carry out the divine mandate of properly and beautifully managing God’s creation to his glory and our benefit,” he said. Thornton drew and built from an early age, encouraged by his mom, a school teacher, and his dad, a mechanical engineer. Lego blocks, erector sets, and plenty of paper and pens were standard. He spent hours with neighborhood boys building forts. He loves anything designed by American architect Frank Lloyd Wright whom he credits as having every aspect of his projects “interrelated from the overall site plan down to the cabinet knobs.” Noting their amazing acoustics, profound beauty, and use of natural light, Thornton also loves Europe’s Gothic cathedrals. “Everything works together for the glory of God,” he said. Thornton credits Genesis 1:28 as guiding his life and work: “God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.’” “I see that verse as stewardship,” Thornton said. He likewise views his professional accomplishments— as a certified Building Science Infrared Thermographer and 22 DeSoto
a certification from LEED for Building Construction and Design—as stewardship. To these he adds, surprisingly, his purchase of a portable sawmill. Why? Because he wants to reprocess lumber, again with the idea of being a good steward of God’s creation. A Thornton project still in its design phase, but coming together nicely, is the memorial park for the Unknown Child. Honoring the 1.5 million children who died in the Holocaust of World War II, the park is on the grounds of the Circle G, a ranch in Mississippi formerly owned by Elvis Presley. It impacts on visual and emotional levels. “Oh, oh, oh!” exclaimed Diane McNeil, president of the Unknown Child Foundation Board. “I think it’s so powerful. This is beyond what I have seen in Washington, New York, and even Israel!” The design includes railroad tracks symbolizing the trip to Auschwitz. “The pathway spirals downward, gets tighter and tighter, and ends at a sculpture,” McNeil said. The bronze, life-sized work by Rick Wienecke depicts a faceless child and an extermination oven door. The sculpture is surrounded by six concrete walls shaped in the Star of David and studded on both sides with 1.5 million pennies collected by the children of Mississippi. Thornton and his wife, Michelle, recently sold their 1869 home and are dreaming about their next. Thornton knows it will be a Net-Zero structure, with water and electricity recycled onsite. “The idea is to make a house so insulated that a candle can heat it,” he said. Then laughing good naturedly he added, “The design is in its infancy and in the ‘wife-reviewand-approval’ process.”
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exploring art } ali jardine
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Digital Dreamscapes By Charlene Oldham. Photography courtesy of Ali Jardine
Award-winning artist Ali Jardine’s work has been displayed in galleries from coast to coast. But the best way to view her latest creations is via social media platforms including Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat, where she regularly posts new digital dreamscapes for her followers, numbering more than 515,000 on Instagram alone. Jardine has been an artist since her early days growing up in Senatobia, Miss., painting and dabbling in other mediums, but discovered her current calling when her husband gave her an iPhone as a birthday gift in 2010. Not long after, Jardine downloaded Instagram, which allowed her to create art constantly and get immediate feedback from friends and followers. “I could make something while sitting in my car waiting for my kids to get out of school, waiting at the dentist or whatever. I always had the phone with me. I had all the tools to create in my hands. And Instagram really hooked me because the platform let me share and get multitudes of people to look at my art.�
She has since parlayed her popularity on social media platforms into a career that also allows her to focus on her family. Jardine lives in Northern California with her husband Jason, president of Hanzell Vineyards. Son Gabe, 16, and daughter Pippin, 13, have frequently served as subjects for her images, although they are often seen in silhouette. When she first started using Instagram, it was mostly a way to share images with friends and family, including sister Melissa Vincent, an artist who still lives in Mississippi and also boasts thousands of followers on various social media platforms. The sisters challenged and inspired one another to push the limits of iPhone photography and editing, but Jardine never expected it to become a career. DeSoto 25
“I believe that an app company was my first client,” Jardine said. “I created an image using their app and posted it on Instagram. I was really shocked that I got an actual job on Instagram, as it was all just beginning on the platform.” Now, she’s worked for clients including Samsung, National Geographic and the tourism board of Bermuda, one of her favorite jobs to date. Clients typically give her loose guidelines on the types of images they want and how often they expect her to post something new over a given time period. Jardine’s husband gave her Photoshop a few years ago, but she hasn’t learned to use it. For now, she still does all her creating on the iPhone, including the images she makes for money. “I actually haven’t had a lot of clients who’ve been really, really specific in what they want,” said Jardine, who has more than 300 apps to help her make and disseminate her art. “They do give me a lot of creative freedom, which is why it’s fun, and which is why I do it. If it is really nailed down and specific, that’s not really how I work.” Jardine takes inspiration from everywhere, including music, nature, new places and children’s books like “Alice in Wonderland,” a story that sees its themes echoed often in her work. From her earliest days, Jardine remembers her mom reading aloud classic stories and, like most folks born and bred in the South, hearing a few stretched yarns that couldn’t be found in the local library. “I grew up around lots of storytelling characters. It rubbed off on me. I always try to convey a story in my images, and most are tall tales,” she said. To illustrate those tales, Jardine is constantly taking photos – and has more than 17,000 stored on her iPhone. But, each week, she might make anywhere from five to 25 edited images, which are often her unique amalgamation of ideas from several sources. And many aren’t for paying clients. “I create for the sake of creating. That’s what artists do. I am compelled to create. So, that part 26 DeSoto
comes easy. And when I post to Instagram, Snapchat or Facebook, I am essentially marketing my brand, my art,” she said. “When I work with a client, it is the same as if I am creating something for myself. I start with an idea and think about it sometimes for a few hours, sometimes for a few days. Then I just get started and chip away at it.” Her followers also move and motivate her. She says instant feedback through likes, shares and other social interactions give her a constant connection to what her audience wants, helping her evolve as an artist. Whether they are edited images or more straightforward shots of the foggy forest near her home or the ancient landscapes in Kyoto, Japan, Jardine hopes her work helps transport people to another place and time. “I guess what I’m trying to do, and one of the reasons I use a lot of silhouettes, is I want the viewer to be able to put themselves into the story, just to be taken away from reality for a little bit and into a dream world.”
Jardine’s insights on digital photography and editing: What are some of your favorite apps right now? I couldn’t live without Snapchat, it is my favorite app at the moment. I also really love PicsArt, another photo sharing platform, but with lots of great art. For editing, I couldn’t live without Juxtaposer or Snapseed. What advice would you give to people looking to take better photos with their phones? Stand still and shoot in good light! Also, don’t forget to lock your focus. Lastly, take tons of images. What about advice to someone who wants to build a social media following to share their images? Take great photos and be social. That’s what it’s all about. If your work is good you will gain an audience. DeSoto 27
exploring books} once upon a pillowÂ
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Pillow Talk By Chere Coen. Photography courtesy of Rebecca Vizard
Rebecca Vizard is a lesson in determination and perseverance.
The owner of B. Viz Design antique textile pillows and accessories and the author of a new book spotlighting her business, “Once Upon a Pillow: A Story of Home, Design, and Exquisite Textiles,” Vizard is traveling the world and living in a slice of heaven, a beautiful home in St. Joseph, Louisiana, overlooking the placid Lake Bruin. But it all started with $75, children’s clothes and a can of fabric paint. When the Newcomb College graduate married, the couple moved from New Orleans to Shreveport where Vizard taught art classes until her baby was born. “My husband was in the oil business but the prices dropped, much like today,” Vizard explained. “We needed two incomes but I didn’t want to put my kids in daycare.” Vizard used her artistic abilities and paint to adorn children’s clothes — such as sneakers, baby booties and socks — to sell in baskets at upscale children’s shops. When she took her creations to the Dallas Trade Mart, she acquired more orders than she was able to handle. Vizard approached her father, a bank president, and asked for a loan to purchase inventory. He turned her down. Instead of being discouraged, however, Vizard convinced clients to be charged C.O.D. and she went to work. “Really, what it did was make me more determined,” she said. With a lot of sweat and long hours, Vizard’s business took off and streamlined. When her father convinced the couple he needed help with his small-town community bank, they moved to rural St. Joseph. “At one time, I had 26 people in this small town of 1,100 working, and we were all benefitting,” she writes in the book. Soon, Vizard was making enough money to decorate her home, built on the land of her ancestors in rural northeastern Louisiana. People then asked her to decorate their homes and
she began traveling to places such as Houston, New York and Nashville. “It was great but I couldn’t travel that much,” Vizard said, adding that the work took her away from family. “It was driving me crazy.” While performing her interior design work she searched for pillows more than anything else, and many of them were what she called “frou-frou” or very expensive textiles. She discovered dealers who knew the worth of antique textiles, started collecting the fabrics at flea markets and antique stores and created her own designs. At first, she sold her unique pillows to clients and Bremermann Designs in New Orleans. Then, national magazines covered her business and Neiman Marcus came calling. Southern Accents magazine published a page of her business in 2002. “I scrambled to find someone to build a website,” she writes in the book. “It was up and running just before the article was published and it was life altering. Suddenly I didn’t have to drive around selling pillows from the trunk of my car (a literal trunk show), but could show the world what I had created over the Internet. It was like magic, and the pillow side of my business boomed.” Vizard travels the world searching for ancient textiles, such as ecclesiastical, Suzani, tapestry, European embroidery, homespun textiles and Fortuny. Her book showcases her collection’s exquisite fabrics along with her one of-a-kind pillows used in the design of Locustland, what Vizard calls her home, a mixture of “New Orleans-style farmhouse, lake house and hunting lodge.” What’s also unique is the design of the coffee table book, which juxtaposes photos of the Louisiana landscape surrounding St. Joseph with Vizard’s tapestries. There’s a photo of embroidered fabric in different shades of brown next to a shot of live oak leaves on gravel. Bald cypress trees in an early morning fog on Lake Bruin mirror the 18th century distressed metallic appliqué on a watery pale French blue velvet pillow. DeSoto 29
“The photographer (Antoine Bootz) came during the winter and the sun didn’t come out the whole time,” Vizard explained of the book’s photo shoot. “But they pointed out the connection of my surroundings with the textiles. I didn’t realize how inspired I was by my surroundings.” Vizard still travels a lot for her business but she balances that life with her rural home, which she appreciates more after being away. “When I get home I see things sharper,” she said. “When I first moved here I thought my life was over (because of the town’s remoteness) but now I don’t want to leave.” Vizard is currently renovating a building in downtown St. Joseph to house her studio and business. Now that the word is out and a book published, her Internet business has grown. The space will also double as a store on Saturdays, hoping to spur tourism during the summer months when “lake people” come to visit. The entrepreneur wishes her foray into the art world will be a renaissance of sorts for the small agricultural town. In addition to Vizard’s website bviz.com, her pillows can be found at the following stores: Bremermann New Orleans, LA Cal-a-Vie Antiques Vista, CA Elizabeth Pash Antiques Locust Valley, NY Fireside Antiques Baton Rouge, LA Foxglove Antiques Atlanta, GA Iris and Co. Birmingham, AL The Iron Gate Franklin, TN Greige Home Interiors Covington, LA The Mews Dallas, TX Social, A Shop for Gracious Living Memphis, TN Watkins Culver Houston, TX 30 DeSoto
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into the wild } pascagoula river audubon center
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The Teaching River By CherĂŠ Coen. Photography courtesy CherĂŠ Coen and PRAC
The Pascagoula River Audubon Center is a new addition to the Mississippi Gulf Coast, an oasis where visitors may enjoy river tours, learn about the environment and green building and landscapes, view migratory birds on their way down the Mississippi Flyway and much more. And it all started with the river.
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Mark LaSalle
The Pascagoula is the largest, by volume, undammed river in the contiguous 48 states, ending its long journey through Mississippi at the Gulf, in the historic town of Moss Point. City officials and naturalists were interested in keeping the river pristine, so they approached the National Audubon Society about building a nature center. “It started with the challenge of seeing if an Audubon Center was viable,” said Director Mark LaSalle. “There was a lot of interest on the river.” The grass roots process took a decade to complete, with Katrina interrupting at the onset. Despite the storm’s setbacks, the center launched in the fall of 2006 with a rented A-frame at the marina, an educator and operations manager, volunteers and some grants. “And away we went,” LaSalle said. They began raising money for the center on property they discovered in the center of town, a plot that extends from Arthur Street down to the river. The land was once used by the city’s trolley line that transported mail, passengers and workers who milled the river’s timber; Moss Point served as a mill town in the 1800s. But Audubon demands a detailed business plan, LaSalle explained, before they agree to a new center to add to their nationwide list of 40. Chevron and Mississippi officials donated money, grants came in and memberships were sold. “We needed to raise money and we did,” LaSalle said. “It’s in the bank. The model is working. That made Audubon see that the community believes in us.” The new center opened in 2015, with the sustainable building hosting displays on the region’s more than 300 species 34 DeSoto
of birds, many of which migrate through in the spring and fall, plus animals and fish. The building also contains the Moss Point Fine Art Gallery, featuring established local artists. The month we visited Bill Nelson was exhibiting his dreamy landscapes of Horn Island and Moss Point. “It’s world class art here,” LaSalle said. McCoy’s Swamp and River Tours launches from a dock built on the river where paddlers can put in as well. The Center’s landscape includes a hummingbird garden, a native plant garden and a children’s playground that teaches as well as entertains. An historical building that once housed Boy Scout Troop One of Moss Point, charted in 1919, still exists and is used for meetings and retreats or as a quiet place for visitors to relax in rocking chairs and watch visiting birds. Throughout the property are hiking trails, many of which hug the river’s edge. Visitors can spend hours exploring the Center, from the interactive exhibits, playgrounds and trails to the two-hour boat tour of the Pascagoula, hosted by master naturalists who point out the nesting grounds for birds such as the Mississippi and swallow-tailed kites and prothonotary warblers. Programs, such as storytelling, guided nature walks and nature lectures are regularly offered, plus little ones can learn about nature in interactive ways on Toddler Tuesdays. A spring native plant sale will be May 20 and 21. For those wanting to incorporate a sustainable model to their own property, the Center offers plenty of ideas. Rainwater collects on the roof and is used throughout the building and the permeable gravel-paved parking lot serves as a filter for car
exhausts, keeping pollutants from reaching the river. “Keeping water and pollutants on your property is better than having it runoff into the water sources,” LaSalle explained. Some areas showcase native plants and those that attract butterflies and hummingbirds, but the entire property has been tailored as a natural Mississippi habitat. “Every bit of this place is a botanical garden,” LaSalle said. To maintain the Center and fund its educational outreach programs — community work, school groups, summer camps, Master Naturalist classes and more — the facility is available for rent. There’s also the Hidden Heron Gift Shop offering natural books and gifts plus local photography and artwork. The Pascagoula Audubon Center at 5107 Arthur St. in Moss Point is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays. Admission is $8 for adults, $5 for children ages 12 and under. For more information, visitpascagoulariver. audubon.org or call (228) 475-0825.
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exploring cuisine } victory lane bbq
Doug Golden and Heath Riles
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By Devin Greaney. Photography courtesy of Victory Lane BBQ, Devin Greaney and Frank Chin
Back in 1997, Doug Golden opened up his 745-CASH business for auto title loans. They needed a hook, something to make them stand out from the rest of the crowd so he used an Arca race car as a prop. Bright colors in front proclaimed, “You can’t ignore me!” He had no idea where that race car would end up, but years later it’s found an ironic place in the world of barbecue as part of the award-winning Victory Lane BBQ team. “We had this race car in front of the store and then we lost the hood to hurricane Elvis,” said Golden. Hurricane Elvis occurred in the summer of 2003 when straight-line winds hit, affecting everyone between Millington and Southhaven. On top of losing the hood, the bright colors had faded with the years. “We decided to spruce it up.” Maybe one of those inflatable guys could be coming out of the hood? How about one of the Germantown horse statues? But then a childhood friend Eric Gardner said, “Dude, let’s turn it into a grill!” Golden’s response? “I said yeah that sounds like a blast! And we slowly got into this barbecue thing.” When Victory Lane BBQ came on the scene, the group found instant fun, despite the fact they were learning and not winning much. Victory Lane Barbecue competed in the 2011 Memphis in May competition and their ribs placed 88th. “We’ve come a long way. We had so much fun doing it, we kept competing and these people became your family. We
kept going and going but we could never win,” Golden said. But things changed in 2013 and Golden credits one person, pit master Heath Riles. “He came on board he showed us how to do it and he just ran the show!” Riles had worked with a couple of other barbecue teams specifically Boars Night Out and Ten Bones. “The role of a pitmaster is being able to make calls about when the meat is done and look for moisture and tenderness. But it’s more than that. You have to know where, when, and how at all times,” said Riles. That year, they won 14 first places in various contests and a whole bunch of second places as well. Riles saw to it that the days of 88th place were gone. Since then, Victory Lane has been recognized by the Memphis Barbecue Network, the sanctioning body for contests. And it’s not just local or even Mid-South bias singing their praises. Contests sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbecue Society have also earned them laurels. And the winning continued through 2013, 2014 and 2015. Just like all songs originate from eight notes, all DeSoto 37
Victory Lane BBQ team Tara Browning, Doug Golden and Heath Riles
barbecue sauce comes from about 25 different ingredients. “More ketchup here, less cayenne pepper there. Riles and Golden look to where they compete and adjust their recipe. “In Georgia I tweak my stuff a little bit. I tweak it in Florida or in the Carolinas. You have to go to that region a couple times to see what’s what. More spice, maybe a little more heat, maybe a little sweeter. It takes a couple times going down there,” said Riles. One myth he hears is that Memphis is a dry-ribs place. Yes, the Rendezvous and Silky’s have become legendary for their dry rubs, but Riles sees Memphians drawn to the wet ribs- 80 percent, he estimates. Following their grilling success, the group quickly recognized another business opportunity. Meat sales require a 38 DeSoto
whole set of regulations and inspections so now they are selling rubs, marinade and barbecue sauce. Their best marketing, Golden said, is from winning contests and a strong social media presence. “I estimate our online sales are up nearly 1,000 percent in six months” Riles said. Tastes change, they agree, and Victory Lane tries to be an agent of change. A few new flavors Victory Lane has recently introduced- Nutty pecan, cherry bomb and sweet peach. In their office, the inventory and distribution grows. Tara Browning is in charge of that growing shipping component. She will need that energy as the company ships not only around the nation but she will also be preparing a pallet of the Memphis goodies. I ask for her official title and everyone
looks at each other like they had never even thought about it. “Jill of all trades?” They all seem to agree it fits. It’s about lunch time and they have 10 orders going out so far some USPS and some FedEx. Their immediate goals are dealing with their new client, Kroger, who began stocking their shelves with Victory Lane’s product in April. And despite all the accolades, they have not yet won in the Memphis in May Barbecue Contest. The plan is to change that fact in 2016. After that, the plan is food trucks and eventually brick-and-mortar restaurants. Their philosophy is opening several market by market rather than one place and expanding. “We want to make sure everything is right before we go to market. We’re not gonna jump out just to change stuff,” Riles said. They say goals are dreams with deadlines. Riles has goals. “I want 200 locations before I die.” And all this originated from a prop in front of a store.
“
The role of a pitmaster is being able to make calls about when the meat is done and look for moisture and tenderness. But it’s more than that. You have to know where, when, and how at all times.
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exploring destinations } historic carrollton, mississippi
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A Tour in Time Story and photography by Karen Ott Mayer
In the sleepy town of Carrollton, Mississippi when one story ends, another takes hold. Filled with historic structures, both residential and commercial, the town really unfolds more like a village, with paved roads meeting the unpaved driveways of charming homes which have protected their owners, their histories and their integrity from mass change. Visitors come to Carrollton because of the architecture, and stay perhaps, because of a festival or a personal invitation. It’s a rare place where the residents barely outnumber the valued structures. “The town was incorporated in 1936. We have about 200 folks who live here and about 60 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places,” said Pam Lee who has been in Carrollton since 1977. As a local alderman and head of the county tourism organization, Lee came to Carrollton as a young teacher, having rented the home now owned by the
Fergusons. Today, she lives just a few minutes walking distance from the Courthouse square, giving impromptu and planned tours to whomever happens to town. Getting to know Carrollton takes little money nor time. What is required is an innate curiosity and the ability to carry on a spontaneous conversation over a fence or on a porch. As a destination, it’s the place to go with a picnic basket for a quiet afternoon or during the annual pilgrimage when homeowners open their doors to the public and Pioneer Days attracts the crowds. Located a short drive from Grenada, DeSoto 41
Winona and Greenwood, Carrollton offers the removed peace of rural living without the cacophony of daily life. It’s most famous resident was perhaps J.Z. George, the U.S. Senator, credited as the author of Mississippi’s constitution and owner of Cotesworth. When Betty Ray arrived in 2004 and purchased the Ray home, she claimed her own history as the great, great granddaughter of William Ray. Like many homes, the structure seen today evolved as families built additions. In fact, the original home was oriented completely different. “The original 1834 home was the back structure that faces this side yard. There used to be a street that ran through here,” said Lee. Looking at the gently sloping hill, it’s easy to see where the road once ran. The twostory addition was built in 1875. “I was drawn here mainly because of the history. I now live upstairs and I like the upstairs landing which is like a large hallway,” said Ray. Talking with residents, it’s clear a place draws for a particular reason, as was the case for Amanda Ferguson. Before she was married, Ferguson bought the house which had always caught her eye. “I drove past it for six months straight. I loved the cheerful yellow and it just felt like such a happy place.” While the 3,000 sq. ft. home was fully restored when she bought it, by the time she married, she and her husband Keith changed a few things to accommodate their own lifestyle and needs. The couple took the original porch which circled the house and divided one side into a new bathroom and back screened porch. To the casual observer, the architectural change fits so well, it’s like the vanished road---imperceptible unless someone reveals the prior history. With an updated kitchen and living room at the back, the front part of the home has changed little since it was built in 1903. Just down the drive and literally around a few hedges, the gravel drive leads to ‘Lum Reek’, the home of Tommy and Libba Goodman. An architect and artist, Tommy Goodman began restoring the home eight years ago. Unlike the Fergusons, 42 DeSoto
their restoration journey took a different course. In fact, some said the home was beyond salvage. “The front rooms really had no floors left,” he said. Once again, to the casual eye, it would be hard to discern the changes made over the years, but the original structure bore little resemblance to the present day. “The front windows were moved. The 1850 structure had a porch that originally went around as well,” said Goodman. On the property, interesting outbuildings serve as a studio or sheds. One was the original outhouse from the courthouse that still has “Women” painted on the door. Goodman moved the structure when it was slated to be torn down. “I hate to see something old fall down.” The walls of the living room addition are covered with wide boards salvaged from another part of the home. Many were only pegged. “Only the siding had hand cut nails because they were so expensive,” he added. Like much of north Mississippi, Carroll County formed from land ceded to the U.S. by Choctaw and Cherokee Indians through the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek in 1830. Carrollton, however, can boast a different reality than most small Mississippi towns. “I don’t know of any historic homes that are vacant,” said Goodman. When asked if he’d take on another restoration, he didn’t hesitate. “Yes, if I could find one.” If anything rivals the rich historic residential area, it may be the churches, Courthouse or the remaining commercial properties. At the corner of Washington and Lexington Streets across from the Courthouse, Gee’s Store serves as the quintessential reminder that time can stand still. Looking through the windows takes passersby back 150 years. Still owned by the Gee family, the store remains much the same. “When they shut the doors, they basically walked away,” said Lee. By some standards, that may seem inconceivable, but in Carrollton, the story seems wholly expected--and now cherished.
Private tours: carrolltonmstours@gmail.com visitcarrolltonms.com carrollcountyms.org
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a day away } holly springs, mississippi
Holly Springs, Mississippi 9:00 After an evening stay at the recently renovated C ourt Square Inn enjoy a delicious continental breakfast of coffee, juice, fresh fruit and pastries. 10:00 Tour some of the beautiful, historic homes of Holly Springs. Call ahead to schedule an appointment. If you prefer to meander on your own, use the Holly Springs Cultural Map at hollysprings.visitme.us. 11:30 Visit the Marshall C ounty Historical Museum. Visitors can explore Civil War history, taxidermy animals indigenous to Mississippi, f lapper girl clothing from the 1920s and much more. Be sure to visit the museum shop for locally-made cand les, jelly and soaps. 12:30 Lunch at Southern Eatery on the square. Delicious soups, salads, sandwiches and wraps are on the menu or try a daily special. Save room for a made from scratch cobbler, pie or cake. 1:30 Take a short drive to the Strawberry P lains Audubon Center. The 3,000 acre forest and wetlands include hiking trails, the antebellum Davis Home, a nursery, wild life viewing areas and beautiful ponds and pools. 3:30 Shop the square. Everything from pottery, clothing, antiques and gifts. Check out Tyson Drug, which still serves up delicious milkshakes at the soda fountain. 5:30 Traditional soul food at Annie’s Home C ooking makes the perfect way to wrap up the day. Fried chicken, spaghetti and steaks all served with mouth watering southern sides.
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For more information: visithollysprings.com hollyspringsinn.com marshallcountymuseum.com strawberryplains.audubon.org anniesplaces.com
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Nearby Exploring: Fitch Farms
Fitch Farms Galena Plantation is located roughly 10 miles southwest of downtown Holly Springs, Mississippi. The property is one of the South’s best quail hunting preserves, ranked as one of the top five in America. The carefully managed lands are maintained to offer an ideal habitat for quail – open-canopy forest, uncultivated field borders of native grasses and weeds, and occasional islands of thicket cover. Full and half-day hunts are available and can include lodging and meals. Visit fitchfarms.com or call 662-252-8855 for more information. Kirkwood National Kirkwood National Golf Club & Cottages is just south of Holly Springs. Kirkwood National is the perfect choice for first-class golf, meeting and banquet facilities and accommodations. Guests enjoy the wooded sanctuary of Kirkwood National, hidden enough to be private but close enough to be convenient. For stay and play packages visit kirkwoodgolf.com. Wells-Barnett Museum Ida B. Wells was a woman’s rights activist, crusader against racism and civil rights pioneer. The museum’s goal is to inspire and enrich the lives of Mississippians, sharing with them the contributions of Africans and African Americans in the fields of history, art and culture in the United States and the world. For more information visit ibwfoundation.org. Phillips Grocery Located in a former saloon built in 1892, Phillips Grocery has been famous for hamburgers since the 1940s. Walking into the building filled with old signs and memorabilia everywhere takes visitors back in time. Besides burgers, the menu also includes seasoned fries, corn nuggets and fried pies. Be sure to walk over to the Holly Springs Depot afterward. This beautiful building is currently being refurbished.
Upcoming Events: Tracks of Art May 21 Holly Springs Depot North Mississippi Hill Country Blues Picnic June 24-25 Ida B. Wells-Barnett Birthday Celebration July 16 Strawberry Plains Hummingbird Celebration September 9-11 Annual Wrecking Ball Dinner & Auction October Rust College Founders’ Day & Annual Founders’ Day Parade November 12 Holly Springs Carriage Home Tours & Christmas Parade December 2 & 3
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greater goods } pottery
pottery
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1. McCarty Pasta Bowl $210, Cynthia’s Boutique, 2529 Caffey Street, Hernando, MS 2.Kudzu pottery $30/$36, Bon Von, 214 W Center Street, Hernando, MS 3.Beloved 38632 tray, $73, The Blue Olive, 210 E Commerce St # 4, Hernando, MS 4.Peter’s Pottery Bloody Mary Pitcher $32.50, Jennie’s Flowers & Gifts, 150 East College Ave. Holly Springs, MS 5.T. Gill Loving Cup $21, Paisley Pineapple, 6542 Goodman Rd. Suite 115, Olive Branch, MS 6.Fingerprint Cell Phone Holder $41.50, Connie’s Southern Blooms & Gifts, 163 East Van Dorn Ave., Holly Springs, MS. 7.Etta b Pottery, The Merry Magnolia, 194 E Military Rd. Marion, AR 8. Satterfield’s Pottery Wood Duck $124, The Wooden Door, 6542 Goodman Rd. Suite 104, Olive Branch, MS
greater goods } graduation gifts
graduation
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1. WoodHorn Neclace $50, Frank, 210 E Commerce St, Hernando, MS 2.Yeti Rambler 64oz., $90 The Blue Olive, 210 E Commerce St #4, Hernando, MS 3.LiT Cooler Halo, $349 The Bunker Boutiue, 2631 McIngvale Suite #106, Hernando, MS 4.Custom bar necklaces starting at $38, The Merry Magnolia, 194 E Military Rd., Marion, AR 5.Pray Jewelry $11, Bon Von, 214 W Center Street, Hernando, MS 6.Dogeared Jewelry $58, Bon Von, 214 W Center Street, Hernando, MS 7.Kelly Wynne: Risky Biz Wristlet $148, when in doubt wallet $155, $The Pink Zinnia, 134 West Commerce Street, Hernando, MS 8.Chaco sandals $105-$112, SoCo, 2521 Caffey Street, Hernando, MS
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Every Piece Tells a Story Giving new life—and preserving histories—through antiquities trading By Jim Beaugez Photography courtesy of South Front Antiques
Eric Nielsen had just turned the corner down a dark and neglected hallway when the backhoe began ripping away the exterior of the historic Hayes Funeral Home, the first African American-owned business in Memphis, Tennessee. He had, at best, an hour before the building would be uninhabitable. Nielsen walked the corridor with his flashlight, looking for clues. He stopped at an arrangement of trim that framed no visible window or passageway. Bingo. As he ripped away the sheet rock in the center, he uncovered the kind of find that antiquities pickers dream about—a perfectly preserved, fivefoot round stained glass window that dated from the original late-1800s construction.
“It had been bricked up on the outside and sheetrocked over on the inside, so that’s why it survived,” Nielsen marveled. “The backhoe was literally crushing down on one side of the house, and I had a very short time frame to get whatever was in there.” The thrill of discovery drives pickers like Nielsen to brave the attics and crawlspaces of abandoned or derelict DeSoto 51
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houses and warehouses in search of rare antiquities, especially those with good stories attached. “I’ve gone into old houses where the basements are full of water and I’ve put on waders, taken a flashlight, and walked through 2 or 3 feet of water to find stuff,” Nielsen said. “I’ve gone into houses where I’ve almost fallen through the floor. I’ve gone through an upper floor and caught myself on my elbows.” Nielsen’s father, Svend, began importing architectural artifacts from disused buildings in Paris around 1971, picking choice pieces and shipping them across the Atlantic in 40-foot containers to his storefront in Overton Square. The younger Nielsen grew up hunting and salvaging architecturally significant pieces and has more than four decades in the business today. “I hate to see these buildings come down, but if they’re going to do it, let me come in and save every piece I can.” Now known as South Front Antiques, the family-run shop serves customers in a five-state area, and sometimes even farther away. Case in point: a collector from Portland, Ore., bought that Hayes stained glass window. Today, it’s featured in the collection of the Pink Palace in Midtown Memphis. Chad Schwarzauer and Bri LoChiatto, owners of The Reclaimed Miles in Jackson, Miss., grew up in homes like the ones Nielsen frequents. While the former grew up and joined his father and grandfather in the contracting trade, the latter earned her skills in Los Angeles hiring creative talent for the Oscars, Sony and others. Their mutual passion for preserving architectural treasures brought them together in the venture. “My family lives in a plantation home in Satartia (Miss.),” said LoChiatto. “There were five houses built in a circle where five sisters lived, and every wall, every piece of wood has a story to tell. My grandmother’s mantle to this day comes from wood from a barn on her mother’s land years ago.” Their 18,000-square-foot warehouse catalogs reclaimed lumber, beams, farm tables, doors, windows, stained glass and porcelain signs, mostly from homes and barns built in the 1800s. All of their pieces are reclaimed by hand, without power tools. Treating the materials with care, said LoChiatto, helps them ensure they become
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19th Century Iron Section Fleur-de-Lis
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something new to the next owner. “Those things tell a story and add character to a home,” said LoChiatto, “and it’s important to us to maintain the integrity of what these pieces once were.” Reality TV shows like “American Pickers” began bringing these artisans and dealers to the mainstream just as flipping faded with the housing market. While the trend shares some devotees with the coiffedmustache hipster set, the authenticity in repurposing a piece that has real life behind it is something a pair of new-old dungarees or period window dressings from Pottery Barn can’t replicate. Preservation Station in Nashville, which has established itself as a source of architectural pieces dating to the 18801930s industrial era, is riding the next wave of picking shows with appearances taped for the forthcoming seasons of “Masters of Flip,” which chronicles the adventures of a husband-and-wife team in the Music City for DIY, as well as “Nashville Flipped” on HGTV. Many of their clients are private homeowners, said manager Natalie Villarreal. “Nashville has had this huge influx of people moving here, and I would say it’s pretty evenly divided between people restoring and people building new,” she said. “I think people are trying to add a bit of character to these newer, more sterile spaces, and those little details can make a space more special. It’s nice to have a new house with a new air conditioning system, but you lose the character in return.” The collection at Preservation Station includes hardware such as authentic glass doorknobs and door plates to antique iron chandeliers sourced from a network that stretches from the south to cities like Philadelphia, St. Louis and Detroit. One of its most prized pieces—a rare 11-foot, gilded pier mirror with a woman’s bust at the top—originated from Nashville’s Belmont Mansion. Placing a monetary value on history isn’t always easy, though. Back in Memphis, Nielsen recalled hearing papers crinkle and rustle under his feet as he was busy pulling out that stained glass window. He shined his light at the floor, picked up a set of the papers and scanned the columns— then realized another major discovery. At his feet lay scattered a century’s worth of burial ledgers. Nielsen called his sister, a DeSoto 55
genealogy expert, who raced over to collect the ledgers and a small box containing cremated remains that were never claimed. She took the box to Memorial Park and then decided to drive down Parkway to find Zion Christian Cemetery, at the time overgrown and in disrepair after years of neglect, but where many of the folks who passed through Hayes found their final rest. “As she’s driving down, she sees a group of people at the cemetery, so she pulls in,” Nielsen said. As it happened, the group was trying to figure out a way to save the cemetery. They had lost all the records of who was buried there—the records that she had on the seat of her car, which contained those intimate and missing details, the very circumstances surrounding the lives whose dignity and stories the group was hoping to restore. “That’s treasure, in my opinion. That’s something you cannot put a money value on.”
Cypress porch posts
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What’s Playing in Panola? By James and Dorothy Richardson. Photography courtesy of James Richardson and Panola Playhouse
Sardis, Mississippi. Brings to mind that rather large lake. Or fishing. But what about a place called Panola Playhouse? The Panola Playhouse is located along Main Street in Sardis, which is in Panola County. As a matter of fact, it is recognized as the second oldest continuously running theater in the state and Mississippi’s first regional theater. Right there in quiet downtown Sardis! The theater has an interesting history. Some bad, but mostly good. One of the Co-executive Directors, Rogers Smith, who has been with the Playhouse for 10 years, takes care of the technical side. He oversees the building, the sound system, and the lighting. He explained the history behind the building. “This is an old building. We have had to do a lot of
work on it. The actual building was built in 1938, and was originally a movie theater called the New Theater. It was in business about four years and then it went under. Later, it opened back up as the Tower Theater. The first New Theater had seating for about 500 people. That’s a lot of people, but you have to think about how much wider people are now. The theater now seats 120 people comfortably.” Smith said the original Tower Theater burned in 1956. “In 1962 it was bought by a group of interested Sardis residents. They gave out free season tickets to anyone that came up with a name for the theater. They came up with DeSoto 59
Panola Playhouse.” Since that time, he explained the building has undergone many renovations. “We have had up times and some down times. Fifteen years ago, it was not in the best of shape.” Despite ongoing physical improvements, the theater has more than doubled in the last decade, prompting the group to look at ways to expand. “We are talking about expansion. We have bought pretty much the rest of this block. They have been trying to do that for 50 years, so finally, we worked out the deal to purchase almost every building on this block. We are growing that fast,” said Smith. One of the Playhouse’s first directors, Robert Booma Canon, shared a personal story about the Panola Playhouse. “When I was in school at Ole Miss, a lady approached me and said she wanted to do something for the kids during summer and asked if I would be interested in helping direct a play. I did.” He went to his college professor and sought advice. 60 DeSoto
“He said maybe you should do something like “You Can’t Take it With You”. So, that’s what we started rehearsing. Someone suggested going to the movie theater. We contacted the owner of the Tower Theater, who had originally been from Memphis, and who owned several movie theaters. About that time some were being closed. This one was closed. Anyway, we bought it and everything was there, even the movie projectors. One group was working on getting the building. I was working on getting a cast together. That’s how we wound up here.” The first play produced in August 1962 was “You Can’t Take It With You”. It was repeated 22 years later. “We opened in late July or August of 1962. We settled on doing maybe four productions a year. Graduate students would come over from Ole Miss to stay for the summer. The second season we did a musical for the first time. And it continues on,” said Canon. The Panola Playhouse now puts on around six productions a year. It also holds community events, and will begin showing movies sometime in the summer, if things go as planned. Smith added, “They won’t be first-run movies, but
older ones. We have to work around our performances. We will put up the screen that the local women’s club donated, and project the movies from the balcony and run it through our sound system.” Janine Marshall, the other coexecutive director of the Playhouse, is in charge of the productions and the casts. Getting rights to do a production is not as easy as it sounds. “We have to apply to get the rights for shows. We find out which company has the rights and then we apply to that company. We get input from people concerning which shows to do. This year we did something a little different. We had people coming to us who wanted to direct and which shows they wanted to do.” She noted the theater board actually makes the final decision. “One of my favorite shows has been DeSoto 61
Meet Me in St Louis
“Les Miserables” because of its meaning, and what the show represents about redemption. It’s just a very powerful show. It was also a regional premiere in this area. “White Christmas” is another favorite. That show speaks for itself. I love the story behind that one. Then, “Tarzan the Musical”. That was also a regional premiere in this area. There are so many favorites like “Cats”. Those are some that really stand out,” said Marshall. Smith added, “One of the shows I want to do so badly is “Mama Mia”. But it’s not released for community theaters, only for professional theaters. I would have loved to have the regional premiere for that one. We are already talking about a show to be done in July 2017. We have to plan ahead that far since we are part of the Northwest Mississippi Theater Alliance, which includes us, DeSoto Family Theater, Kudzu Theater in Hernando, and the Northwest Community College.” Of the four, Panola Playhouse is the only group that owns the building. The others have to rent out space, like the Landers Center, or the Hernando Performing Arts Center. 62 DeSoto
“But then, they don’t have to worry about who takes out the garbage, or who pays the electric bill,” said Smith. The 2016 season at Panola Playhouse has already begun. The first production of the season was “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown”, which ended in early March. Coming up in May (May 13 - 22, 2016) is “A Catered Affair”. The remainder of the season will include “Catch Me if You Can”, “A Time to Kill”, and the favorite “White Christmas”. This year during the school summer break, “101 Dalmatians” will be presented in June as a camp for children. According to Janine Marshall, “It is an opportunity for children ages six to 16 to learn more about theater and the audition process. “We work with them on choreography and we actually put together a show that they perform at the end of the week,” said Marshall. Sardis native, Debbie Klyce, has played several parts in different plays at the Playhouse. For the “Miracle Worker”
she played Aunt Ev, Helen Keller’s aunt. “Over the last 30 years, I have been in probably 60 shows. I really enjoy it and they put on terrific performances. The first play I saw was when my husband brought me here to see a play. We were on a date before we were married. I was amazed at how good it was.” Such is the response from many about the Panola Playhouse. Panola Playhouse 212 S. Main Street Sardis, MS 38666 www.panolaplayhouse.com (662) 487-3975 panolaplayhouse@gmail.com DeSoto 63
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Mountains of Memories Story and Photography by Andrea Brown Ross
Tucked away in the beautiful foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the small town of Bedford, Va., the National D-Day Memorial combines history, space and art to memorialize the countless soldiers who have paid the ultimate sacrifice.
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Since its dedication on June 6, 2001 by President George W. Bush, nearly one million visitors have visited this 88acre memorial. From seasoned veterans to school age children, countless visitors have reflected on their own military service or gained a new appreciation for those who serve. With more than 9,000 Allied soldiers wounded or killed on D-Day alone, the memorial depicts their stories through sculpture, art, and monuments specifically the Le Monument aux Morts, Overlord Arch, Homage, Gray Plaza, Memorial Wall, and the Richard S. Reynolds Sr. Garden. But why create a memorial in Bedford? Proportionally, the community suffered the nation’s severest D-Day losses, as detailed on the memorial site: “Like 11 other Virginia communities, Bedford provided a company of soldiers when the National Guard’s 116th Infantry Regiment was activated on February 3, 1941. Some 30 Bedford soldiers were still in that company on D-Day; several more from Bedford were in other D-Day companies. By day’s end, 19 of the company’s Bedford soldiers were dead. Two more Bedford soldiers died later in the Normandy campaign, as did yet another two assigned to other 116th Infantry companies. Bedford’s population in 1944 was about 3,200. Recognizing Bedford as emblematic of all communities, large and small, whose citizen-soldiers served on D-Day, Congress warranted the establishment of the National D-Day Memorial here.” For Lucille Hoback Bogguss, the loss of her brothers would be ever mindful throughout her life. Bogguss reflected on learning the devastating news. 68 DeSoto
“I was 14 years old when my brothers were killed. It was about a month after the invasion. It was a Sunday morning and we were getting ready for church. My father answered the door, and the sheriff delivered one telegram. The next day, my sister and I were trying to lift everyone’s spirits. We were making homemade ice cream when the sheriff arrived and delivered the second telegram.” The second telegram revealed her brother, Raymond, was missing in action. Wanting to be like his older brother, Bedford, Raymond had enlisted in the military. Wounded or killed on the beach, it is believed that his body was washed out to the ocean. Sadly, his body was never found. Another soldier found Raymond’s dry bible and mailed it back to their family. Bogguss went on to become the first female elected to political office in Bedford. She began organizing D-Day reunions in the mid 1980s and served on the first board of directors for the memorial. A vast expanse that incorporates water and dimensional exhibits, the memorial itself appears like a living work of art. Sculptures placed in realistic poses simulate battle, movement or even death. Main elements in the park include: • Le Monument aux Morts, is a recasting of sculptor Edmond de Laheudrie’s original in situ outside the Church of St. Aignan at Trévières, France. Preserved as transformed by battle, Le Monument aux Morts, at both Trévières and the National D-Day Memorial, is a spectral testament to the destructiveness of war, evanescence of victory, and fragility of peace.”
• Standing over 44 feet tall, the Overlord Arch in Estes Plaza, indicative of the date of D-Day, “celebrates the breaching of Fortress Europe, the foothold in France”. • Homage is a symbolic piece “emblematic of those communities across the country that nurtured those who went away to war and grieved for those who never returned.” Sculptor, Jim Brothers, completed several pieces for the memorial including Homage, Across the Beach, Death on the Shore, Through the Surf, Scaling the Wall and Valor, Fidelity, Sacrifice and The Supreme Commander before passing away in 2013. • The Gray Plaza is where “one finds statuary representative of the beach landing and fighting. This includes two obstacles in the reflecting pool, a landing craft representation, and several figural pieces.” Visitors will also observe that as water comes up from the pool, the noise it makes as it hits the ground is reminiscent of gunshots. • Names of United States service members that were killed on D-Day are DeSoto 69
listed on the Memorial Wall on the western side of the plaza. Likewise, on the eastern wall appear the names of the 1,914 fallen Allies. • Reynolds Garden resembles a stylized English garden and symbolizes the planning and preparations for D-Day, the Allied assault on occupied France, 6 June 1944. It is named in memory of the visionary industrialist-poet who foresaw his country’s inevitable need for aluminum. During the late 1930s, Richard Reynolds responded to that need by putting his fortune and reputation in the balance to produce enough aluminum for the United States to build and sustain the air force that gave the Allies overwhelming air superiority for D-Day,” according to the foundation. 70 DeSoto
For Bedford survivor, Roy Stephens, the importance of the memorial was to help children realize that freedom isn’t free. Before his death in 2007, he volunteered at the memorial everyday. According to his granddaughters, Sarah Yost and Stacey DeMarsh, their grandfather remained hardened for a long period of time after the war, in part to the loss of his twin brother, Ray. Shortly before the battle, Ray and Roy were to be separated. Ray did not think he was going to survive. Roy refused to shake his hand and say goodbye, reassuring him that they would see each other again. When the ship that Roy was on went down, he stayed in the water for several hours not knowing how to swim. Eventually making it to the beach, Roy kicked the sand off the dogtags to the first grave he came upon.
It was Ray. Stephens would later go on to be shot and left for dead in a medical tent. Unable to speak due to shrapnel in his neck, he grabbed the hand of a nurse walking by and received lifesaving care. Yost and DeMarsh shared that although he had limited education and would rarely speak about his service at home, the memorial gave him a chance to open up about it. Stephens went on to write a poem about the loss of his twin brother, and saved every thank you card from each school age tour he gave. Committed to not forgetting their legacy, The National D-Day Memorial continues to provide opportunities for the public to learn more about the Bedford Boys and the others who served on that fateful day. To learn more, visit them on their facebook page or website, www.dday.org.
“They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning We shall remember them.” For the Fallen, Lawrence Binyon, 1914
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homegrown } renewed intent
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Purposeful Renewal By Andrea Brown Ross. Photography courtesy of Nancy Clark
A rusty washer, a random key, a piece of scrap metal. Sounds like items in the next load being hauled to the scrap yard. But on the contrary, they are likely to be pieces for ReNewed Intent’s next creation. Husband and wife team, Michael and Nancy Clark, have found purpose in repurposing. When Michael’s full time job transferred them to north Mississippi two years ago from Pennsylvania, they brought their love of repurposing found objects with them. With new opportunities for estate sales, thrift stores, and yes, even curbside and roadside ditches, the Clarks have embraced their new “hunting grounds”. Treasure hunting, that is. Nancy explained, “We’ve trained our family. Keep your eyes open for potential pieces, even if it is just a lost key found on the ground.” ReNewed Intent epitomizes the old adage, that one man’s junk is another man’s treasure. “We like knowing that we are helping to keep things out of a landfill, and we love the past and the history behind an object. It’s what drives us to create,” she said. Her interest initially began by doing bead work and has morphed into another creative realm. “I like to be challenged, especially in using objects in an unexpected way. This has been an experience in trial and error. Sometimes things break, or the vision just doesn’t materialize in the way you had originally hoped. We’ve had good and bad surprises along the way,” Nancy said. Some of her favorite pieces have been labors of love. A long labor of love as she described. “If I had to decide on a favorite piece, it would have to be a rug that Mike and I made out of old belts. It was one of the first pieces we made together. It took about a year to collect all the belts. At one point, we got it out to begin working on it. After we realized we didn’t have enough belts to complete it, we had to put it away for awhile. It was definitely a lesson in patience and time, but I love that is it functional and now in our everyday lives.” A memorable special order for a customer began as nothing more than an old photograph. Nancy shared that an older woman had given her a photograph of her father playing the bugle. There weren’t any particular special requests from the customer other than she wanted that picture implemented in a creation. As Nancy considered possible ways to use the
photograph, she eventually came across an old metal harmonica box. Inspired by the box, Nancy was happy to find that the beloved picture fit perfectly inside. After the customer received her piece using the photograph and harmonica box, Nancy was surprised to learn that the man in the photograph was actually very musically gifted. “What a pleasant surprise to learn that the man in the picture had a broad musical gift not limited to what was seen in the picture. A lot of times I will have customers tell me they trust me to just come up with a creation using the objects they’ve given me, but I do appreciate customer input,” she shared. ReNewed Intent pieces are eclectic and one of a kind. However, particular types of pieces are popular including creations made with keys, watches, and license plates. Also popular are their journals made with a portion of all of an original book and bound with extra pages in the back for writing. Jewelry and crosses are popular as well. The Clarks have also found a way to meaningfully repurpose bullet casings. Following military funerals, family members are given the casings from the 21 gun salute. The Clarks typically use the casings to create key chains for the men and necklaces for the women. For people looking for ways to repurpose family heirlooms or perhaps something eclectic to decorate with, ReNewed Intent has a Facebook page. However, Nancy said that most of their business is done at shows and from their local booths. “We have a handful of booths located around the MidSouth area. Our locations are Bingham and Broad in Memphis, Southern Vintage Company in Bartlett, and Commerce St. Market in Hernando. Beginning in May 2016, we will also have a booth at Abandoned Treasures in Southaven.” Nancy expressed her enthusiasm for the new possibilities that her family’s relocation has afforded them. “We look forward to all the new treasures we will find here in the South. Thus far, we have found that we are being inspired in different ways and can’t wait to see what other discoveries we will make!” DeSoto 73
southern harmony } kenny rogers
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Knowing When to Fold By Debra Pamplin. Photography courtesy of Webster Public Relations
Whether you refer to him as his 80s alter ego, the raspy-voiced ‘Gambler’, a storytelling country singer, or a New York Times best-selling author, musical legend Kenny Rogers has created many names for himself over the last six decades. His first album, ‘Love Lifted Me’ debuted in 1976, and since then, the country music crooner has been belting out hit after hit. Most famous are songs such as ‘Lady’, ‘Lucille’, and ‘Islands in the Stream’. In fact, Rogers has collected 24 No.1 songs, with 12 No.1 albums. In 2015, a new Christmas album was released that featured a handful of duets. Guest singers such as Home Free, Jennifer Nettles, Vince Gill and Allison Krauss collaborated with the Grammy-award winning singer. Around the same time his new album was advertised, so was his retirement message. After a long-running and highly successful career, Rogers refers back to one of his biggest hits by announcing he knows when it is ‘time to fold ‘em’. The farewell tour in 2016 includes 80 shows, and Rogers says the tour might be extended to include a Christmas tour, but is not sure. “I know that doing a Hits & Christmas show is twice as hard on me. I love doing the Christmas tour, but boy are they hard for me. I’m no young man anymore. I’m 77 now and it’s starting to catch up with me.” Rogers says that his goals have changed as well, leaning more to his elementary-aged twin boys. “You have different goals in your life at this point and my goals now are my boys. I missed this time with my older boys.” When asked if the farewell tour might be extended, Rogers explained a little more about goals and priorities. “I wrote in my book, there’s a fine line between being driven and being selfish and I think I was selfish when I was younger… I chose to tour. But if I hadn’t chosen that I wouldn’t be here. So I don’t know…. I don’t know what the answer is. But I love my boys and now I don’t have to tour, if I tour it’s because I choose to.” Fans worldwide might be wondering if another duet album is in the near future. When asked that magical question, Rogers shared his thoughts. “If there is another album, it might be a duet album that crosses genres. It likely wouldn’t be just Dolly and me, it probably wouldn’t just be country artists. It could have some country artists, some R&B artists, maybe some hip-hop artists that can meet me halfway and do music that has a message of
some sort because I don’t want to get too far away from what I do. That has been my strength — doing story songs that relay a message of social significance. I think when you look at hiphop, while I can’t do it, I have great respect for those artists who can and who can tell a compelling story doing it. I am not sure of doing a project like that — it’s just a thought, but doing songs with people you wouldn’t expect me to do them with could be interesting. If you find the right songs, I believe that could work.” Asked about his mentors, he names two important individuals: his mother and Kirby Stone, with the Kirby Stone Four. Stone shared this bit of knowledge with Rogers at the beginning of his career telling him, “Kenny, let me tell you something. This is not all wet towels and naked women.” “I was really disappointed. I wanted to call my book that and they wouldn’t let me do it. Until I realized what he said, and what he was saying was this is a business and if you don’t treat it like a business it will eat you up. So I’ve always tried to do that. I try to be on time, I try to deliver, I try to be nice to people and I try to work with people that bring me pleasure. I think that life is what you make it.” Rogers also recalls words of wisdom from his mother. “My mom always told me when I was young she said ‘son, always be happy where you are, never be content to be there, but if you’re not happy where you are… you’ll never be happy’. So even in the down parts of my career, I have to stop and say, ‘Hey, I am still making music’. This is all I ever set out to do and everything else is just a bonus. I’m always amazed at how much people will do for people they like and how much they won’t do for people they don’t like. So, you know I’ve tried desperately to use that concept. In my life and in my career.” He played the part of a sophisticated card man for many ‘Gambler’ movies, but how does he fare in real life at the poker tables? “I have a theory about gambling and that is, I can’t win enough to excite me, but I can lose enough to depress me. I have no idea when to hold them or when to fold them.” That may be true for cards, but not for his music. With his retirement, the country music scene will have large shoes to fill. DeSoto 75
table talk} the dinner bell
The Dinner Bell Rings On By Andrea Brown Ross. Photography courtesy of The Dinner Bell
Andre Davis doesn’t believe in advertising. Davis is the owner of The Dinner Bell in McComb, and rather than advertising his restaurant, he prefers to let his food speak for itself. His no-advertising policy makes the restaurant one of the best-kept dining secrets in Mississippi. The Dinner Bell is an all-you-can-eat restaurant turning out southern staples that will remind of grandmother’s house. But rather than move through a buffet line, diners sit at large round tables outfitted with Lazy Susan trays on top. The Lazy Susan offers several advantages over a buffet line. First, diners don’t have to get up to refill their plate. They simply spin the Lazy Susan until the dish is within reach, and then, load up the plate. Refills are brought to the table in bowls and served family style. Second, there is an enhanced social aspect to the meal. Because the tables are so large (the tables can accommodate 76 DeSoto
12-18 people), several small parties are seated together. Davis points out you never know who will be seated by whom. “The community tables add a social aspect to the dining experience that you don’t see at other restaurants.” And what better way to get to know someone than by sharing a great meal together? The Dinner Bell is located in a Colonial style house in the old downtown area of McComb on 5th Avenue just off Highway 51. The restaurant has been in the same location since 1959.The famous tables at The Dinner Bell are so large that they can’t be moved. They were originally assembled inside
the restaurant and haven’t been moved since. In fact, waiters and staff have to crawl around and underneath the tables for maintenance and cleaning. The food is, of course, prepared fresh daily. While they are only open for lunch, the work days are much longer and more involved than a three-hour lunch shift. Most days at The Dinner Bell begin around 6:45 a.m. and everything they make is from scratch. Money saved from advertising is put back into the fresh ingredients. We don’t take shortcuts with ingredients or preparation. I feel like if you use good ingredients then everything else takes care of itself,” said Davis. The menu itself hasn’t changed much in 60 years. Davis adheres to the mantra of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” And so The Dinner Bell still serves the food that’s kept them in business for 60 years. Daily menu offerings consist of at least two meats that include fried chicken, meat loaf, pork chops, catfish or barbecue ribs. And there is an impressive selection of side dishes and vegetables that can vary depending on seasons and available crops. Some of the highlights include turnips, field peas, butter beans, yams, and squash, hand-rolled dumplings, and of course fried eggplant. The eggplant is the house specialty. The Dinner Bell uses a secret recipe that’s over 50 years old. While Davis doesn’t divulge the secret ingredients, he does reveal the fresh eggplants are sliced and peeled, then breaded and deep fried. Once again he emphasizes that there are no shortcuts taken in preparing the food. Besides the eggplant, the fried chicken is also very popular with the guests and appears on the menu every day.
Davis offers his own high praise for the chicken, claiming, “It’s the closest to my grandmother’s recipe that I’ve found. There’s nothing fancy to it, but it is really good.” Davis is hard pressed to name a favorite dish. He’s changed his mind a lot over 13 years. Currently, his favorite is the baked chicken. For Sunday dinner the menu expands and more closely resembles a traditional Thanksgiving meal. The meat options on Sundays include a rotation of roast, ham and turkey. The sides are also expanded to include macaroni and cheese and cornbread dressing. And desserts on Sunday are special too. Davis’ wife makes cakes and pies that aren’t available during the week. Some of these desserts include custard, pecan, and toasted coconut pies. And when Davis begs just right, she makes a chocolate pecan pie that he describes as “out of this world.” And what about something with which to wash down all this delicious food? Sweet tea. Brewed in a large cast iron pot, this is also a crowd favorite. “When people come through our doors, they know what they’re going to get and they know it’s going to be good. It’s consistent. And you can’t get food like this just anywhere. Not like this, not the way we do it.” The Dinner Bell 229 5th Avenue McComb, Mississippi Hours: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. 601-684-4883 www.thedinnerbell.net DeSoto 77
in good spirits} mint julep
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A Minted May By Charlene Oldham. Photography courtesy of brewhopsandwinestops.com
Few cocktails are as steeped in southern culture as the mint julep, a drink as intimately associated with the Kentucky Derby as elaborate hats. But you don’t have to be at a Derby party to enjoy a mint julep or two. With just a few fresh ingredients, the drink is an easy any-day option when you want a refreshing, classic cocktail. Some recipes call for mixing superfine sugar directly with water or seltzer water while others suggest simple syrup. No matter what the recommended recipe, a large part of the mint julep’s appeal lies in its summery simplicity. Here’s an easy mint julep recipe from the Food Network website, provided by “Good Eats” host Alton Brown:
Ingredients
10 mint leaves, plus a sprig for garnish 1 1/2 teaspoons superfine sugar Seltzer water Crushed ice 2 1/2 ounces Kentucky bourbon whiskey
Directions
Place the mint leaves in the bottom of an old-fashioned glass and top with the sugar. Muddle these together until the leaves begin to break down. Add a splash of seltzer water, fill the glass 3/4 full with crushed ice, and add the bourbon. Top with another splash of seltzer, stir, and garnish with a sprig of mint. Serve immediately.
“Stir your mint juleps, and only gently bruise your mint for optimal flavor,” he recommends. “Crush your ice beforehand with a Lewis Bag -- a thick canvas bag bartenders use for crushing ice -- or in a clean dry linen, and store in the freezer. You want your crushed ice to be very dry and cold.” Cups should be cold, too. If you don’t have room in your freezer, pack the cups in ice for a few minutes to get them chilled before crafting cocktails. Costly cups can be made from materials like sterling silver or pewter, but Burnette says you don’t have to break the bank to serve mint juleps in a metal cup. “If you find yourself entertaining and don’t have julep cups available, check a restaurant supply store for cheap shaker tin tops,” he said. “They will work well in a pinch and are very affordable.” Of course, mint juleps are traditionally made with Kentucky bourbon. Burnette prefers varieties that won’t overpower the drink’s other ingredients, which can include special varieties of mint for a fresh take on the classic cocktail. “Choose a softer bourbon for a mint julep. I like Four Roses Yellow or W. L. Weller. It does not need to be high in ABV like some cocktails,” he said. “Check with local produce providers for different species of mint. Chocolate mint makes a delicious julep!”
David Burnette, bar manager at South on Main, the Little Rock Ark., restaurant associated with Oxford American magazine, prefers a softer touch with the mint, saving the muscle for crushing ice.
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exploring events } may Memphis in May Events: Beale Street Music Festival, April 29- May 1 International Salute to Canada, May 2 -9 World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest, May 12- 14 Great American River Run, May 28 901 Fest, May 28 For more information visit memphisinmay.org,
District. Artisans will be showcasing their crafts such as chair caning, wood carving, quilting, and basket weaving. The Log Cabin Gift Shop will be stocked with Children of God pottery and beautiful handcrafts by local artisans. The Council House Cafe` will serve up their famous sandwiches and desserts. For updates on Pioneer Day, visit www.frenchcamp.org/historic. If you are interested in being a vendor or demonstrator, call Dianne at 662-547-6835.
The Power of Children: Making a Difference March 31- May 25 Museum of the Mississippi Delta Greenwood, MS For more information visit museumofthemississippidelta.com or call 662-453-0925.
45th Annual GumTree Festival May 14 - 15 Downtown Tupelo, MS Over 100 artists from 17 states. Free fun for the whole family. For more information visit gumtreefestival.com or call 662-230-2856.
When Modern Was Contemporary: Selections from the Roy R. Neuberger Collection Through October 30 Mississippi Museum of Art Jackson, MS For more information visit www.msmuseumart.org or call 601-960-1515. Five Star City Fest May 6-7 Downtown Senatobia, MS Featuring the Downtown Dash 5K, music from local talent, arts and crafts, kids fest and car show. For more information visit facebook.com/fivestarcityfest. Tupelo Blue Suede Cruise May 6-8 Tupelo, MS Antique and classic cars and drivers head back to the ’50s and ’60s with classic car shows and contests, exciting entertainment, and fun for the whole family! For more information visit bluesc.com or call 662-213-8873. Jockeys & Juleps: Benefiting Southern Reins Center for Equine Therapy May 7 440 South Shady Grove Road Memphis, TN 3:00pm This premier event features big hats, bourbon and bluegrass with a live broadcast of the Kentucky Derby! For more information visit www.southernreins.org. A Catered Affair directed by Trusten Moore May 13 - 22 Panola Playhouse Sardis, MS For tickets visit panolaplayhouse.com. Batesville SpringFest May 13 - 14 Downtown Batesville, MS The festival is on Friday from to 5:00 to 10:00 p.m. and on Saturday from 11:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m. There is no admission charge. The two day festival includes a carnival, music and food. A favorite race of many area runners, the Panola County Humane Society hosts the Racing for Paws 5K on Saturday morning. For more information visit batesvillemainstreet.com/events. Pioneer Day at French Camp, MS May 14 9:00am - 4:00pm Step back in time as you wander through the Historic
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42nd Annual A’Fair May 21 Historic Courthouse Square Hernando, MS 9:00am - 5:00pm Over 200 arts, crafts, and food vendors, kid’s zone located on Commerce Street at City Hall, with several kid activities, inflatable moon bounce, slides and more. Bring your lawn chair and enjoy live musical entertainment. The day’s activities begin at 7:30 am with a 5K run/walk. For information, call 662-280-8875, visit www.hernandooptimist.org or email info@hernandooptimist.org. Tracks of Art May 21 Holly Springs Depot 10:00am - 5:00pm Admission is FREE. Local artists and crafters will display and sell their work. Galleries and museums will be open throughout Holly Springs. In collaboration, Strawberry Plains Audubon Center will be holding their plant sale on May 20-21, 2016 from 9:00am to 4:00pm. For more information visit thehollyspringsdepot.blogspot.com, thehollyspringsdepot@gmail.com or facebook.com/thehollyspringsdepot. Journey & The Doobie Brothers May 25 FedEx Forum Memphis, TN 7:00pm Tickets range fro $49.50 - $89.50 and can be purchased at all Ticketmaster locations, Ticketmaster.com, the FedExForum Box Office or by phone at (800)745-3000. Luke Bryan May 26 BankPlus Amphitheater at Snowden Grove Southaven, MS 7:00pm For tickets visit www.ticketmaster.com or call 800-745-3000. 4th Annual Crawfish Music Festival May 28-29 Old Towne Olive Branch, MS Members of the South Branch Lions Club will take to the streets of Olive Branch Old Towne again this year. There will be great food, boiled crawfish, a crawfish eating contest, cold beverages, gumbo cook-off, kid’s area, arts and crafts, in addition to four bands which will provide live entertainment. Fun for the family! Free Parking. Admission $10.00; kids 12 and under are free. The Festival starts at 4pm and goes til midnight! For more information, email southbranchlionsclub@gmail.com or call 662-393-0888.
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reflections} the space within
The SpaceWithin By Karen Ott Mayer
Colorful paint-by-number dog pictures that I made hung on the dark paneled walls. Barely any light penetrated the basement room which, at age 12, I decided to claim as my own. Having shared a room with one or the other of my sisters nearly my entire life, one day I asked my mom if I could move to the basement. I have no memory of her answer or reaction, but I’m sure it may have been one of mild disbelief because the gray worn basement space ranked as my mother’s least favorite place on the Kentucky property. And that’s stating it mildly. In my future room, a thread-bare 1970s copper floor covering hid the concrete. To say it was carpet would be a stretch. The room sported one window at the top of the wall, with an outdoor half-moon shaped well so the view out the window was of ground rocks and the metal well wall. I decorated in preteen tackiness with scarves, pictures and left over furniture. I hoped lamps would erase some of the shadows, but in the end, a basement is a basement. Even though I had my doubts about the space at night, the idea of having my own space overrode any initial fears. My own closet. No sister with whom to fight. Privacy! This basement played a large role in our lives. Mostly unfinished, one part held the laundry room and served as storage. Another area held our toys and a couch bought on clearance, along with throwaway furniture that I think Dad probably found on someone’s curb. Our entertainment was one small black and white T.V. with a screen the size of an 8x11 sheet of paper. It had knobs that adjusted the brightness and we spent more time amusing ourselves by changing the screen than the channels. During the day, it was quite fine. It held life. 82 DeSoto
But when darkness fell and mom said to turn out the lights and come upstairs, a race always ensued. None of us four wanted to be the last one down there, especially after my older sister commanded us three younger ones to watch horror movies like Salem’s Lot. Everyone would run for the stairs, taking two at a time because we just knew something was behind us. Against this backdrop, I chose this space. At night in my new-old room, I told myself all was fine but I could never quite get comfortable. Everything was so dark compared to the bright yellow room two floors above me. I don’t remember how long I stayed in the basement. One day, I decided to move back upstairs and into the light. I felt like a mole coming above ground and my sister Jenny didn’t nearly bother me as much as before. Spaces define us at all ages and teach us. We choose places, houses and landscapes that somehow reflect our needs at a particular time. For old-house people like myself, a new house that mirrors the neighbor’s holds little appeal. I need creaking floors and odd spaces, dark basements and shadows of previous lives living with me. During all the spring rains, I called a dear friend to report my basement had sprung a new leak. Having one himself in his 1900s house, he quickly admonished me. “Your first mistake is going down there at all when it rains!” We laughed at the irony. I did go down to check, just like I had to descend to another basement as a young girl, searching for freedom somewhere in that space within.
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