OCTOBER 2018 // FREE
Natchez Cemetery
The city cemetery is one of many supernatural attractions in this historic city.
The Haunted Coast
Thanks to its rich history, the Mississippi Coast has no shortage of supernatural legends
The Witch's Grave The legend of the Yazoo witch is well-known in the Delta.
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Welcome to this spooktacular special edition of
Tour a haunted cemetery, visit a real witch’s grave, and experience some bone-chilling thrills across the state as Halloween approaches!
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I THE HAUNTED FOREST Publisher
Jason Niblett jason@myventuresouth.com
Production Manager & Graphic Designer
Anna Griffing anna@myventuresouth.com
Contributing Photographers
Jill Deakle | Jann Tuten Debra Jefcoat | Mistletoe Marketplace
Contributing Writers Jann Tuten | Jill Deakle Debra Jefcoat
Advertising
Kevin Dearmon kevin@myventuresouth.com Jill Deakle jill@myventuresouth.com
Debra Jefcoat debra@myventuresouth.com
Venture South Magazine is published monthly by Venture South Media LLC. Laurel, Mississippi
Pine Belt: 601-909-0990 | Meridian: 601-453-1377 Gulf Coast: 228-207-1606 | North Mississippi: 662-830-8333 email: info@myventuresouth.com facebook.com/myventuresouth
Š 2018 / All rights reserved. Contents of this magazine may not be reproduced in any manner without written consent from the publisher. Venture South Media LLC/Venture South Magazine cannot be held liable for errors and omissions. Copies are available at locations throughout south Mississippi.
Mississippi has myriad opportunities for some spooky sights, perfect for the Halloween season. All you have to do go out and look! Cover photo by Jill Deakle.
This volunteer fire department provides chills and thrills every Haloween season.
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MISTLETOE MARKET
This annual Jackson-based event provides 16 ample opportunity to shop or sell your wares.
HAUNTED COAST
Thanks to its rich history, the Mississippi Coast has no shortage of supernatural legends
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THE WITCH’S GRAVE
The legend of the Yazoo witch is 28 well-known in the area.
NATCHEZ CEMETERY 34
The city cemetery is one of many supernatural attractions in the city of Natchez.
SCARECROW CONVENTION
This fun family-friendly even is an 38 annual traditin in Stone County.
EVENTS & HAPPENINGS 42
Plan your next adventure!
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Story and Photographs by Jill Deakle
Halloween is right around the corner, and there is no bigger tradition in South Mississippi than the North Forrest Volunteer Fire Department’s Haunted Forrest. This is the 28th year for the attraction that brings in people from a variety of places to the small community outside of Hattiesburg. “We get people from Louisiana, Alabama, and have had some from even Florida. Then, of course, we get people from all over Mississippi. We’ve actually had people tailgating in the parking lot waiting for the ticket booth to open,” says Chip Brown, the Fire Coordinator for Forrest County and the chief of the North Forrest Fire Department for approximately ten years. He was in charge of the forest for six to seven years. Brown has been around since the Haunted Forest began. “My dad, Chuck Brown, was a volunteer firefighter and the chief for several years. The forest started in 1990 when Frank “Chops” Myers came up with it. The Ensline family let us use their land, and it was a short walk through a haunted trail. We charged $2 to get in. We had it there for two years.” The location changed when the land that was being used began being mined for gravel. Luckily, the same family also had land close to the fire department that they allowed the department to be used. “It has evolved to one of the biggest Halloween attractions in Mississippi,” says Brown. “I would even venture to say that it is the longest running one.” What can you expect from the Haunted Forest you may wonder? “Of course, it has changed over the years,” says Brown. “We always have the chainsaws, Freddie, Jason, and Michael Myers. But our biggest attraction is the killer clowns throughout the forest.” Killer clowns! The killer clowns aren’t just in the Haunted Forest. According to Brown, the killer clowns really get to strut their antics at the end of the event.
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THIS IS THE 28TH YEAR FOR THE ATTRACTION THAT BRINGS IN PEOPLE FROM A VARIETY OF PLACES TO THE SMALL COMMUNITY OUTSIDE OF HATTIESBURG.
“We have our killer maze at the end of the forest. It’s a total blacked out room that takes you about ten minutes to get through. At the very end, you get to the party room with the killer clowns. Then you have to have a dance off to actually get out!” The neat thing about this event is all the money raised goes to the North Forrest Volunteer Fire Department to help with equipment and needs in the community. Also, all the people that are part of the event are volunteers. “About 70 people act in the Haunted Forest, and they are all volunteers,” says Brown. “Some people are part of the fire department. Then we have different groups from the community that come in and want to take part. Some people that have been and enjoyed it just ask if they can be part and work. We are always looking for good volunteers.” What do visitors to the Haunted Forest have to say about it? “We happened upon this on our way home from a different haunted attraction,” says Stephanie Young in her Facebook review. “We traveled from Mobile, Alabama, and we loved this!!! We will probably make the drive again this year!” Samantha Craft, another Facebook reviewer was also impressed. “Out of all four haunted houses I been to this year already, this is the number one on my list!! I absolutely enjoyed it! The last part was my favorite!!” The biggest complaint with people is the long lines and long wait. “The lines can get long,” says Brown. “We try to roll groups through as fast as we can without taking away the experience. We have had a four to six hour wait before.” If you aren’t a fan of waiting in lines, there is a “Fast Pass” that bumps you to the front of the line. The fast pass costs $25.
THINGS TO KNOW North Forrest Volunteer Fire Department 2315 Glendale Ave Hattiesburg, MS October 19, 20, 26, 27, and 31 Admission: $7 for 10 & Under $12 for 11+ Fast Pass: $25 for all ages
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This year, the North Forrest Volunteer Fire Department’s Haunted Forest is October 19, 20, 26, 27, and 31. Ticket booth opens at approximately 7 p.m. The event lasts from dark until. Cost is $12 for those 11 and older; $7 for 10 and under; and the fast pass is $25 for all ages. Brown recommends the event for those eight years old and up, although they have had children younger than that come. “Our actors try to take in consideration how old everyone is in each group,� explains Brown. There is a concession stand available while you wait in line, and t-shirts are avaliable for purchase at the ticket booth. For more information, visit the Haunted Forest on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pg/NFVFDHauntedForest.
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2018 A Q & A WITH MISTLETOE MARKETPLACE CHAIR ALLISON MUIRHEAD VS: WHAT IS THE PURPOSE BEHIND MISTLETOE MARKETPLACE?
Allison: The purpose of Mistletoe Marketplace is to raise money to support the Junior League of Jackson’s mission. The funds raised at Mistletoe allow the League to provide more than 30 community initiatives ranging from one-on-one tutoring sessions to a full week of summer camp focused on learning and fun.
VS: WHAT IS THE MISSION FOR THE JUNIOR LEAGUE OF JACKSON? Allison: The Junior League of Jackson is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers.
VS: MISTLETOE MARKETPLACE IS A FUNDRAISING EVENT FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION, BUT IT HAS BECOME SO MUCH MORE. DESCRIBE HOW YOUR TEAM FEELS ABOUT BRINGING AN EVENT TO SPOTLIGHT JACKSON AND MISSISSIPPI. Allison: The 2018 steering committee could not be more excited about presenting this year’s event to the community! It is so rewarding to watch the hours of hard work come together in an event that supports our League projects and initiatives and our local community.
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VS: HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO PLAN THIS EVENT?
Allison: Each year, we transform the Trade Mart into a Winter Wonderland in about 10 days. Our team, though, has been planning for about 15 months. Although we have been hosting Mistletoe for many years, we plan in advance so that we can continue to provide a quality shopping experience and unique special events each year.
VS: HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE INVOLVED IN PRESENTING A SUCCESSFUL EVENT?
Allison: Our 16-member steering committee spend the most time planning the event, but all of our members assist with decorations, selling products, assisting merchants, and more. With a membership of close to 2,400, we have lots of help!
VS: HOW MANY PEOPLE VISIT MISTLETOE MARKETPLACE EVERY YEAR?
Allison: It varies, but we typically have 30,000-35,000 visitors.
VS: ONE THING, AS A TRAVEL MAGAZINE, THAT WE DO DIFFERENTLY IS OFFER TIPS FOR PEOPLE ON BEST TIMES TO GO, PARKING, ETC. FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE NEVER BEEN, WHAT DO YOU RECOMMEND THEY KNOW? IF YOU HAD FAMILY COMING FROM OUT OF TOWN, WHAT WOULD YOU TELL THEM?
Allison: First, I would say wear comfortable shoes! We have more than 150 merchants, and you will want to get to each one of them while you are here. Second, come early. General Admission begins on both Thursday and Friday at 11 a.m. and the line begins to form before the doors open. We do have some special event tickets left for our brunches that will allow you to enjoy a breakfast and smaller crowds while you shop. Finally, come ready to shop, eat, and stay for the day. We have a food pavilion with five food vendors, and we will be selling Coca-Cola products, Cups coffee and sweets throughout the Trade Mart.
VS: WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF MISTLETOE MARKETPLACE? Allison: I would have to say my favorite part of Mistletoe is the atmosphere of the entire event. Once you walk through the doors, you are immediately in the holiday spirit! I love that at Mistletoe, you can catch up with friends you haven’t seen in years. Many of our shoppers have had the tradition of meeting at Mistletoe for years. You have to come see it for yourself!
VS: ANYTHING ELSE?
Allison: This is special time of the year for our League, and we invite the community to join us. You will have lots of fun shopping, all the while knowing that each dollar you spend at Mistletoe Marketplace helps support our community.
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MISSISSIPPI’S SHORES FULL OF LEGENDS AND HISTORY Story and photographs by Jann Tuten When shadows fall on the eerie bayou outlets that meander like gnarled outstretched witches’ fingers feeding from the tributaries of Mississippi’s Gulf of Mexico, there is a nightlife beyond the casinos, nightclubs and bright lights. As if wanting to draw people in, soft voices whisper like mist rising above the dark waters hugged by the tall rushes of grass embanked along the bayous. At daybreak, there is a peaceful innocence as the morning sun rises and stretches its rays across the sky to great the day. In daylight, even on cloudy days, the bayou waters have their own lapping rhythm or silken stillness, as if patiently waiting for nightfall. As the day slips away and the moon rises in the sky, shadows begin to dance in the moon’s glow and the essences of neon marques. As if joining hands with the night’s eerie sounds and skipping unseen into the imagination, voices and sightings seem to float in the air moved by gulf breezes and linger long enough for chills to run up the spine. Some have seen aberrations that contradict all norms. The whispers aren’t only in the bayous and tributaries, but also in places that stretch along Beach Boulevard from the barren plot of land where the Pirate House once stood in Waveland to The Singing River in Pascagoula. If one plans to venture south for a special travel event there are some things one may want to know regarding hauntings on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Beginning in Waveland and moving east along Beach Boulevard are the towns of Bay St. Louis, Pass Christian (pronounced Chris-tchee-an), Long Beach, Gulfport, Biloxi (Ba-lux-ee), Ocean Springs, Gautier (Go-shay) and Pascagoula. Most all have a story to tell. In Waveland, all that remains of the Pirate House, known locally as the Lobrano House, is a piece of land on Beach Boulevard across from the Gulf of Mexico. The home was destroyed by Hurricane Camille in 1969. “The Pirate’s House [was] built in 1802 by a New Orleans business man who is alleged to have been the overlord of the Gulf Coast pirates (www.hancockcountyhistoricalsociety. com). There was a secret tunnel which led from the home
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down to the waterfront, which was used for the smuggling of contraband.” It is said that mysterious sounds can be heard on the property. The next spooky stop is the Bay St. Louis City Hall building. Located at 300 S. Second Street, this more than a century old building was a former jail. According to witnesses (www.hauntedplaces.org and www.mississippihauntedhouses.com), “doors open and close for no reason, bright lights will randomly appear and footsteps can be heard on the stairs.” The city hall has been given a rating of 80% by www.hauntedplaces.org. For history buffs, Bay St. Louis was initially incorporated as Shieldsborough in 1818. It was home to two possible Civil War forts. In 1882, the town’s name was changed in honor of King Louis IX, Saint Louis, since it was discovered on his birthday. Just up the road, The Bay Town Inn, located on N. Beach Boulevard, is said to be haunted, as well (67%). Although the original inn was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina, it has since been rebuilt by its new owners into a lovely bed and breakfast. Guests at the current location have reported apparitions of the French family who first built the house and of hearing voices. One guest said (www. ghostsofamerica.com) she had a dream one night where the French people who had built the home were standing near her bed. They told her to leave or she would drown if she stayed. A few weeks later, Hurricane Katrina came and engulfed the entire area with water, destroying the inn. Continuing east and crossing over the St. Louis Bay Bridge is Pass Christian where there is a 61% validity rating for hauntings at The Blue Rose Bed and Breakfast located on W. Scenic Drive (Beach Boulevard). It is said that the ghost of the woman who once owned The Blue Rose appears in mirrors and in the front hall. But is it really Letty who appears? Initially The Blue Rose was the home of the Hugh Fitzpatrick family. One of the children, Letty, had severe mental problems and was not permitted to play outside the house,
lest the townspeople learned of her disabilities. The family often had elaborate parties in the dining room, which Letty was not permitted to attend. To prevent her from coming downstairs, she was locked upstairs in her room. A yellow fever epidemic took Letty’s life at the young age of 13. Since she rarely left the house while living, she now roams throughout the estate creating mischief and chaos, particularly when special events are being held in one of the dining rooms. Bus boys have reported objects being thrown or dropped, locked doors being opened and water boiling on the kitchen stove when the gas burner is not even lit! One former employee reported a full tub of silverware, which was sitting on a table in one of the dining rooms, flipped over, spilling the silverware onto the floor (www.hauntedplaces.org). Incidentally, The Fitzpatrick’s were descendants of Mrs. Manders who was renowned for the famous ‘Bedsheet Surrender.’ According to legend, when the Federal Troops were bombing Pass Christian in April 1862, she stopped
the Yankee bombardment of the town by waving her bed sheets from her balcony. Traveling on along Beach Boulevard to Long Beach, take a left at Jeff Davis Avenue and go north to Railroad Street. This tidbit is an incidental on ghosts in a row of two-story houses, as reported by Laura (www.ghostsofamerica.com). She has seen misty figures weaving in and out of windows. “I’ve actually experienced the presence of energy in and around that Second Street area... So abundantly that my equipment was off the charts, particularly in the yard of the house that is being rebuilt. Also went to the end of the road to a ball park adjacent to the University (of Southern Mississippi Gulf Park) and beach park and the air is just thick with activity, mostly good energy there.” After visiting Long Beach, return to Beach Boulevard and continue to the City of Gulfport. Turn left onto 25th Avenue for the haunted Gregory House which sits on the right. Built in 1915, the house was home to several families until 1941 when it was leased to the United States Air Force as a non-commissioned officers’ club. It was eventually shut down. In 1957, Dr. and Mrs. Gregory moved their combined families into the home which by then needed repair and restoration. Little did the family know that the place was haunted: footsteps on the porch and stairwell, the sounds of someone moaning, apparitions of people, dresser drawers opening with no one there, and books being pushed off a desk. (www.hauntedhouses.com). From Gulfport, the next stop is Biloxi. The Jefferson Davis Home and Presidential Library, also known as Beauvoir, is located at 2244 Beach Blvd. Now owned, operated and maintained by the Mississippi Division of the Sons of the Confederacy, Beauvoir is one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks and reportedly one of the most haunted. The historic house was built in 1848 by a wealthy plantation owner named James Brown. In 1877, Jefferson Davis bought the home and moved in with his family. This is where he died 12 years later. Staff associates have reported locked doors being opened, the sound of canon booms and occasional whispers. Aberrations of President Davis, his wife and daughter can be seen in some photos taken by visitors to the home (www. mysterioushearthland.com).
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Located on White Avenue, off Beach Boulevard, is the main gate to Keesler Air Force Base. Keesler is said to have been haunted by three ghosts, one of whom is no longer there. The first was a young cadet who could not adjust to military life and hung himself in his barrack. For years he haunted the place but vanished when that wing of the barracks was torn down. The second ghost haunts the women’s barracks. He likes to open and close windows and move items around inside their lockers. The dorm was investigated by a sensitive who said the soldier, named Jeremy, died in Vietnam. Jeremy is known as being polite and won’t enter a room if the door is closed. According to www.werewoofs.com, soldiers who have been visited by him often have vivid dreams of the Vietnam War with dreams so real they can name people and places that others are not even aware of. The third ghost who haunts the dorm is said to give off a malicious presence. Nobody knows who he is or how he died, but the soldiers report that they feel uncomfortable around him. Now roaming the halls of the stark white building of the Marine Resource Center located on the Back Bay in Biloxi, one may feel strange vibes as employees say it’s haunted by a woman who wanders around the third floor and other parts of the building. According to the story, two female workers, who were in the building late one night, were hysterical with fear as they left their post. Thus, no females are assigned to work at night any longer. Nobody knows who the woman is that haunts the center. (classroom.synonym.com).
After crossing over the Biloxi Bay Bridge that leads into Ocean Springs, take a left at the first traffic light onto Washington Avenue (Highway 609) and get into the farright lane. There is an easy to miss narrow access road that travels under the Old Fort Bayou Bridge. The Aunt Jenny’s sign sits low, so be on the lookout for it. Visitors don’t want to miss a trip to Aunt Jenny’s Catfish House. Not just for the great food, but, for a possible whisper from the practical joker who lingers there. There is a 67% rating for this prankster who likes to unscrew light bulbs and make the lights flicker, which this writer can vouch for being a real occurrence. Occasionally, Jeremy will appear at the bar in the Julep Room, located down in the cellar. Aunt Jenny’s is a family friendly local favorite, so be sure to arrive a bit early for a parking spot. It opens at 4 p.m. With a full belly, one may be ready for a little nap before venturing out again later in the evening or the next morning. Gulf Hills Hotel and Conference Center is located just over the Old Fort Bayou Bridge. Turn left at the traffic light (Shore Drive). The road is as curvy as ones found in the mountains, so take it slow. Just past the second curve, take a sharp right onto Fairview Drive. One will get a glimpse of the hotel to your right, hidden behind a rolling golfing green. Fairview tees into Paso, where visitors will turn right. Follow the curves to the hotel. Note: This is the best way to get to the hotel. Do not follow the GPS, as it will have drivers meandering through the Gulf Hills community. Be sure to call the hotel to check for availability and to make reservations (228-875-4211). October is a busy month. Also, be sure and let them know if you have a pet, as only a handful of rooms are pet friendly. Tell the front desk associate about the recommendation in Venture South Magazine, then ask for the ‘member of the family discount.’ It’s a perk reserved for returning guests.
Gulf Hills was featured in the first edition of Venture South. For those who have yet to read it, Gulf Hills was the summer home for Elvis Presley and his entourage when he was just getting started in his music career. It’s a comfortable hotel with clean rooms, a complimentary breakfast and a friendly staff. One reportedly haunted place is off limits. Though it is mentioned in many sites concerning hauntings, the Rock ‘n Roll Cemetery is a private family operated cemetery that has been vandalized many times by people in search of hauntings. The family has asked on various hauntings sites to please allow their deceased to rest in peace. The name come, not from exciting sightings, but from the teenagers of years ago who went out to the large parking lot and listened to their rock and roll music. Located at the end of a long road, visitation after dark is prohibited. It is patrolled, and if one is caught after dark, they’ll will be arrested, it’s not worth it, as there are too many other places with spine chilling hauntings like the Garden of Hope cemetery, located in Gautier. Though the Old Home Place in Gautier is listed as being haunted, it’s private property and trespassing is illegal; however, visiting the Garden of Hope (Franklin) Cemetery in Gautier is allowed. And spooky it is! Established in 1897, it is considered one of the most haunted places in the country. Cheryl Ann is known as a friendly young ghost, unlike Bloody Sarah. “Bloody Sarah runs into the road, giving drivers the impression they’ve run over her. Witnesses claim that she can be heard insanely laughing throughout the entire ordeal”(www.onlyinyourstate.com).
The Longfellow, or Bellevue House, in Pascagoula, though now a private residence, was at one time a hotel. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow is thought to have stayed there to write “The Building of the Ship,” thus called the Longfellow House. “The Pascagoula River is one of the last free-flowing rivers in the United States. It begins near Lucedale where the Chickasawhay and Leaf Rivers merge together to form the Pascagoula which then meanders 80 miles south into the Mississippi Sound of the Gulf of Mexico” (www.pascagoularivertribe.wordpress.com). Somewhere in its history begins the legend of The Singing River, as the Pascagoula River is most well-known. According to legend, the river got its name from an event that took place between the Pascagoula and Biloxi Indian tribes. Anola, a princess of the Biloxi tribe, was in love with Altama, Chief of the Pascagoula tribe. However, she was betrothed to the Chief of the Biloxi tribe. Her desire to be with Altama enraged the Biloxi, so they planned to make a surprise attack on the Pascagoula Indians and capture those not killed. Anola overheard the conversation and sneaked off to tell Altama of their plans. The Pascagoula knew they were outnumbered. Rather than die or be enslaved to the Biloxi, the Pascagoula tribe decided to die with honor. After
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prayer to their god, Altama and Anola joined hands and, along with the rest of the tribe, began singing their death chant. Together they all walked down into the river until they were swallowed by its murky waters. When the wind is blowing just right in the late summer or early fall evenings their singing can be heard. It sounds like a swarm of bees in flight (www.thelastofthepascagoula.com). Just a note: If visiting any of these haunted sites, make sure everyone has appropriate permits or permissions to explore the grounds or buildings. Please be respectful of privately-owned properties.Â
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THE WITCH OF YAZOO Story and photographs by Debra Jefcoat
Growing up in Yazoo City, I had always heard about “the grave” in our local cemetery. I knew I didn’t want to go anywhere near it. It was the grave of the “Chain Lady” or “The Witch.” I’ve heard many different stories throughout my life about who was buried in the grave with a large iron oval chain that surrounds it in the Glenwood Cemetery. As an adult, I have visited the cemetery many times for loved one’s funerals and to place flowers on their graves. I’ve even shown my oldest grandchildren the grave. I returned recently with flower arrangements and a camera in hand on a mission to research more about this legendary grave. When the small community of Yazoo City was formed, the Yazoo River flowed closer to town than as it does today. As the legend has it, there was a woman that the townspeople didn’t like that lived on the outskirts of town near the river. As the story goes, there was a young boy by the name of Jim Bob Duncan that was on his raft going home from fishing when he heard screams. When he realized that the screams were screams of terror at the home of the alleged Yazoo Witch, he went snooping around and looked into her window. According to local folklore, he saw her performing a tribal type dance around two lifeless bodies on her floor. A very freighted Jim Bob made his way back to his raft without her seeing him and went to tell the sheriff what he had seen. Since Jim Bob wasn’t known for being dishonest, the
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sheriff and his deputies went to the shack he was told about. After investigating, they didn’t see anything suspicious. They decided to investigate more, and, once entering the attic, there were two corpses hanging from the ceiling. No doubt about it: the women was at least a murderer, if not a witch. As the legend continues, it on May 25, 1884 when the sheriff and his men went into her shack. As they were coming out of the attic, they heard a rushing sound outside. They rushed to the door only to see the woman fleeing by foot. They lost track of her for a moment but caught up with her only to see she had fallen into a pit of quicksand. As she was sinking, she shook her fist towards the sky and swore she would return in 20 years to burn the town to the ground. They tried to rescue the woman from the pit to no avail. When they were able to retrieve her body, she was taken to Glenwood Cemetery where she was buried. Chains were placed around her grave since it was believed that evil couldn’t break through iron bindings. The only thing that was written on the tombstone were the letters “TW” to warn people it was “The Witch.” Years went by and people gradually forgot about the witch and her curse. That was until exactly 20 years later when on the morning of May 25, 1904, a fire destroyed more than 200 residences and almost every business. A total of 324 buildings burned.
There have been many theories of what started the fire. Some say it started in the parlor of a young women who was preparing for her wedding later that day. There were some “supernaturally forceful winds� that made the fire spread. Or could it have been an unattended heated iron, an overturned lantern, or even a careless handyman starting up the morning fire? There’s even the theory that a young boy playing with matches may have started it. At the time Jim Bob had married and had children of his own, one being a son named William who was known as a roustabout kid always playing in the streets. On that faithful morning in 1904, William made his way around town as he normally did. When Jim Bob returned home after helping the fireman, his son was so cheerful that it unsettled
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Jim Bob. Jim Bob told his son the whole town burned down. When William was asked why he was in such a good mood, he replied, “I know daddy. It was terrible, but I was having fun before it happened.” When asked what he was doing, he said, “Well I met a nice lady in town today and she danced with me until the fire started.” Jim Bob told him he could had been killed. “I know daddy,” he replied, “but Tandy carried me away from the fire.” When asked who Tandy is, he replied, “She’s the lady I was dancing with. Oh yeah! She said to give you this.” William handed his dad a letter and said, “She said she knew you before I was born.” Jim Bob began reading the note that was given to him with his eyes widening and his face turning white as a ghost. The folklore that surrounds the story claims the content of the note had a short and simple phrase: “I told you so” and signed Tandy Warren. After Jim Bob read the note, he rushed to the cemetery to find the witch’s body was still buried but noticed the chain had been broken with a link missing. He still had the note in his hand when he noticed the initials on the grave: “TW.” To this day, a Tandy Warren can’t be accounted for in the Yazoo census during the period of the death of the witch. Was there a real witch? Did William dance with evil? Tandy is a variant of an old Norse word meaning FIRE.
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Come to your own conclusion if this is just a myth or some truth to the legend of the “Witch of Yazoo City.” It’s certainly a mysterious force. Take a trip to Yazoo City and visit The Witch’s grave and take your time to look at others that have been buried in what is known the old part of the cemetery. Guests can arrange a tour and hear the story told by contacting the Yazoo County CVBC. Glenwood Cemetery was voted the second spookiest cemetery in the United States in a poll by Huffington Post. Also, on October 14 at 10 p.m., watch “Most Terrifying Places in America: Witch of Yazoo” on the Travel Channel.
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CEMETERY
Story and photographs by Jill Deakle
My husband and I recently had the pleasure of visiting one of Mississippi’s most historical cities, Natchez. As we were planning what we wanted to do and see, my husband was a little confused about why I kept insisting we go to the Natchez City Cemetery. Once we made it there, he understood why I wanted to go there. The Natchez City Cemetery was established in 1822 on the bluffs of the Mississippi River. Prior to it, the city’s earlier cemetery was in Memorial Park in Downtown Natchez. Most of the graves that were in the previous cemetery were relocated to the Natchez City Cemetery along with graves from private plantations and church burial grounds. “The Natchez City Cemetery is 103 acres,” said Micki Hartley with the Natchez City Cemetery. “The oldest burial we have in the cemetery is from January 22, 1823.” Approximately 100 private guided tours take place each year at the cemetery, according to Hartley. However, visitors can go on a tour without a guide using a CD in the vehicle. “We have a self-guided CD driving tour that includes a brochure identifying the oldest parts of the cemetery and characters who tell their stories,” said Hartley. “The CD is available for rent and for sale at the Natchez Visitor’s Center.” One of the most interesting graves my husband and I found in the cemetery is “Louise the Unfortunate.” The grave bearing that name sits in the cemetery with coins tossed in front of it. According to the legend, Louise came to Natchez to be married and searched in both the refined and rowdy parts of town for her fiancé’. The story is foggy from there with some saying she never found her fiancé’; some saying her fiancé’ was actually married; and others saying the fiancé’ had died once she arrived.
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Although the story is unclear why she was never married, Louise took respectable jobs (housekeeper, seamstress, etc.) before having to work less respectable jobs such as a waitress or bar maid at Natchez Under the Hill, the less desirable part of town. Eventually, she became a “Woman of the Night.” No one knows exactly how she ended up in a nice grave in the Natchez City Cemetery. There are rumors that her funeral and gravestone were paid for by former clients and even a pastor that felt sorry for her. Much of Louise the Unfortunate’s life will remain a mystery. The Turning Angel is another well-known monument in the Natchez City Cemetery; so much so, it has taken on a special role. “The Turning Angel has become the symbol for our historic cemetery,” says Hartley. The monument overlooks five headstones for employees of the Natchez Drug Company. A huge explosion on March 4, 1908, destroyed the five-story drug company building and killed several people. Even though the company went out of business from the event, the owner was so devastated that he purchased a plot for his employees to be buried. He also purchased The Turning Angel monument to look over them. Some people claim the angel turns its head as they drive by in cars at night. Other highlights of the Natchez City Cemetery include Jewish Hill and Confederate graves. One of the amazing things that one will see in the Jewish part of the cemetery is that many of those buried there were actually born in places that no longer exist. For example, there is a grave for Meyer Goldstein, a native of Prussia, who died in 1853 at only 53 years old. Each year, the cemetery holds a fundraiser to help with upkeep and to give people a special opportunity to learn more about the individuals buried there. Angels on the Bluff is held the second weekend in November. This year it will be held November 8-10. The event is an “informative and entertaining tour of selected gravesites as local citizens and/or descendants reveal the history, romance, tragedy, and mystery surrounding the people buried at the sites.” Tickets can be purchased at the Natchez Visitor Reception Center. The Natchez City Cemetery opens each day at 7 a.m. The cemetery closes at dusk. Group tours and individual guided tours may be arranged through Natchez Pilgrimage Tours by calling (601) 442-6282. For more information or directions to the cemetery, visit www.natchez.ms.us/150/cemetery .
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HEAR YE! HEAR YE! THE 2018 SCARECROW CONVENTION IS IN SESSION! Story by Debra Jefcoat | Photographs courtesy of Woodlet at Wikimedia Commons
There’s a special convention taking place in Stone County. Guests won’t find stuffy business suits or banquet chicken but might find crazy outfits and plenty of fall décor. The 2018 Scarecrow Convention is officially in session in Downtown Wiggins. Presented by the Pine Hill Ladies Club annually, the convention officially goes through October 16, but most businesses and organizations leave their displays up several more weeks. Mike Cain, chairwoman of the Pine Hill Ladies Club, explained the group started working to beautify their hometown. In 2010 seven ladies got together and decided to make their town welcoming to visitors. They started off decorating the historic Pine Hill area in the center of town for each holiday and, in 2012, decided to start the first Scarecrow Convention along with the help of the Stone County Economic Development Partnership and Chamber of Commerce, the City of Wiggins, the Stone County Enterprise and also from individual donors. One can hear the enthusiasm in Cain’s voice as she speaks about the annual event. There is even a contest for creativity. “Businesses, churches, families, individuals, schools and organizations… ANYONE in Wiggins!” Cain explained when asked who may enter the contest. The winners are chosen two ways: The People’s Choice Award, which is selected by Wiggins citizens via the Internet. The Judge’s Award is based on scoring by a panel of three independent judges. Each winner will receive a $25 cash prize and a plaque. Both winners will be featured in the local newspaper, which may be the best prize of all!
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With each year’s convention getting larger, the anticipation is growing high. They have had as many as 100 entries to participate before. Some notable scarecrows in the past have been “Duck Dynasty’s” Phi and Uncle Si Robertson, a farmer and his family on a wagon being drawn by a hay horse, an actual “crow” scarecrow, “Disney’s Toy Story” Woody and Jessie, first responders, and even a display for Breast Cancer Awareness that had the saying “save the Pumpkins.” Another crowd favorite was the dentist scarecrow wearing a Mississippi State University shirt preparing to pull a tooth from his Ole Miss Landshark patient. A precious display and any little girl’s favorite was Cinderella beside her carriage that had turned back into a pumpkin. After looking at the pictures of the different events for which this group decorates, their mission statement is accurate: “The primary purpose of the Pine Hill Ladies is to foster community sprit among the citizens of Wiggins and to make our town an inviting place for visitors.”
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THIRD SATURDAY EACH MONTH Gospel Concert Westside Community Center 45 Magnolia Road, Perkinston
DATES IN OCTOBER Pumpkin Patch
Williams Family Farm | 115 B&W Road, Wiggins, MS
OCTOBER 5 - 27 Cedar Hill Haunted Farm
Let Cedar Hill Farm entertain and scare you! Attractions include a variety of mazes and trails both haunted and not haunted. NOTE: THE TRAIL OF TERROR OR SENSTURBIA IS NOT RECOMMEND TO ANYONE UNDER THE AGE OF 10! Visit us online for more information. Cedar Hill Farm | 008 Love Rd | Hernando, MS 662-4299-2540 | halloween.gocedarhillfarm.com
OCTOBER 11 - 13 Tennessee Williams Festival
Celebrating Tennessee Williams, the festival includes porch plays at historic TNW sites, a student drama competition and various lectures from scholars. coahomacc.edu
OCTOBER 12 A Blues Jubilee
A jubilee celebrating 5 years of the Front Porch Jubilee. Cocktails, silent auction, live music & more. $50/per. until October 6 | $60/per. after October 6 6 am - 11 pm | 2465 Hwy 51 S | Hernando
98Th Annual South Mississippi Fair
Enjoy great entertainment, delicious “fair” food, the best carnival rides around, agricultural and livestock competitions. The Magnolia Center 1457 Ellisville Blvd. | Laurel, MS | somissfair.com
OCTOBER 12 - 13 & 26 - 27 Cruzn the Crossroads Car & Truck Show
Cars, Music, and Fun at the Crossroads in Clarksdale. Bring your car and enter – so many categories – so many cool rides. Deep Blues Fest will have free busking stages downtown with music. Delta Blues Museum #1 Blues Alley | Clarksdale, MS 662-627-6820 | deltabluesmuseum.org
37Th Annual Octoberfest
This two day festival includes a Memphis Barbecue Network sanctioned cooking contest, southern cuisine, arts and crafts, a Friday night street party and live music all day Saturday, a children’s play area and more! www.octoberfestms.com (662) 843-2712 | www.visitclevelandms.com
OCTOBER 13 Boots & BBQ 2018
Boots & BBQ is our annual fundraiser, benefitting The Arc of Northwest Mississippi. This evening of fun-filled events will include BBQ, entertainment, silent auction and more. Join us for a great evening out with friends of The Arc Northwest Mississippi. Your ticket purchase includes the following: BBQ Dinner | Silent Auction | Cash Bar Entertainment by Papa Top’s West Coast Turnaround Art Sale of items created by our participants in Art to Achieve 7:00 am - 10:00 pm Landers Center | 4650 Venture Dr | Southaven
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Renaissance Euro Fest Automobile And Motorcycle Show
It’s going to be a big celebration at the 10th Annual Renaissance Euro Fest Classic European Auto and Motorcycle Show on Saturday, October 13, 2018. Renaissance at Colony Park will be filled with over 150 beautiful cars and motorcycles. It’s European engineering combined with Southern hospitality that makes this a signature event in Ridgeland that you don’t want to miss! More details to come, so check back often! 8:00 am - 5:00 pm @ Renaissance at Colony Park 1000 Highland Colony Parkway | Ridgeland, MS http://euro-fest.net/ | renaissanceatcolonypark.com
Over the River Run
The 30th Over the River Run starts at 8:00 am at the Old Mississippi River Bridge located at I-20 and Washington Street crosses the Old Mississippi River Bridge and ends back at Warren County State Welcome Center. Race times are 8:00 am for the 5-mile run and the 5-mile walk and the 1-mile fun run will follow. The registration cost for adults is $25 for individuals and $15 for children (10 & under). Parking will be at the Ameristar Hotel. After the race enjoy entertainment, fun, and refreshments for all participants at the Ameristar Delta Point parking lot. 8:00 am - 12:00 pm 601-631-2997 | info@southernculture.org www.raceroster.com | www.southernculture.org
Hernando Water Tower 10K Race
Running enthusiasts from the Mid-South and beyond are invited to “Mississippi’s Front Porch” to participate in Hernando’s eighth annual “Water Tower 10K” road race which will highlight the city’s historic districts as well as one of its most-beloved local landmarks. The 10-kilometer race will start in the heart of the city at Hernando’s Town Square, featuring a course that will wind through the city’s tree-lined streets and in the shadow of the Hernando Water Tower. Proceeds from the race will benefit Hernando Excel By 5’s Dolly Parton Imagination Library. Early registration: $25 through September 23; $30 September 24 through race day; $25 Spirit Runners. Prizes will be awarded. For additional information or registration, call 62-429-9092 or visit. racesonline.com/events/hernando-water-tower-10k. 8:00 am - 1:00 pm @ Hernando Courthouse Square 2535 Hwy 51 | Hernando, MS 6624299055 www.hernandoms.org
Ranger Bluegrass Festival
A campus sponsored bluegrass music festival benefiting The NWCC Foundation Scholarships. The Ranger Bluegrass Festival will be held in Senatobia, Mississippi at The Northwest Farm Arena. Performing on the main stage are The Barefoot
Movement, Mike Compton and Joe Newberry, Missy Raines, Alice Hasen, Xaris Waltman, Andy Ratliff Includes an Arts and Crafts Area, Food Trucks, Free Children’s Activity Area and more. Visit festival website for schedule, contact info, ticket prices and more. 9:00 am - 9:00 pm @ Northwest Farm Arena Highway 4 | Senatobia, MS www.Rangerbluegrassfestival.com http://www.northwestms.edu
OCTOBER 14 - 21 97Th Annual Jackson County Fair
Thrill rides, livestock shows, arts & crafts displays, food booths, exhibits, live music, “Old Settlers Day” and much more in Pascagoula. co.jackson.ms.us
OCTOBER 18 Pumpking Carving Night
5:30 - 8:30 pm @ Keg & Barrel 1315 Hardy St | Hattiesburg, MS www.HattiesburgAvenues.com
OCTOBER 19 Great Mississippi River Balloon Race
The Great Mississippi River Balloon Race is the most colorful annual event in Natchez, with gorgeous hot air balloons filling the skies over the river as local and national talent fill the air with live music.
OCTOBER 20 23rd Annual Walls Fall Festival
Plan to attend this wonderful community event where you will find something for all ages. Free admission! There were 100 vendors last year. In addition to vendor and craft booths, there will be children’s inflatables and games, live musical entertainment, silent auction and various community exhibits from Fire, Police, Search and Rescue and more. The Country Cafe will be serving sausage biscuits, BBQ, catfish, hot dogs and more and the Bake Shop will have an assortment of homemade 662-781-1333 | www.minormemorial.org/fall-festival
Hernando Halloween Off The Square
Everyone is invited to bring out the children in Halloween costumes to trick or treat from the trunks! Anyone can participate by registering your decorated “truck” and passing out treats to the kids! Conxion will have activities for the children. Please contact the Hernando Main Street Chamber of Commerce if you would like to participate. DeSoto County Administration Bldg 365 Losher St | Hernando, MS 662-429-6055 | www.hernandoms.org.
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OCTOBER 20 Kosciusko Fall Festival
This festival showcases local artisans on the Courthouse lawn in the historic district, with lots of music and food. kosytrace.com
6th Annual Historic Griffin Cemetery Tour
Take a historical journey back in time as actors dress in period attire and bring life to early ancestors buried in the oldest section of the cemetery. Guided tours are one hour.
Antique Days
Features live entertainment, arts & crafts, activities for children, kibbee cook-off, antique engine demonstrations, cane syrup cooking and much more. antiquedays.com
7Th Annual Delta Hot Tamale Festival
Proclaimed as the “Hot Tamale Capital of the World” this unique festival features multiple tamale vendors, music, eating contest, famous chefs and much more. mainstreetgreenville.com
OCTOBER 25 - 26 Conference On The Front Porch
This is the third annual Conference on the Front Porch. The conference aims to explore the significance of the front porch in the American South, both from an architectural, as well as a sociological, perspective. The two day conference explores the origins of the front porch, its role in building and sustaining community, the porch and food, the porch and music, and the porch and its impact on the story-telling tradition in the South. We’ll explore in detail all this and more. This two day conference is held at The Mill at Plein Air – a 12,000 square foot venue built from entirely reclaimed materials and located in the Plein Air neighborhood in Taylor, MS. Taylor is a seven minute drive from Oxford and Ole Miss. In addition to the lectures and panels, registration includes six meals, and includes a one evening porch concert and a one evening porch play. The conference is open to architects, developers, planners, social historians, and lovers of all things porch. http://www.theconferenceonthefrontporch.com/ Plein Air | 1 Town Square Lane | Taylor, MS 662-234-3151 | http://www.pleinairtaylor.com/
OCTOBER 26 Haunted Halloween Trails
Games, refreshments and a scary haunted trail. Enter if you dare. 8 - 5 pm | Richland, MS richlandms.org
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OCTOBER 27 Magee Crazy Days
The 42nd annual festival features arts & crafts, a 5k run/walk, food, car show, live music, children’s activities and more. 8 am - 5 pm | Magee, MS
6Th Annual Gator Fest
This event features canoe and kayak races, dog show, baby alligators, arts & crafts, kids’ zone, food, music and more in Columbia. 8 - 5 pm | Columbia, MS
28Th Annual Gautier Mullet & Music Festival
Festival featuring handcrafted items, food, live entertainment, “hands on” heritage and education area, and mullet toss contest. 8 - 5 pm | Gautier, MS
Leland Frogfest
A celebration of the arts in honor of Jim Henson who spent his boyhood in Leland, where he was inspired to create the Muppets. The event features hands-on art activities, live music, a chili cook-off and a kids’ fun run. 8 - 5 pm | Leland, MS | lelandchamber.com
OCTOBER 30 Halloween Parade
Beginning at Parkway Heights on Hardy Street in Hattiesburg, MS | Starts @ 5:30 pm www.HattiesburgAvenues.com
MAKE YOUR PLANS NOW FOR UPCOMING EVENTS: November 1
Annual Taste of Long Beach, Long Beach
November 1 - 4
Helen Brett Mid-South Jewelry & Accessories Fair, Southaven
November 2 - 4
Mistletoe Marketplace, Jackson
November 3 Peter Anderson Arts & Crafts Festival, Ocean Springs
November 8
Angels on the Bluff Cemetery Tour, Natchez
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Enjoy these games & puzzles as you go on your next adventure.
WORD SCRAMBLE
Rearrange the letters to spell something pertaining to birds.
WORD BANK BAT BLACK CAT BONES BROOMSTICK CARVING CAULDRON COFFIN
COSTUMES CREEP CRYPT DARKNESS EERIE EVENING FRIGHTEN GHOSTS
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GHOULS GOBLINS GRAVES HALLOWEEN HAUNT HOWLING MOANS MUMMY
Answer: Tricky
IKTYCR
PUMPKIN SCARY SCREECH SKELETON SPIDER SPIRIT SPOOKY TOMBSTONE
VAMPIRE WEREWOLF WINGS WITCH ZOMBIE
CLUES ACROSS 1. Superhigh frequency 4. Sinatra’s ex-wife 7. Unity 12. Not useful 15. One who mocks 16. Teachers 18. “Pollock” actor Harris 19. Fifth note of a major scale 20. A type of coalition 21. Aircraft transmitters 24. Where golfers begin 27. We all have them 30. Monetary unit 31. Calendar month 33. Pouch-like structure 34. Winter sport tool 35. Minneapolis suburb 37. __ student, learns healing 39. Keyboard key 41. Brief proposal 42. Gasteyer and Ivanovic are two 44. Lunatic 47. Cool! 48. Japanese musician 49. Successor to League of Nations 50. Actor Diesel 52. The Constitution State 53. Go back over 56. One long or stressed syllable followed by unstressed syllable 61. All of it 63. Seriousness 64. Adds color 65. __kosh, near Lake Winnebago
CLUES DOWN 1. Turfs 2. Handle 3. Floating ice 4. Railways 5. Breathe in 6. Neutralizes alkalis 7. Coenzyme A 8. Make a mistake 9. Tin 10. Parts of a machine 11. Midway between northeast and east 12. Prizes for victory 13. Great amount 14. Goodwill (archaic) 17. Suspicion of having committed a crime 22. Signed one’s name 23. Quake 24. Exercise system __-bo 25. Round Dutch cheese 26. Ready to go 28. Khoikhoi peoples 29. Opera scene 32. Husband of Sita (Hindu) 36. A sign of assent 38. Cut a rug 40. An army unit mounted on horseback 43. Satisfies 44. Austrian river 45. In a more positive way 46. Religious creed 51. Brazilian NBA star 54. One and only 55. Street 56. Explosive 57. Gambling town 58. Public crier calls 59. Hard money 60. Time units (abbr.) 62. Exists
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