Port Gibson, Mississippi

Welcome to Port Gibson, population 1668 or so, the town whose souvenir T-shirts and signage proclaim as "Too beautiful to burn."

Judging by Port Gibson's deserted Main Street, they might want to reconsider this promotional angle. 

Aside from not being ugly enough to burn, Port Gibson actually has a few other points of interest to bring in tourists: it's a stop on the Mississippi Blues Trail (more on that later), it's the site of the Battle of Port Gibson, and it's close to the Natchez Trace national scenic trail.

We stopped in Port Gibson on a road trip on a summer Saturday in early afternoon. Because it was blazing hot and our destination was still hours away, the visit was rather rushed, and I didn't get to enter the few open businesses. Also, the midday glare was too bright to properly view the photos I was taking. So although conditions weren't ideal for creating this post, when it comes to photography I take the "we may never pass this way again" approach, and shoot it in the time and conditions I do have.

 

I'm going to call the above the M.F. FATTER OFFICES building until someone corrects my interpretation of the faded sign. Below, an action shot of the structure's interior (due to a flying pigeon).

Below and to the right of the ghost-sign for Claiborne Hardware (above photo) is a former store called Abraham and Sons, and the next two photos show the interior. 

Between father Abraham here and H. Frishman on that shoe sign, that's two more Jewish names than I expect to see in these parts. Here's a New York Times article addressing Jewish history in the South, which mentions Frishman.

The Trace Theater appears to be somewhat in use as a community theater venue. It has also served as a nightclub in recent years. 

View through Trace's marquee to an older sign:

Across the street from the Trace is another historic venue, seen below. The Rabbit Foot Minstrels/ Rabbit's Foot Company were headquartered here beginning around 1918, and among their performers were Ma Rainey, Bessie Smith, and Louis Jordan.

 

More recently, the place served HAM AND CHEESE BURGERS.

Below, the former Light Foot Washateria, slowly being overtaken by plants, along with what amounts to a traffic jam in Port Gibson.

Here, the wood-paneled office of the weekly Port Gibson Reveille. An old-fashioned newspaper office! Isn't it cute?

And another vintage-looking office, this one with faux-wood paneling.

Information on Port Gibson's revitalization and historic restoration efforts can be found at Port Gibson Main Street.

Comments

[Apollo]

That's pretty interesting. You know what they need? They need a Sam's Club built on top of all that history.

[jason]

wow! I love that red goose shoe sign.

And ham and cheese burgers...why does that suddenly sound good?

[vl100butch]

what do i have running through my mind.....

"half the fun of having feet is red goose shoes...."

how many of y'all have ever seen a red goose shoe commercial????

bravo zulu!!! ya done good, kane.....

and i've been waiting for this to hit for the last day or so.....

[Trey]

The New York Times link is fuxxored. FTFY below.

[lafayetteann]

What? No picture of the hand pointing heavenward atop the Port Gibson Presbyterian Church?

[Carla Thomas]

This has been absolutely charming!

NYTimes/Frishman-article link has gone bad, but no biggie. Heh, there's all sortsa old-school Jews in Mississippi, both rural and urban.

Oh I just noticed butch already mentioned that about the bad link – and on the same day you posted it.

I found this blog after viewing my mother's Downtown Port Gibson photos on flickr: Windsor Ruins / Port Gibson 2005 · www.flickr.com/photos/maedeans/sets/72157623363459069

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[Greg Dunn]

My home town. It's McFatters Drugs. Bought many a soda there. Great pics. Wish you could have stayed longer. A lot more places to see.

[Chantell Robinson]

It's not as bad as it looks port gibson can be alot of fun from time to time and it brings alot of people back home to the south where its nice and quiet but their is more you need to see because trust and believe at one point it was too beautiful to burn

[Mary Jane Baker]

There's a synagogue in Port Gibson. Did you see it? Is it still there? My grandmother lived in Port Gibson and I visited often -- was always fascinated by the way the synagogue looked.

[Joe]

I love Port Gibson. The First Presbyterian Hand is pretty amazing, and the history in the area fascinating. When I lived in Vicksburg, MS I took a few scenic drives down that way. Once I left a little too late and got lost after dark in the back roads outside of town. Found a group of people around a huge bonfire made from tires, old furniture, and other refuse. I admit it was intimidating, but I asked for directions. Not only did they oblige, but they offered me a drink and invited me to stay awhile. One of the most unique experiences of my life.

[Bonnie Ledet]

Many beautiful places in Port Gibson. Main st. may not be booming however Port Gibson is still to beautiful to burn. How about the beautiful homes on Hwy 61, the gold hand, Chamberlain Hunt Academy, The Grand Gulf Military park, the river, and many other places nearby. I was married in the church at Grand Gulf military park. It was moved from an area called Rodney because it was in danger of being lost to erosion from the Mississippi river. My father and grandfater restored it after it was moved.

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Among those people that appear in our life, some are to teach us, some to comfortus, some to share and some to love.

[Doris Barnes Walls]

i grew up in port gibson. I was not a kind place to my family. the old red neck men was terriable. my father was JOHN w. Barnes. J. Mack Jones and a bunch of other red necks ran my family out of Port Gibson. I have family there, but it is not a place I would want to live.

[ut security systems]

Cell phones are a distraction and will make you less aware of your surroundings.

[Joseph S. Nettles]

I just published a fiction book starting in 1915 when a sidewheeler burned and sank south of Port Gibson. The story moves to Natchez, back to Port Gibson then to New Orleans in 1935.
Title: "The Mystery of the Louisville Star".
Can the Louisville Star retain secrets from her watery grave?
Eight murders, Dine and Dance cruises on the Mississippi River, New Orleans jazz and Creeole cuisine.
This book would make an excellent movie and can be purcshased from Barnes and Noble and Amazon on the internet.
Thanks for reading . . .

[Maurice Copeland]

Coming to Port Gibson, Mississippi in a month, writing a book...anyone got any connection?

[Travis]

I'm from Port Gibson and I love the town ,but my mind is always wondering and I was not able to grow there so after high school I started to attend college in Houston and I love going back home EVERY chance I get. It is such a huge difference between the two cities and they are only six hours away from each other.

[Doris Barnes Walls]

I grew up there.it was not a good place for our family. old man J Mack Jones and other whites forced my father off his land in 1964. they took our land and ran us out of town. my father loved Port Gibson. his name was John W. Barnes sr. main st. looks terriable, I would not like to live there again.we lived down on the lower end of Rodney rd. my mother was Dorothy M. Barnes.I went to Addison High School 1964.

[Deannie]

I am doing genealogy research on Port Gibson, Ms. I would like to talk to anyone about the town if you has the time.
Bradleyclan2004@yahoo.com...family names
Bradley, Garner, Hall. Hyder/Hider I still have family that lives there. Thanks Deannie

[Stanley Hastings]

I don't really appreciate the tone of this post at all. You apparently know NOTHING about this town, and were there at the wrong time. You need to do your research and brush up on history before making snide comments. True, the town is not what it used to be, but it does have redeeming qualities to this day. You need to return on a better day and talk to some of the REAL people there and not make innuendo about something you know little about.Photograph the old churches and homes. Go to the Chamber of Commerce and visit the nice people there. Look inward.

[Ellen Akin]

There are many gorgeous antebellum homes in Port Gibson, also, acres of scenic farm and timber land. The wildlife is unbelievable and the cemeteries are full of history and should not be missed. The First Presbyterian Church with the hand pointing toward Heaven on the steeple is beautiful and full of history as is much of the town. Port Gibson is southern hospitality at its best. Visit the church one Sunday and I can almost promise that you will be invited to someone's home for Sunday dinner and, if you are lucky, the volleyball game that follows the home cooked meal.
If you look for the worst, that is what you find. Make a return trip, spend the day or the weekend, look at and photograph some of the things I mentioned. I think you will change your story.