MHT Welcomes Lolly Barnes

As Executive Director

Lolly Barnes, new Executive Director of the Mississippi Heritage Trust, at the Walter Anderson Cottage in Ocean Springs.  Following Hurricane Katrina, the Mississippi Heritage Trust worked with partners the National Trust for Historic Preservation, World Monuments Fund and the Mississippi Department of Archives and History to stabilize and restore this damaged historic landmark.   Photo Credit: Ashley Rodriquez.

	10 Most - 2013 Nominations Know of an endangered historic site in the state? Nominate it for the 2013 10 Most Endangered Historic Places list. The deadline for Nominations has been extended.  New nominations are due June 15, 2013.  If you sent in a nomination in 2012 you DO NOT need to resubmit Click here to download a nomination form. Online Database of Historic Resources in Mississippi The Mississippi Department of Archives and History has created a database with information on the historic resources in the state, complete with architectural information and photos. Click here to find out more about the database. Old Capitol Ornaments and Mississippi Note Cards For Sale Purchase one of these great items and help support preservation in Mississippi!  Click here for ordering information Become a Fan of MHT on Facebook by clicking here! Historic Preservation Curriculum Available for Download The historic preservation curriculum for use in Mississippi Schools is available for download by clicking here. Preservation Professionals Form In an effort to build a data base of professionals involved in preservation across the state MHT is soliciting the names of those involved in the preservation trade.  More information and a form to fill out is available by clicking here.
	"The Mississippi Heritage Trust is an organization that seeks to protect Mississippi's irreplaceable cultural heritage - our towns and places, our sense of place that everyone recognizes as Mississippi, the place that inspired our literary greats, the place that is cherished by each Mississippian, and the place that is known throughout the world as a birthplace of creative genius." Ron Miller - Past President, Mississippi Heritage Trust

The Mississippi Heritage Trust is pleased to announce that Lolly Barnes has joined the organization as Executive Director.  Lolly has a long history of involvement with the Mississippi Heritage Trust, having served on the Board of Trustees from 2003 to 2010 and President from 2008 to 2009.  A native of Biloxi, Lolly brings nearly twenty years of experience in historic preservation to the position.  After earning a B.A. in History from LSU and a M.A. in History from USM, Lolly returned home to work for the City of Biloxi, first in collections management for the city’s museums and later as Historical Administrator.  In this role, Lolly oversaw the restoration of several of Biloxi’s most treasured historic landmarks, including the Saenger Theatre and the Biloxi Lighthouse. 

After leaving the City of Biloxi in 2004, Lolly worked to develop a revitalization plan for the historic White House Hotel, which was placed on the Mississippi Heritage Trust’s first “10 Most Endangered Historic Places in Mississippi” list in 1999.  Following Hurricane Katrina, Lolly worked for the National Trust for Historic Preservation as Program Manager to advocate for the restoration of historic properties damaged in the storm.  As a consultant, Lolly has worked with several organizations, including the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, Land Trust for the Mississippi Coastal Plain, Mississippi Main Street Association and the City of Pass Christian, on a variety of restoration and conservation projects. A former Fellow with the Knight Program in Community Building, Lolly is a member of the People’s Heritage Foundation Board of Trustees and a commissioner for the Mississippi Gulf Coast National Heritage Area.

MHT Holds Annual

Membership Meeting

Retiring board member Sarah McCullough

and Director Emeritus of the Mississippi Department

of Atchives and History Elbert Hilliard

The Mississippi Heritage Trust held its annual membership meeting on Friday, May 17, in Jackson.  Members stopped by the Lowry House to see the tremendous progress that has been made with the restoration.  Board member Brad Tisdale and project architect Jeff Hellings with Canizaro, Cawthon and Davis talked about the completed exterior restoration and upcoming interior restoration work, funded by a grant from the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Community Heritage Preservation Grant program. 

After vistitng the Lowry House, Bridgette Edwards and the volunteer docents at the Eudora Welty House welcomed members for a tour of the house and the new exhibit, The Murder of Medgar Evers and “Where is the Voice Coming From?”. 

Following the tour, the annual membership meeting was held in the garden of the Welty House. While nibbiling on Eudora's White Fruit Cake, members from around the state had a brief  business meeting and a long visit on preservation issues facing their communities. 

Board members Melody Light and David Hoard enjoy the

roses in the garden of the Eudora Welty House.

Preservation Boot Camp

Scheduled for June 13-14

The Historic Preservation Division of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, partnering with Mississippi Heritage Trust and Mississippi Main Street, will host the Sixth Annual “Historic Preservation Boot Camp”on June 13 - 14, at the William Winter Building, 200 North Street, Jackson.

Registration: $25 for both days,

$15 to attend only one day.

The two-day workshop serves as an introduction to those interested in

– but new to – historic preservation as well as a refresher course for those

who have been involved in preservation for any length of time. 

While the training is especially helpful for local preservation commissioners,

Boot Camp is open to anyone interested in historic preservation. Elected officials, city staff, local Main Street organizers, and interested citizens are welcome,

and encouraged, to attend.

Space is limited and registration is required by June 10, 2013.   Registration includes a light reception on Thursday evening from

5—6 pm where you can mingle with other attendees.

For more inforamtion, please contact:clg@mdah.state.ms.us

or

601-576-6940

2012 Heritage Award Winner - Meridian City Hall

2012 Heritage Awards

21 awards were given out to outstanding preservation projects from across Mississippi at the 2012 Heritage Awards. These incredible projects ranged from restoration and rehabilitation of railroad depots, city halls, a courthouse, houses, commercial buildings, to the conversion of a historic high school in Pascagoula into senior housing. In addition special awards were presented for African American preservation, historic district preservation. The most prestigious Lifetime Achievement was given to Sam Kaye of Columbus. These projects and leaders in preservation represent a commitment to the preservation of Mississippi’s history and desire to save and reuse important landmarks of the past. All demonstrate commitment, leadership and achievement worthy of statewide recognition.

Click here to view descriptions

of the award winning projects

Power of Preservation

in Economic Development

Conference Presentations

Available

The Mississippi Main Street Association, Mississippi Heritage Trust, and the Mississippi Department of Archives and History joined together to present the 2012 conference focused on preservation as an economic development tool. The conference featured keynote speaker Donovan Rypkema of Place Economics in Washington D.C who is nationally known for his work in using historic preservation as an economic development tool. Other speakers included Randy Hemann from Downtown Salisbury, Inc., John Hildreth from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and representatives from the Mississippi Press Association, Mississippi Development Authority, Mississippi State University, and the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. Select presentations from the conference are available for download.

To download conference

presentations click here

Lowry House with restored windows

Lowry House Exterior Finished

Work on the exterior restoration of the Lowry House is complete!  Since the late summer of 2011 we have been working on the house and the work concluded in the late summer of 2012. The work to the exterior of the house included: the restoration of the doors and windows to working condition, repair and painting of the siding, installation of a new roof, repairs to the porches, and installation of a glass wall enclosing the rear porch. The contractor on the job was Historic Renovations of Yazoo and was partially funded by a Community Heritage Preservation Grant from the Mississippi Department of Archives and History.

Another exciting announcement regarding the Lowry House is that MHT has been approved for a Community Heritage Grant for the rehabilitation of the interior. 

MHT has been working hard to save the former home of Mississippi Governor Robert Lowry (1882-1890) located in Jackson since it was placed on the 10 Most Endangered list in 2005.  The house can be documented to the 1870s and is one of Jackson’s few remaining raised cottages with Greek Revival and Italiante details. MHT moved the house in 2007 to save it and has been working on plans for its rehabilitation since then. MHT plans to use the building for its new headquarters and open a Preservation Resource Center in the building where people can come learn more about the tools to preserve historic buildings.

To find out more information about the

Lowry House project click here.

Saving Mississippi's Historic Places

After Hurricane Katrina

House on Beach Boulevard in Biloxi after Katrina and

after restoration work was completed through a grant

from the Mississippi Department of Archives and History.

Hurricane Katrina slammed into the coast of Mississippi in 2005, destroying many beloved historic landmarks. Thanks to the efforts of preservation organizations, volunteers from across the county, and the dedication of the coast residents, many of the historic places remaining after Katrina have been saved and are once again cherished historic places.

After seeing the incredible damage first hand after Katrina the Mississippi Heritage Trust changed its work plan to focus on saving as many of the historic structures left as possible.  MHT worked on damage assessment, volunteer coordination, raising funds for stabilization and other recovery work, media relations, and lobbying for grant funding. 

The Mississippi Heritage Trust is proud to have been a part of the recovery after Katrina and greatly appreciates the incredible efforts of the historic property owners who persevered through numerous obstacles to save a small part of the coastal heritage of Mississippi for the future. 

To learn more about the efforts

of the Mississippi Heritage Trust

after Katrina click here.

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