Mississippi mound sites map courtesy national park service. Known as the jewel of the delta, mound bayou has a remarkable backstory, to say the least. Mound bayou came from a large indian mound located near the place where two drainage bayous converged. Mound bayou, mississippi shannon criss and shelley s. Although some historians have characterized him as a shrewd manipulator who worked for his own. I came to mound bayou both to learn about the unique history of the town. I relied on many of those sources, including records from the mound bayou documents available from the city, and from mississippi department of archives and history. Mound bayouarea historical tornado activity is slightly below mississippi state average.
The population was 1,533 at the 2010 census, down from 2,102 in 2000. A mississippi health center and its war on poverty. This is why mound bayou felt like disney world for hall why, as a child, it filled him with wonder. But his school sat on hallowed ground, the land cleared and the town settled by freed slaves. Upon its economic failure, mound bayou was founded in 1887 under the leadership of isaiah. Mound bayou is often looked to as one of the first settlements in the united states after the civil war to be founded by freed slaves.
Museum of mississippi history and mississippi civil rights museum was created by the. Check your email, and view and pay your bill online. For decades, mound bayou thrived and prospered, becoming famous for empowering its black citizens. Africanamerican history and the history of health care, including his first book. Mound bayou, mississippi 38762 join the delta center and k12 educators participating in the national endowment for the humanities most southern place on earth institute for this special presentation of the new book t. Archaeology at mound bayou, believed to be the first archaeological project designed and implemented by a black community. Mound bayou, mississippi contributor names lee, russell, 19031986, photographer created published 1939 jan.
This book examines the many questions left by the adaptations of owenite thought in. Feb 5, 2017 most people do not know the history behind mississippi town, mound bayou. Delta jewels gathering attracts hundreds news and events. Photograph of image in book showing the mond bayou cotton. Linda tillery and the cultural heritage serenades mound bayou for her 123rd birthday. Bear creek mound and village 45 miles northeast of tupelo. A historically black town in mississippi, mound bayou has a rich cultural history. The benevolent aid and burial society 1937 jf ptak science books post 2167 there is something terribly american, full of hope, and trust, and celebration in this anniversary celebration pamphlet for the city of mound bayou, mississippian african american town founded in 1887. New book chronicles and celebrates the history of the nations first rural community health center in the mississippi delta.
Yes indeed, it is this prehistory of the mound bayou settlement that drives this particular busdrove it all the way through the. Master of science in secondary school administration, indiana university, 1972. Mound bayou to a much more fascinating history that transcends its prefounding at davis bend, both before and after emancipation, and through some of its more interesting and even some of its more problematic nature. A small town with a huge history, mound bayou is one of the most interesting places in the entire state, if not the country. Mound bayou, mississippi considered by many to be the first allafricanamerican town in the south, mound bayou, mississippi, was founded in 1888 by isaiah t. Heres whats become of a historic allblack town in the. Founded in the 1800s by former slaves, it is still a vibrant and important community in mississippi and a colorful backdrop for our story about a young adult maturing into a man. Peters pottery mound bayou 2020 all you need to know. It then outlines the process, which is ongoing, of public archaeology in mound bayou, mississippi. The primary coordinate point for mound bayou is located at latitude 33. From new lanark to mound bayou reexamines the claims that a theoretical and ideological relationship existed between the scottish manufacturerreformer robert owen and the mississippi planter joseph e.
Mound bayou is one of the oldest african american towns in the country, so it is our duty to tell these stories for the benefit of our region and our country. Mound bayou is a city in bolivar county, mississippi, united states. Mound bayou traces its origin to the community of davis bend, mississippi, which had been originally started in the 1820s as a model slave community by joseph e. Willie was born on june 14, 1945 and passed away in july 2019. Davis transcribed by linda durr rudd in the davis bend settlement, warren county, miss. Mound bayou is one of the oldest allblack surviving establishment founded by exslaves. Isaiah montgomery was born in 1847 on the mississippi plantation of. The history of mound bayou is documented in several sources, including mr. Davis brother of former confederate president jefferson davis, who intended to create a model slave community on his plantation. Story of mound bayou university press of mississippi. Montgomery, a prominent businessman, and benjamin green had a dream even before the civil war, to establish the largest u. Teddy roosevelt proclaimed it the jewel of the delta. Run tenant background checks, credit checks, eviction history, and more.
Mound bayou, mississippi by suzassippi on july 12, 2011 39. Source for information on mound bayou, mississippi. Mound bayou was founded to serve as a sanctuary for black families and culture. A sign outside of city hall in mound bayou depicts the towns history.
Montgomery house is a historic house on west main street in mound bayou, mississippi, united states. From the start, it was designed to be a selfreliant, autonomous, allblack community. In 1914 the price of cotton fell, harming farmers and causing the towns banks to close. I never turn down an opportunity to pay a visit to peters pottery, which is operated by the woods brothers in the mississippi delta town of mound bayou, mississippi. The mound bayou mississippi story, the delta center for culture and. Mound bayou ranks in the upper quartile for population density and the lower quartile for diversity index when compared to the other cities, towns and census designated places cdps in mississippi.
Davis bend was started in the 1820s by planter joseph e. Archives and history, the workshop was a special initiative of the. Joining festivities for the 128th anniversary of founders. It would come to be known as mound bayou, one of the first settlements established by freed people exclusively for african americans. Established in the late 1800s, the allafrican american town was completely unlike any other of its time. Banks quickly became involved in the community, both politically and economically, and worked with booker t. Full text of the mound bayou, mississippi, story see other formats mound bayou story mississippi i 0 \ j c. Most people do not know the history behind mississippi town, mound bayou. Howards life when the teachers visited mound bayou, known as the jewel of the delta, during the historic black towns 1st founders day celebration. Photograph of image in book showing the mond bayou cotton gin, located in mississippi. Search our online phone book to find phone numbers, addresses, and more. Willie was a resident of mound bayou, mississippi at the time of passing.
Education bachelor of science in social studies, indiana university, 1970. It was founded during the spring of 1887 by twelve pioneers from davis bend, a fledgling black colony impacted by falling agricultural prices, natural disasters, and hostile race relations. Town history records refer to it as the first true experiment in black economic selfdetermination. The black wall street usa national movement for the next 300 years. Book cocktails presents happy 123rd birthday mound bayou. But mound bayou was an extraordinary place, an allblack town where no. Mound bayou white pages phone books in mississippi ms. Located in bolivar county, mound bayou was established in 1887. This migration movement was led by isaiah montgomery, former patriarch of davis bend. Mound bayous founders day celebration is and has been about african american history and stories being told, said johnson. Mound bayou traces its origin to freed african americans from the community of davis bend, mississippi. Montgomerys work, and that of others in the mound bayou community.
Davis, influenced by the utopian ideas of robert owen. In a partnership with mound bayou school district and in an effort to make education accessible to all people, coahoma community college extends its course offerings beyond the main campus by offering courses at john f. He grew up as hundreds of other poor negro boys, without any noticeable evidences of a superiority of native faculties. Mound bayou is an allblack town where they would be one of only two white families, and the only jews. A mississippi health center and its war on poverty, historian dr. Mound bayou was an all black town in the yazoo delta in northwest mississippi. The first describes the history of mound bayou followed by a project called digging for the dream. More specifically, mound bayou, in the mississippi delta, in one of the poorest counties in the country. Built in 1910, it was the home of isaiah montgomery 18471924, a former slave of jefferson davis who was instrumental in founding mound bayou, one of the first economically successful towns established by freed slaves. The town actually has an intriguing history that stands out among other towns throughout the 19th and 20th century. The history of mound bayou ms was an all black town in the yazoo delta in. The city has a proud history of credit unions, insurance companies, a hospital, five.
Photograph of image in book showing the mond bayou cotton gin, in mississ ippi creator. Most people dont know the unusual story behind this mississippi town. Davis, whose former bondsmen later settled the postbellum mississippi community of. Strife has played an important role in mound bayous history. Davis, whose former bondsmen later settled the postbellum mississippi community of mound bayou in 1887.
Th e village of mound bayou was incorporated on february 16, 1898. Edward scott passed away on october 8, 2015 at the age of 93 in mound bayou, mississippi. Our friend susan james of suzassippis lottabusha county chronicles blog will be taking a turn as a guest contributor on misspres this week sharing her thoughts about the africanamerican town of mound bayou in the. It was declared a national historic landmark in 1976, and a. Subject headings united statesmississippibolivar countymound bayou. Sabra waldfogel writes historical fiction about southern jews and african. History of mound bayou mississippi the history chronicles. Hall, john henry was born on november 7, 1932 in mound bayou, mississippi, united states. Home african american history the jewel of the delta. The history of mound bayou ms was an all black town in the yazoo delta in northwest mississippi. Although the first people entered what is now the mississippi about 12,000 years ago, the earliest major phase of earthen mound construction in this area did not begin until some 2,100 years ago.
In july 2005 mound bayou, mississippi, historian and native son milburn j. Washington praised it as a model of thrift and selfgovernment. Montgomery, a prominent businessman, and benjamin green had a dream even before the civil war, to est. A new book highlights some of the artifacts featured in the two mississipp museums and documents the history of the project. Photograph of image in book showing the mond bayou cotton gin, in mississippi creator. It developed into an autonomous free community in the aftermath of the american civil war. On the same day as the till panel, she and book coauthor and husband dr. Montgomery house, ruleville colored school, c2k ministries inc, teamviewer, norwood eyecare, ritchie bros. Thus began an odyssey that daughter jo ivester, who was 10 years old at the time, recently chronicled in her book the outskirts of.