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While the majority of Vicksburg's historic buildings are
well-maintained, there are some that are in danger of being lost
forever through demolition by neglect (lack of maintenance),
encroaching commercial development, plans for demolition, or
inappropriate renovation or uses.
Buildings listed in the National Register of Historic Places
(NRHP)
are eligible to take advantage of the Federal and Mississippi
Historic Investment Tax Credits. Some buildings are
historically and/or architecturally significant and are eligible for
listing in the National Register, but have not yet been listed (ENRHP).
Buildings listed as Mississippi Landmarks (ML) are eligible to
apply for certain state-funded grants should those grants be funded
by the Legislature. Buildings located within the Historic
Vicksburg District (HVD) are eligible to take advantage of the city
and county tax abatement program. Buildings located with the
Vicksburg Main Street Program area (VMSD) are eligible to take
advantage of the Main Street Facade Grant Program.
The following are ten buildings which may disappear from the
Vicksburg skyline if measures at not quickly
taken to ensure their preservation.
#1 Carr School, 1805 Cherry Street
(NRHP,
ML)
SAVED! IN RESTORATION!
Carr School was designed in the Tudor Gothic
style by William Stanton, a well-known architect who had designed
many religious, public, commercial and residential buildings across
Mississippi. The school was built in 1924 by the E. G. Parish
Construction Company of Jackson, Tennessee, at a cost of $220,000.
It was named in honor of John P. Carr who had served as the
superintendent of the Vicksburg Public Schools for 18 years prior to
the completion of the school and who would continue to serve for
seven more years. In 1932, the school became a high school and it
remained such until 1959 when it reverted to a junior high school.
Carr closed in 1979 when classes shifted throughout the city.
The building is vacant and would be easily converted into
apartments.
#2 1717 Cherry Street
(NRHP)
Built about 1870, this house is a 3-bay
galleried townhouse with Italianate detailing. It has been
vacant for a number of years and is currently for sale.
#3
1501 Clay Street
LOST!
DEMOLISHED!
Built in the 1880s and in 1906 was the home of
Edward P. and Harriet Jones. Mr. Jones was the editor and
manager of the Advocate Journal and the pastor of Mt. Heroden
Baptist Church. Both the newspaper and the church were African
American. The only remaining residence in several blocks of
Clay Street which were once lined with houses.
#4 Old YMCA, 821 Clay Street (NRHP,
HVD, VMSD)
 Built in 1923, the old
YMCA building retains its public spaces (swimming pool, basketball
court and meeting rooms) and private rooms. It could be
adapted to apartment or hotel spaces. It is currently for
sale.
#5 W. W. Lassiter Warehouse, 1308 Levee Street (NRHP, HVD,
VMSD)
LOST!
Also known as the Surplus City Building.
Built about 1907, this is the last remaining warehouse
along the city's waterfront in an area that was lined with brick
warehouses of every description, and was historically the largest
and most important wholesaling district in Mississippi. When the
Lassiter Warehouse was built, it was one of 50 warehouses and
commercial buildings on the Vicksburg commercial waterfront.
Original roof trusses, brick arches between rooms, windows, doors,
fireplaces, cypress floors, and coal chutes remain, although some
elements have een hidden by new materials. The building's new owner
has requested permission from the Board of Architectural Review to
demolish it in order to sell the bricks. The Board has placed
a 180-day stay on the demolition in order to find an alternative to
demolition.
#6 Freight Depot,
Levee Street (HVD, VMSD, ENRHP)
Built in 1890, this brick
building was constructed as a freight depot. It is currently
vacant.
#7 1613 Martha Street
(ENRHP)
This c. 1870 residence is a
5-bay galleried cottage that retains its chamfered columns, and
original windows and doors. Spacious rooms, high ceilings, and
hardwood floors make this an ideal candidate for rehabilitation.
# 8 Beck House, 1101
South Street (NRHP, HVD)
This Italianate residence was
constructed in 1875 and retains its carriage house which was
converted into apartments in the early 1980s. At this time, the
house was also rehabilitated, but has fallen into disrepair over the
last ten years.
#9 Christian-Brough
Building, 901 Washington Street
(HVD, VMSD, ENRHP)
The
Christian-Brough building,
commonly referred to as the “Old Monte Carlo,” was built c. 1907 and
housed carriage and wagon manufacturing, blacksmithing and vehicle
repairing until 1918 when the building became the home of one of the
first Studebaker and Packard dealerships in Vicksburg. The north
half of the building has been demolished, but the corner (south)
building is intact and would be converted into residential, office
or retail space.
#10 Old Mississippi
Hardware, 2402 Washington Street (HVD)
This c. 1954 commercial building
would make one-of-a-kind apartments with views of the Mississippi
River and the Yazoo Canal.
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