Patano Cemetery in Claiborne County

Patano Cemetery, located on Hwy. 548 in Claiborne County, is located on top of a small hill that you will miss if you aren't looking for it. One plot of the cemetery looks like it is being maintained, but the rest is going back to nature. A small sign along the road said the cemetery was established in the 1840s. There are some beautiful tombstones in this cemetery, but there were many others that I could not get to because of the overgrowth. And this is the wrong time of year to be crawling through that kind of stuff. The only reason I have these photos is because I wore my snake boots — the most important piece of equipment I own. I wouldn't dare traipse through vegetation like this if not for them.

As always, if you know more about this cemetery, please leave a comment.

And do me a favor, will you? Forward this blog to others who you think might be interested in these ol' photos I put up every weekday. I would appreciate it.

Gore's Hardware Store

Gore's Hardware Store on Openwood Street in Vicksburg is a Vicksburg icon. If you never had a chance to go inside, well, you've missed something. I mean, where can you find one other store in the southeast — or nation — that features a pair of green-eyed owl andirons in the window? And I bet you can't even find a metal bucket at Home Depot!

St. Phillip Church

I have a deep passion for photographing old churches. A photo of this old church, St. Phillip Church on Hwy. 548 in Claiborne County, appeared a couple of weeks ago in the Port Gibson Reveille and I knew I had to go find it for myself. If you think I take a lot of photos, I don't have anything on Emma Crisler, owner/editor/publisher of the Reveille. That woman traverses the backroads of Claiborne County capturing more scenes than I ever could. I admire her for doing so.

I could not find any history about this church, but the church is a beautiful one. The steeple is so amazing. And my heart breaks seeing nature reclaim it for her own. The entire back of the church has collapsed already as you can see from the bottom photo taken from right inside the front door.

If anyone can post some history of the church, I would appreciate it. A cemetery is just up the road, but I don't know if it is associated with this church or not. I will show you some photos from there next week, as well as from the Patano Cemetery which is also on 548.

Wesley United Methodist Church

Wesley United Methodist Church on First East Street has one of the most unique doors that I can find in Vicksburg. It's a beautiful little church and I love the circular stained glass window. The lilies blooming upon its grounds are equally as stunning.

Train at sunset

Last week, my daughter, Susan, and I rode over to Mound, La., to see the sun set over a little bayou that I love to shoot. We were early, so we rode on down the road and noticed how the sun was hitting the railroad tracks that parallel Hwy. 80. It was as if golden ribbons  or large rope lights had been laid upon the tracks. It was a wonderful sight. And before you know it, here came a train. As it passed, it kicked up so much dust and I took photos of it as it went directly into the sun. I thought I did not get any good photos until I got home and saw what I had taken. The more  I  looked at them, the more I liked them. It was one of those magical moments and I am glad I was able to share them with my daughter. 

Wandering around Vicksburg

Purple martins at the Audubon Society butterfly garden on Washington Street.

Waiting on breakfast


I am guessing the cross on the front of the old ParkView Hospital will not always be there, so I went ahead and made a photo of it for the time when the cross will only be a memory.

You see these kinds of signs all through the Vicksburg National Military Park and they are nice and neat, but this one at the corner of Baldwins Ferry Road and Grove Street has been neglected for quite some time. I have never seen another one of these types of signs outside of the park, but I keep on looking.
My friend, Janie, over at southernlagniappe.blogspot.com inspired this photo, for the other day she ran a marvelous photo of two lawn chairs underneath a tree that was gorgeous in its simplicity. These two chairs were sitting in front of an old industrial building on North Washington Street and showing them in black-and-white just fit the mood of the photo.

A lone lily blooming in the Anshe Chesed Cemetery on Clay Street.

A magnolia tree provides plenty of shade for the Adler plot in the Anshe Chesed Cemetery.

Vicksburg Riverfront Murals

The Riverfront Murals in Vicksburg, painted by Robert Dafford and his able crew, are such an asset to the city. They are absolutely stunning in their beauty and the telling of Vicksburg's history. Many people, however, just drive by in their cars and never really see the murals. As many of you know, I want you to stop looking and start seeing! Next time you are downtown or have company come to town, go down to the murals and really look at the detail in the paintings. I find new images and things in each mural each time I go. 

The Rocking Chairs of Port Gibson

Two rocking chairs on the porch of the Commander's Home at Chamberlain-Hunt Academy caught my eye on a trip to Port Gibson this past weekend. That got me thinking about other chairs and porches that might be around the city. There are some pretty porches in Port Gibson and most of them sport come might comfortable-looking rocking chairs. This is pure Southern charm at its best.

For any Port Gibson readers (if I have any), all these photos were taken on Church Street except for two. Can you figure out which two?