History came to life Saturday morning during the Trace to the Square presentation, a part of the annual Artisan Fall Festival held around the courthouse square.
Presented by City of Kosciusko Division of Tourism, the Kosciusko-Attala Partnership, Kosciusko Main Street and the Natchez Trace Parkway Association Living History, the lessons provided a walk through the years during the period known as the Rowdy 1800s.
Beginning at Redbud Springs Park, Bryant Boswell, Richland, portrayed Andrew Jackson who introduced Dan Isaac with the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians. As participants gathered around the statue of Gen. Thaddeus Kosciuszko, they learned about Red Bud Springs in the days of the Indians.
The Kosciusko Fire Department provided transportation to each location.
At the corner of Natchez and Jefferson Streets, Bob Heath of Jackson, a surveyor explained the need to improve the Old Natchez Road, which later became the Natchez Trace.
At Choates Stand in Renasant Park, Drew and Donna Turner of Hattiesburg, explained the importance of their stand which served as a trading post and rest stop on the Natchez Trace.
Along East Jefferson Street, Judi Bell posed as Elizabeth Rutherford and Tanner Pettit as her son Frankie Rutherford. Here, participants witnessed a stickup by the notorious Murrell Gang composed of Eli Davis, Grayson Blaylock and Gabe Milner.
Final stop was on the steps leading to the north side of the historic courthouse. Dr. Stanley Hartness portrayed Gen. Kosciuszko, the town’s namesake, George Dorrill as Rev. Joab Scarborough, one-time mayor of Kosciusko, and Dr. Larry Routt as Jim Wallace, historian and editor of one of Kosciusko’s earliest newspapers.
Donna Holdiness and Jewette Battles helped in escorting participants along the route.
