Life in the early years of Attala County and Kosciusko was remembered last Thursday night by local historians during a program at the Attala County Library, held in conjunction with National Library Week.
Otha E. “Bubba” Pettit Jr. served as moderator and introduced each of the panelists.
An overview of Attala County established in 1833 following the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek and the surveying in 1834 for what is now Kosciusko was given by Anne Breedlove, the genealogy clerk at the library.
Pettit gave a history of the Attala County Library which was established in 1859 with a total of 389 books offered to the public. He listed locations of the facility through the years which included the Goodman Street facility - now the Atwood Personal Care Home following additions. Serving as the headquarters of the Mid-Mississippi Regional Library, the current facility was built in 1968-69.
Kempe Hodge, who served a number of years as tax assessor, gave an overview of the Attala County Courthouse listing 1833 as the date on which “a Mr. Smith” donated land for a courthouse. In 1837, a two-story brick building was erected. It burned in 1858 and courthouse facilities were rented for a period before rebuilding. The 100th anniversary of the present courthouse was celebrated in 1997.
Hodges pointed out that the Circuit Clerk and Attala County School District office, as well as the courtroom, are the only remaining occupants of the building.
Anne Porter, a native of Sallis and author of the book “A Place Called Sallis,” reviewed some of the contents of the book as well as memories of her growing up years. She named the businesses and churches in operation during the thriving days of the town.
She named the moving of the Sallis Lumber Co. and later the closing of the school as contributing factors in the decline of the town which now has a population of 129.
She told of the benefits to the town and community resulting from the philanthropy of Mr. and Mrs. Montfort Jones. Following the death of Mr. Jones, she made a contribution toward the hospital resulting in its being named as a memorial hospital.
Sallis native Dr. Frank Mitchell was the first Rhodes Scholar from Attala County, she noted.
In giving details of early education in Attala County, Ann Carter told of one-room schools, classes taught in homes and male and female academies.
Carter moved to Memphis in 1944, then back to Kosciusko where she was a member of the KHS class of 1952. As part of her presentation, she included information from an interview with Eloise Williams, longtime librarian who remembered her days at Long Creek Elementary and McAdams High schools.
Jewette Battles, a resident of Kosciusko since 1971, talked about homes, many of which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. She showed pictures of some of the homes including the Jason Niles-Thornton, Lucas-Sides, Kelly-Routt, Warren Potts, W.J. Hammond, Clark Houses and others. She also showed pictures of former homes of significance no longer standing.
Transportation was the topic assigned to Sally Wasson. She listed 1884 as the date in which the first train came through Kosciusko and later the advent of two passenger trains each day. She said her grandparents remembered President Taft waving to a crowd at the depot while passing through Kosciusko. Although only short distances away, trips to Ethel, McCool, and Sallis were made by bus before automobiles became prevalent. The Yockanookany Bridge was a toll bridge when built in 1855.
With businesses as his topic, Hugh Potts named a total of 48 businesses reported to be located on the square in 1886. They included drug stores in which doctors’ offices were located, grocery stores, salons, a hotel, dry goods and general merchandise establishments. There were five car dealerships, although not all on the square. City Hall was once located on the square also.
Potts said he remembers the square as “the place where people went.” Parking was allowed in the center of the street and every space was taken.
Citing references from Forbes Magazine and The National Review, Potts talked about the creation of wealth by businesses in a short time, goods and services delivered, and how an idea taken to the masses creates wealth.
Ellen Pettit chose Jerusalem Baptist for her assigned topic on churches. A member of that church for 43 years and chairman of the church’s sesquicentennial celebration, she had a wealth of information about the church established in 1849. She told of the leadership of Rev. Sammy Ray for 25 years, Rev. Johnny Parks and the current pastor, Rev. James “Butch” Bell. The current membership stands at 120.
