In 1949 the State of Mississippi started a state historical marker program that is still going strong 68 years later. The state markers were designed as your typical highway or roadside marker with a green background, a silver border, and gold lettering. A magnolia flower, the state flower of Mississippi, set in a silver oval adorns the top of the marker. The design of the state marker, which has become known as the Magnolia marker, has changed little, if any, since state historical marker program began in 1949.
There are over 1,200 Magnolia markers throughout the state. Some of these markers have been stolen, damaged, destroyed, or are simply missing. These missing markers range from those installed in 1949 to some installed just within the last decade and have not been repaired or replaced and may never be. They are now lost markers. If the 17 lost markers accounted for below do not return to their rightful place, this blog post will act as a wake to the memory of these Magnolia markers from yesteryear.
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Founded 1833; named after Chateaubriand's Indian heroine. Buried in county are 1st senator, Gordon Boyd, and 1st representative, Wm. Dodd, who named the county seat after Thaddeus Kosciusko.
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| Marker in May 2014 Google Street View (©2017 Google Street View), May 2014. |
Location: Attala County, south of Kosciusko, at intersection of Highway 19 and Williamsville Road (Geo-Coordinates: 33.030975, -89.577273).
What Happened: It was reported that the marker was destroyed. It happened sometime between May 2014 and January 2016. The marker and the support post were removed.
Photos:
- Marker at original location, view to north toward Yockanookany River bridge
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Here, May 14, 1863, 24th S.C. Infantry participated in delaying action, allowing city to evacuate to north. In command was Col. Ellison Capers, who is honored in name of local chapter of U.D.C.
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| Approximate Location of Marker (right hand side of road) in July 2016 Google Street View (©2017 Google Street View), July 2016 |
Location: Hinds County, Jackson, near entrance to Jackson Zoo and intersection of W. Capitol Street and Moss Avenue (Geo-Coordinates (approximate): 32.318798, -90.223016).
What Happened: The marker has been missing since at least 2007.
Photos:
- Marker at original location (scroll down page)
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Bay St. Louis
Organized as Shieldsboro in 1858. Renamed in 1875 for bay explored by Iberville in 1699 on the birthday of Louis IX. Town built on site of Chicapoula, former Indian Village.
Marker Information
Location: Hancock County, Bay St. Louis, at the west end of the US 90 bridge across Bay St. Louis.
What Happened: The marker was destroyed in 2005 by Hurricane Katrina.
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Bay St. Louis Depot
Designated as a Mississippi Landmark and listed in the National Register of Historic Places, this rail depot was built by the L&N Railroad circa 1929. The Spanish Colonial style building was purchased by the city of Bay St. Louis in 1994 and restored in 1996.
Marker Information
Location: Hancock County, Bay St. Louis, at 1 Depot Way near the historic L&N Railroad depot.
What Happened: The marker was destroyed in 2005 by Hurricane Katrina.
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Bell Indian Mission
Six miles south is site of first industrial school in Mississippi. Presbyterian Indian mission founded in June, 1820, by the Rev. and Mrs. Robert Bell.
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| Marker in 2008 Google Street View (©2017 Google Street View), March 2008 |
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| Damaged Support Post (near stop sign) in 2013 Google Street View (©2017 Google Street View), July 2013 |
Marker Information
Location: Monroe County, Aberdeen, at intersection of US 278 and Sandhill Road (Geo-Coordinates: 33.988966, -88.573741).
What Happened: The marker was destroyed by one of the over 60 tornadoes that swept across Mississippi and Alabama on April 27, 2011. These tornadoes resulted in over 250 deaths and substantial damage to the affected areas. The inscription plate is missing, but the damaged support post is still there.
Photos:
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Boykin Church
Boykin Methodist Church, built ca. 1827-1830, was constructed by members of the Robert and John Boykin families. At one time, Lauchlin McLaurin, father of Gov. Anselm McLaurin, worshipped here. The congregation was active until about 1928. The adjacent cemetery also served the now extinct Boykin Church community.
Marker Information
Location: Smith County, northwest of Raleigh, on Boykin Church Road one mile west of County Road 539 (Geo-Coordinates: 32.098908, -89.589894).
What Happened: The marker was reported missing in 2014.
Photos:
- 2009 Photos from findagrave.com
- 2011 Photo with church in background
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Capture of the Union Tinclad Petrel
On April 22, 1864, about two and half miles above Yazoo City, on the west bank of the Yazoo River, Col. John Griffith of the 11th and 17th Consolidated Arkansas Infantry led a Confederate cavalry and artillery detachment to attack the Union tinclad Petrel. The Petrel, commanded by Acting Master Thomas McElroy, responded with its eight 24-pound Howitzer cannons. A solid shot from the Confederate Parrott guns tore through the stern, puncturing a steam pipe and exploding the boilers. The Petrel was then surrendered and burned.
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| Marker in 2009 Marker is visible on right between highway and utility pole Google Street View (©2017 Google Street View), June 2009 |
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| Site of Missing Marker in 2013 Google Street View (©2017 Google Street View), May 2013 |
Marker Information
Location: Yazoo County, west of Yazoo City, on Highway 16/149 at intersection with River Road and Carter Road (Geo-Coordinates: 32.865214, -90.452020).
What Happened: The marker was reported to be stolen in 2010.
Photos:
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Elizabeth Female Academy
First school for women chartered by Mississippi Legislature located here. Elizabeth Roach led in organization. School was important from 1818-1843.
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| Support Post of Missing Marker in 2015 Marker was visible from the old route of US 84 (behind support post) | |
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| Ruins of Building of Elizabeth Female Academy |
Marker Information
Location: Adams County, near Washington, Natchez Trace Parkway at turnout at Mile Marker 5.1 (Geo-Coordinates: 31.574667, -91.293117).
What Happened: Not known. The marker has been missing since at least 2013.
Photos:
- A Small Photo, but a photo that shows the marker was there
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Here is site of fort at which Grant's gunboats bound for Vicksburg, early in 1863, were halted by fort batteries and by the sunken hulk of the "Star of the West" in channel.
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| Marker in 2009 Google Street View (©2017 Google Street View), October 2009 |
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| Site of Missing Marker in 2013 Support Post is still visible Google Street View (©2017 Google Street View), June 2013 |
Marker Information
Location: LeFlore County, west of Greenwood, US 82 just west of Levee Road at Fort Pemberton Memorial Park (Geo-Coordinates: 33.530685, -90.234146).
What Happened: The inscription plate of the marker went missing sometime between October 2009 and June 2013. The support post is still there.
Photos:
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Organized in 1901 on the home site of Captain Isaac Perry, a Choctaw chief, Holcomb was ned in honor of founder D.L. Holcomb, a Confederate veteran, and was incorporated on May 12, 1905.
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| Marker in 2008 Google Street View (©2017 Google Street View), April 2008 |
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| Site of Marker in 2013 A mangled part of support post is visible Google Street View (©2017 Google Street View), May 2013 |
Marker Information
Location: Grenada County, Holcomb, Highway 7 west of Paschal Street (Geo-Coordinates: 33.764584, -89.977784).
What Happened: The marker was destroyed by a vehicle accident sometime between April 2008 and May 2013. A mangled part of the support post is still there.
Photos:
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Originally Chickasaw trade post on Natchez Trace; later U.S. Indian agency. Became prosperous white settlement after Cession of 1832. Old site 1 mi. from new town. Original U.S. land grant to Indian, Tun~ie~pi~ah.
Marker Information
Original Location: Chickasaw County, location not known, possibly on Highway 32 east of New Houlka (Geo-Coordinates: Not known).
What Happened: The marker was damaged and removed from its original location. Last known whereabouts was the office of the mayor of New Houlka awaiting restoration.
Photos:
- Marker at original location, date and location not known
- Last known location
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Near town of Mayhew, set up by Presbyterians under Cyrus Kingsbury of Mass. in 1818. This was one of first Protestant missions to the Choctaw Indians in Mississippi.
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| Marker in 2009 Marker is to the right of the right-turn lane Google Street View (©2017 Google Street View), April 2009 |
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| Site of Marker in 2016 Google Street View (©2017 Google Street View), July 2016 |
Marker Information
Location: Oktibbeha County, south of West Point, at northwest corner of intersection of US 45 Alt and Old Starkville Road/Tibee Road (Geo-Coordinates: 33.529238, -88.659482).
What Happened: Not known. The marker has been missing since at least 2013.
Photos:
- Inscription plate of marker
- Photo of marker with some history of the mission
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Now Bay St. Louis, named for Thomas Shields who obtained Spanish grant nearby, 1790. After 1800, settlement was popular summer resort for planters & trade from interior made it busy port of entry & export.
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| Site of Marker in 2013 Part of support post is visible on right next to yellow utility pole Google Street View (©2017 Google Street View), June 2013 |
Marker Information
Location: Hancock County, Bay St. Louis, 300 S. 2nd Street, just north of the 1905 City Hall (Geo-coordinates: 30.309211, -89.329901). Marker was originally located on Highway 90 near the Bay Bridge. It was rededicated on October 22, 1981 at its new location.
What Happened: Not known. The marker has been missing since at least January 2008. It appears the support post may still be there.
Photos:
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Town and Pass (channel) named for Christian L'Adnier. Pass Christian was an early trading center and a noted antebellum resort. The South's first yacht club was established here in 1849. Site of a skirmish and naval action during the Civil War.
Marker Information
Location: Not known. Harrison County, Pass Christian.
What Happened: The marker was destroyed in 2005 by Hurricane Katrina.
Photos:
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Founded in 1838 as the county seat of Neshoba County, Philadelphia grew after the MJ&KS Railroad came through town in 1905. The Philadelphia Historic District reflects the town's development between 1900 and the 1950s. Most of the homes within the district were built during the early 1900s. The district is nationally significant as the scene of two civil rights marches led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. inn 1964 and 1966.
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| Marker in 2014 Google Street View (©2017 Google Street View), June 2014 |
Marker Information
Location: Neshoba County, Philadelphia, at the intersection of Pecan Avenue and Byrd Avenue (Geo-Coordinates: 32.780357, -89.111329).
What Happened: The marker was damaged sometime between June 2014 and July 2016, and the inscription plate and support post were removed.
Photos:
- Inscription Plate, from the City of Philadelphia website
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Near here on Oct. 18, 1820, the Choctaw tribe, under pressure of expanding white settlement, ceded over 5,000,000 acres to the U.S. in Second Choctaw Cession. Andrew Jackson and Thomas Hinds represented the U.S.
Marker Information
Location: Madison County, east of Canton, on Highway 16 just west of Highway 17 (Geo-Coordinates (approximate): 32.672885, -89.801667).
What Happened: Not known. The marker has been missing since 2008.
Photos:
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Home used as quarters for Union officers, April, 1862, during occupation of city. Yankees showed good faith by requesting lady of house, Mrs. Mary K. Walker Saucier, to play "Bonnie Blue Flag."
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| Marker in 2013 Google Street View (©2017 Google Street View), June 2013 |
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| Site of Marker in 2016 (Support Post still visible between Trees) The Saucier-Bidwell-Pratt House marker is visible on right Google Street View (©2017 Google Street View), Nov 2016 |
Marker Information
Location: Harrison County, Pass Christian, E Scenic Dr between Davis Ave and St. Paul Ave (Geo-Coordinates: 30.315833, -89.243083).
What Happened: The marker was damaged in 2005 by Hurricane Katrina and was removed from the site. It was later re-installed on the site, but was removed in late 2013 when a new marker titled Saucier-Bidwell-Pratt House was installed on the site.
Photos:
- The Story of Union Quarters, a detailed story of the home with a photo of the marker
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