2015 November 10, Tuesday, A Trip to Meridian, MS

I looked out the window; the sun was coming up. It was a great day for traveling, so I asked my husband if he was up for a four-hour drive to Meridian, MS. He said yes. 
After I cooked oatmeal, eggs, and bacon for breakfast, I packed an overnight bag just in case we wanted to spend the night. 

Loaded into the van were my Nikon Camera, my phone, luggage, and all my travel information about Meridian, MS.
We programmed the GPS, but did not want to go in the direction it was taking us.
We decided to drive to Russellville and then program the GPS for Meridia,n MS.

We took hwy 43 through Hackelburg, in Hamilton; hwy 43 becomes hwy 17 through Detroit and Sulligent, in Vernon; it becomes Hwy 1- 8, crossing into Mississippi on hwy 12 through Steens, to Columbus, MS.

Sulligent, AL

In Columbus, we stopped at Chick-fil-A for lunch. 
I ordered chicken nuggets, fries, tea, and a small ice cream. My husband ordered a chicken sandwich, fries, and Coke. 

Ice Cream, Chicken nuggets, Waffle fries 

In Columbus, we took hwy 45 into Meridian, MS. 
A rough highway with nothing to see except where log trucks had taken away all the timber that had been cut, left behind were stumps, brush, and spiny trees. 

Birthplace of
Jimmie Rodgers
Born Sept 8, 1897, at Meridian, MS
Known as the "Singing Brakeman," Rodgers's recordings of
Southern blues and ballads greatly
contributed to the world-wide
popularity of a distinctly American musical form. 

Our first stop was the Jimmy Rodgers Museum/Birthplace. 
We watch a ten-minute film about the early life of Jimmy Rodgers.
Jimmy's father worked for the railroad.
Jimmy's mother died at an early age from TB, as did Jimmie. 

Our curator gave us a history lesson on the Jimmy Rodgers guitar.
The guitar was opened for display behind a glass case, in a temperature-controlled vault.

The Original Jimmie Rodgers Guitar
Presented to Jimmie Rodgers in Washington, DC by Mr C Fredrick Martin, President of The Martin Guitar Co., July 27, 1928. This specially made guitar is also seen in the world's famous "thumbs up" photographs
courtesy Anita Rodgers Court 

Hanging on the wall next to the curator's counter was a quilt with a history.
191 Music artists were sent three or four bow ties with the request for a signature.
This quilt was to be a tribute to Jimmy Rodgers' legacy.
Each and every bow tie was returned with the signature of that artist.
Each bow tie, with its own unique color and signature, was placed on a square block.
Ten blocks across and nineteen in length, except for one block at the top, giving information about the quilt. 
Two quilts were made: this one and one given to Elvis Presley.

There were letters, photographs, suits, furniture, albums, and so much more information about the incredible, gifted Jimmy Rodgers.

Well-dressed Jimmy Rodgers

We took pictures of the engine and caboose outside.

This is the music of America.
He sang the songs of the people he loved,
of a young nation growing strong.
He was an American of Glistening rails,
thundering boxcars and rain-swept nights,
of lonesome prairies, great mountains
and a high blue sky.
He sang of the bayous and the cotton fields,
the heated plains of the little towns, the
cities, and the winding rivers of America.
We listened, we understood
JIMMIE RODGERS
The singing brakeman- America's Blue Yodeler
HIS MUSIC WILL LIVE FOREVER
dedicated by his many fans and
The Folk Artist of America
May 26, 1953

We rode to the historic downtown area of Meridian, to the walk of honor to see 
Hartley Peavey, Mac McAnally, Moe Bandy, Walt Anderson, and International Sweethearts of Rhythm musicians, who were located in the Dumont Plaza Park across from the famous Riley Center.

A performing arts center, a conference center, an educational center, and a major downtown restoration project; these are all accurate ways to describe the MSU Riley.

Hartley Peavey

Mac McAnally

Moe Bandy

Walter Anderson

 International Sweethearts of Rhythm Musician

Distributed throughout the town of Meridian were Carousel Horses.

This Carousel Horse is next to the old Train Depot.

I took pictures of several Blues Markers, 
On 5th Street and 22nd Avenue was "Country Music Comes of Age."
On 1901 Front Street was "Jimmie Rodgers & The Blues", & Moe Bandy."
Corner of 7th street and 23rd avenue was Meridian Rhythm & blues and Soul Music."
At Oak Grove Cemetery is Jimmy Rodgers, the Father of Country Music.

Our last stop before getting onto I-20 to head home was the Oak Grove Cemetery to see where they laid Jimmie after his death, which was nothing fancy, only a small stone.

"Jimmie"
James Charles Rodgers
Sept 8, 1897
May 26, 1933
American Blue Yodeler 

We stopped at Outback in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, at 6:13 P.M., where I enjoyed a bowl of Taco Soup.

Taco Soup

My husband ordered a hamburger.
We were home by 9:30, both exhausted from the day's travels.