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1990 South Frontage Rd., Suite J • Vicksburg, MS Phone 601-883-1983 • Fax 601-883-1938
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2 c Spring 2010
Welcome to the fi rst issue of I think that you will fi nd this to be an entertaining and informative look at Vicksburg and our neighbors. Vicksburg has been both the home of many who have made history and the location of many historical events. Within these pages you will discover some of them and people and places of today. Please take the time to stop by and visit the many advertisers who can tell you about Vicksburg and its people. I promise that it will be time well spent. Enjoy!
Pat Cashman
Publisher
Proud to Support the Vicksburg Community
P.O. Box 39Vicksburg, MS 39181
www.trustmark.com
Member FDIC
Spring 2010 d 3
Dr. Stephen Sudderth was 1 of 1259 Initiatesfrom around the world to become a Fellow of the American College
of Surgeons at the American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress inChicago in October 2009. Dr. Sudderth is one of the only Fellows
practicing as a General Surgeon in Warren County. Before admissioninto Fellowship, Dr. Sudderth had to demonstrate ethical fitness
professional proficiency, complete stringent membership requirementsand be approved by three-fourths of its Board of Regents.
Dr. Sudderth Performs:Skin Biopsy / Mole Removal
Breast Surgery & MastectomyRectal Surgery
Chemport Placement / RemovalAbscess / Cyst Removal
Advanced Laparoscopic Bariatric SurgeryAdvanced Esophageal Surgery
Advanced Laparoscopic Colon SurgeryAdvanced Laparoscopic Nissen
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Thyroid SurgeryTrauma Care
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Stephen D. Sudderth, MD, FACSBoard Certified & Recertified General Surgeon
188 YMCA Place (off Clay Street) • Appointments call 601-636-7222• Flexible appointment times offered to all new and existing patients
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4 c Spring 2010
is a publication of
publisherPat Cashman
executive editorCharlie Mitchell
managing editorKaren Gamble
presentation editorPaul Barry
photographersLauchlin Fields
Meredith Spencer
writerLauchlin Fields
graphic designersDavid GirardQuin GearyTina BrananMelanie East
advertising staffBarney PartridgeVickie Newman
Sheila MantzAngela RossJanet Rantisi
Ashley GatianMichele Willis
Vicksburg Impressions is published quarterly to
promote the Vicksburg and sur-rounding area in an informative
and positive manner.We welcome contributions of
articles and photos: however they will be subject to editing, space availability and subject matter. Material may be picked up in our offi ce after publication.
Photographs, comments, ques-tions, and ad placement inquiries
are invited. No portion of this publication may be reproduced without written permission of
the publisher.
offi ce1601 F North Frontage Road
P.O. Box 821668Vicksburg, MS 39182-1668
601-636-4545601-634-0897
[email protected]@[email protected]
Vicksburg becomes the stagefor all things outdoors . . . . . . . . 5
Belle shines brightly asjewel of Garden District . . 16
Longest running melodramais a tradition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
With summer approachingthe stage heats up . . . . . . . . . . . 25
The legendary MightyMississippi, which draws
visitors from all over the world, is a popular backdrop for an array
of outdoor activities.
Touted for its “Southern charm and hospitality,” the home
earned the title of No. 1 Bed and Breakfast in Vicksburg.
With a cast that keeps “Gold in the Hills” a family tradition, there is no evidence that it will lose its place in history anytime soon.
Since 1958, Vicksburg has been the stage for the pageant, which brings beauty queens from all over the state to compete for the title.
Spring 2010 d 5
From parks and play-grounds to museum lawns and battlefi elds, Vicksburg in the spring and summer months offers a blanket of green that beckons visitors to come sit a spell.
Once the fl owers — red-buds, azaleas, dogwoods, and wisteria, to name a few — begin popping with their beautiful and vibrant colors, Vicksburg becomes the stage for all things outdoors. Picnic spots with breathtak-ing views are a defi nite perk
to Vicksburg’s location along three rivers — the Missis-sippi, the Yazoo and the Big Black.
The legendary Mighty Mis-sissippi, which draws visi-tors from all over the world, is a popular backdrop for an array of outdoor activities.
“If you want to picnic, one of the most fabulous views of Old Man River is Riverfront Park,” said Bill Seratt, direc-tor of the Vicksburg Con-vention and Visitors Bureau, charged with luring visitors to the River City. “And good river views are hard to come
by — even though we live right here on the Mississippi.”
The park, just off Washington Street near the Interstate 20 cor-ridor, spans 16 acres on the river and features play-ground equipment, a walking track, a pavilion and, of course, picnic areas and grills. Once spring is in the air, the park becomes home base for
Come on out, y’all
Vicksburg is alive
6 c Spring 2010
active children any day the sun is shining — 7 a.m. to sunset.
Another hot-spot for enjoying the outdoors is the Art Park and Splash Foun-tain at Catfi sh Row, a cat-fi sh-themed park at Clay and Levee streets in downtown Vicksburg. In addition to picnic tables, the public area offers a steamboat-themed play area, bathrooms and the very popular splash fountain. When the temps begin to rise, children fl ock to the water to splash around and stay cool. Just across the brick walkway is the Playground at Catfi sh Row, which offers playground equipment, including slides, an obstacle course, fi re pole, cradle climber, rubber bridge
and swings. Like many attractions
around the Hill City, the playground capitalizes on the history and river culture of Vicksburg by continuing the steamboat theme.
Because of Vicksburg’s location on the Mississippi Flyway — a migratory route for more than 325 species of birds following the Mis-sissippi River — a popular aspect of the outdoors has become simply experiencing nature.
“We are seeing more and more interest in coming to Vicksburg for nature view-ing,” Seratt said.
Vicksburg is even home to Audubon Mississippi’s Bird Conservation Offi ce and the
National Audubon Society’s Missis-sippi River Initiative, a group that advances the sustainable manage-ment of the Mississippi River and its 30 million acres of fl oodplain environments.
Because of Vicksburg’s intense role in history as the stage for the Civil War’s Battle of Vicksburg in 1863, its many monuments, cannons and historical markers that dot the landscape serve as part of the setting for basking in the outdoors. History is certainly paired with nature all over the city. That rings especially true in the Vicksburg National Military Park, just off Clay Street. Its 16-mile tour road is home to 35 species of mammals, 175 species of birds and 60 species of wildfl owers that can be viewed by strolling the park’s loops right in the middle of town.
History and nature also collide on the lawn of the Old Court House Museum, one of Vicksburg’s most touted historic
Spring 2010 7
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The Old Court House Museum – Eva W. Davis Memorial in down-town Vicksburg is one of the city’s most photographed buildings operated by The Vicksburg & Warren County Historical Society, the museum hosts visitors throughout the year.
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ImpressionsP. O. Box 821668Vicksburg, MS 39182-1668
or delivered toThe Vicksburg Post 1601-F N. Frontage Road
• Photos & events may be editedfor space and quality.
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Spring 2010 d 9
sites. It was the scene for many histori-cal events, including the launch of Jef-ferson Davis’ political career and the Siege of Vicksburg.
Now, it’s the home of artifacts and his-torical remembrances. And, it’s also a perfect spot for a Vicksburg picnic, Seratt said.
Bubba Bolm, director of the museum, said the lawn is one of the most photo-graphed spots in town during spring and summer.
“Lots of local photographers bring people for wedding and school… por-traits,” he said. “It’s a daily occurrence in the spring and summer.”
The city block on which the 1858 building and lawn sit overlooks Vicks-burg from one of the city’s highest hills. By mid spring, the lawn’s garden is filled with dogwoods, camellias, irises and daffodils in full bloom. Four large magnolia trees begin blooming each summer. Bolm said school groups from all over plan visits to the museum and make sack lunches part of the plan so they can enjoy the outdoor scenery.
Whether it’s viewed from a coun-try road or outdoor spots in the middle of town, Vicksburg’s natural scenery is “spectacular” in the spring and summer, Seratt said.
“This place comes alive,” he said.
Story & photos by Lauchlin Fields
Vicksburg’s River Front Park, on the bank of the Mississippi River.
Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. • Saturday 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.1700 Hwy 61 North • 601-636-8999
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FUNERAL HOME
10 c Spring 2010
All that’s ‘Gold’ glitters
The “Gold in the Hills” summer season will begin in July. Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. every Friday and Saturday from July 9 through July 31. Tickets are $5 for children and $10 for adults. Group rates are available. For information, call 601-636-0471 or visit www.e-vtg.com. Summer performances are at Parkside Playhouse, 101 Iowa Ave.
St. Alban’sE P I S C O P A L C H U R C H
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Sunday Worship Services& Sunday School
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Wednesday Worship Services6p.m.- A Service of Holy Eucharist
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5930 Warrior’s Trail • Bovina, MS 39180601-636-6687 • 601-594-0066
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For more information, contact the
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Spring 2010 d 11
Bustles had just gone out, and the world was sing-ing “Sweet Marie.”
That’s the scene that’s set for the 1890s melodrama “Gold in the Hills,” which will soon open its 75th summer season in Vicksburg.
The town fi rst struck gold in 1936 when “Gold” took to the stage. Its historic run has not only landed it a spot in the “Guiness Book of World Records” as the long-est running melodrama, but it’s also earned a spot in the hearts of nearly everyone who sends a “boo” or “cheer” from
their seats to the stage. The main characters —
John Dalton, the simple-minded “son of the soil” and the hero of this three-act delight; the evil Richard Murgatroyd, who brings the sins of “the city” to this quiet farm town; and the “pure as snow” Nell Stanley, the play’s heroine — all enter the stage to different tunes that cue the audience’s participation.
As Nelly, the farmer’s daughter, strolls on stage, the audience sends a dra-matically drawn-out “Awww!” Some, whether attending for the fi rst or hundredth
Melodrama heads into 75th summer season
Villain Richard Murgatroyd, at left played by William Matthews, consults with Sam Slade, his shadow, played by Paul Bennett, in a scene from “Gold in the Hills.”
The area’s complete sourceof local news and local sports.
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12 c Spring 2010
time, press both hands to their cheek as instructed by the production’s sing-ing waiters before the curtain is drawn on the fi rst act, set at “The Old Home-stead.” The plot thickens when a murder is discovered, criminating evidence is pinned on John Dalton and Nell is tempted by the deceitful Murgatroyd.
But, cheers ring out as the act ends and Dalton gives the city slicker a “blow for defenseless womanhood.”
For 19-year-old Josh Hynum, one of several actors who plays the fl an-nel shirt-clad John Dalton, the inter-active experience that “Gold” offers is what makes it a long-standing tradition in Vicksburg. And, it’s one to which he said he has become hooked.
“The way live theater works — it just
Nikki Jobe, playing the role of Nell Stan-ley, confronts villain Richard Murgatroyd, played by William Matthews, in a scene of “Gold in the Hills,” an 1890s melodrama playing in Vicksburg since 1936. M A N S I O N I N N & R E S T A U R A N T
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Spring 2010 d 13
comes together,” he said. “It’s one big, fun experience.”
Tradition has certainly been the thread that ties Walter Johnston and his family to “Gold.” He started playing John
Dalton in the 1960s when he was in high school and, later, took on the role of Big Mike. Besides a few years when he lived out of state, Johnston has, year after year, returned to the “Gold in the
Hills” stage to play Big Mike. He and his brother, Syd, took the torch from their father, also named Walter, who was an original cast member. Three of Walter Johnston’s four children have played
Josh Hynum revels in his role of John Dalton, the hero in “Gold in the Hills,” as he defeats villain Richard Murgatroyd, played by actor William Matthews. Also pictured are, from left, Teresa Molina as housekeeper Lizzie Jones, Teresa Frost as Barbara Stanley, Hiram Stanley, played by David Haworth, and Paul Bennett as the villain’s shadow, Sam Slade.
14 c Spring 2010
roles, making them third generation “Gold” family.
“It’s a tradition. It’s in my blood,” Johnston said.
Act II takes place at Big Mike’s Beer Garden and Dance Hall on the Bowery. Dalton, who escapes from jail, finds “honest man’s work” there, and Nellie finds herself in the villain’s clutches. It is in the bowery that the can-can cuties strut their stuff and Old Kate, a long-time patron of Big Mike’s, attempts to give the dance a whirl for tips that can buy her the biggest and cheapest drink in the joint.
Sing-along songs, a bit reminiscent of the play’s time period, as well as its berth in the River City, separate the second and third acts. The audience is led by an Olio, who introduces one of two songs performed in the 1936 movie, “Show-boat,” partially filmed in Vicksburg. The songs are in memory of the old stern-wheeler Sprague, where the melodrama was once performed.
Now, the production is performed each spring and summer at Parkside Play-house, home of the Vicksburg The-atre Guild, the oldest chartered the-ater group in Mississippi. More “Gold,” however, is offered these days by the Westside Players, a group of veteran VTG players, who now perform at the Coral Room Theatre at Vicksburg Apartments on Clay Street. The off-season, off-site production of “Gold in the Hills” not only provides more opportunities for tourists to see the his-toric melodrama, but has also allowed the comeback of an old favorite — pea-nuts. Audience members once were allowed to throw peanuts at the villain, but when a 2006 fire at Parkside Play-house revealed rats were storing peanuts in the building’s walls, the nuts were permanently removed from the bill for playhouse productions.
In the play’s third act, the dead sister’s secret, a sort of alias title for “Gold in the Hills,” is revealed, and more drama
ensues. But, the situation that develops in the closing lines of the play can’t be revealed. It’s a special request made by the play’s forefathers. Full of one-lin-ers and deadpan delivery, “Gold” has not had any trouble luring audiences each year.
The experience actually began in the 1930s as a way to give tourists something to do while in town visit-ing historic sites, such as the Vicks-burg National Military Park, or pass-ing through on pilgrimages to Natchez, Johnston said.
“It became a traditional part of the spring and summer tourist attractions,” he said.
And, with a cast that keeps “Gold” a family tradition, there is no evidence that it will lose its place in history any-time soon.
Story & photos by Lauchlin Fields
Spring 2010 d 15
16 c Spring 2010
She’s a BelleShe’s a BelleShe’s a BelleShe’s a BelleShe’s a BelleShe’s a BelleShe’s a BelleShe’s a BelleShe’s a BelleShe’s a BelleShe’s a BelleShe’s a BelleShe’s a BelleShe’s a BelleShe’s a BelleShe’s a BelleShe’s a BelleShe’s a Belle
Ahern’s Belle of the Bends Bed and Breakfast is located at 508 Klein St., in Vicksburg’s historic Garden District. For information, call owners Dan and Mary Lee at 601-634-0737 or 800-844-2308 or visit www.belleofthebands.com.
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Spring 2010 d 17
“A Home Away from Home.” That’s the reputation Ahern’s Belle
of the Bends has garnered from some of its guests, who come from all over the world to experience the charm and history that fill its halls. The three-story Victorian is one of about 15 of Vicksburg’s treasured bed and break-fasts, about one-third of which are nestled in the city’s Garden District, where the Belle proudly sits.
Touted for its “Southern charm and hospitality,” the home — along with its hardworking owners and innkeep-ers, Dan and Mary Lee of Colorado — earned the title of No. 1 Bed and Breakfast in Vicksburg through a popular online “rate your stay” Web site, called tripadvisor.com.
The distinction, one that has past
visitors raving over their stays in the home’s guestrooms, is just gravy for the Lees, who packed up their life near Denver to purchase the Belle in 2004. Owning and oper-
Gracious luxury adorns antebellum jewelDan and Mary Lee watch a train go by from their porch swing, which offers the home’s most sought-after view, which Dan refers to as “the epitome of the South.”
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18 c Spring 2010
ating a bed and breakfast was already a dream come true for Mary Lee, who, before her move south, had worked in health care for 32 years.
“It was always my passion to own a bed and breakfast. I’d been doing it in my head for 20 years,” she said.
Her nurturing nature has transferred well, especially as she prepares break-fast daily for her guests in the home’s large dining room. Some of the favor-ites from the four menus she created for the 9 a.m. gatherings are sausage and biscuits with her “to die for” gravy that “could win a prize at the county fair,” she said, fried apples and, of course, the must-have at any Southern table, grits.
The breakfast Lee prepares is the highlight for many guests, some of whom were quick to term it “gourmet” in their online testimonies. And, while she enjoys cooking and the details
Dan and Mary Lee stand along the home’s staircase, which leads to three guestrooms and the home’s second-story veranda.
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Spring 2010 d 19
— like the individual crystal swan butter dishes that grace the table each morning — Mary Lee prides herself on being organized and efficient, all so she doesn’t have to be up at the crack of dawn.
“I am so not a morning person,” she said jokingly. “I should own a bed and dinner.”
As for the “beds,” Belle of the Bends has an array of queen and king offer-ings, each room aptly named.
On the first floor is The Azalea, a room that offers views of the azalea bushes that light up the home’s side garden each spring. The second floor, up the 24 stairs Mary Lee said she has come to know intimately, has the other three finished rooms where guests can retreat.
The RoseHaven, which would have
The table setting at Ahern’s Belle of the Bends takes guests back to the home’s 1876 origin and, is set to serve guests breakfast, prepared each day at 9 a.m. by owner Mary Lee.
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20 c Spring 2010
been the older children’s room in the home’s heyday, is a spacious suite, an unusual trait for Victorian bedrooms. Even larger than the RoseHaven is The Jospehine, named for former homeowner Jo Pratt, from whom the Lees purchased the mansion. The oversized room features a king-size lace-canopied bed and offers garden and river views. And, the RiverScene suite clearly is known for its seasonal — when the water is high or the foli-age is sparse — views of the Missis-sippi River. The rooms range in price from $129 to $169 a night. Packages are also available and can be viewed on the home’s Web site, www.belleofthe-bends.com.
The wrap-around verandas on the home are a defi nite hot-spot for guests, Mary Lee said.
“This is the most popular aspect,” she said winding around to one of the porch swings that overlooks what Dan Lee refers to as “the epitome of the South.”
In this one spot, railroad tracks run along the bank of the Mississippi River, which is proudly showing itself at the onset of its spring swell. Across the river, the Louisiana Delta peeks through in the distance. Sharing the foreground are church steeples, shot-gun shacks and an antebellum home.
“It’s the South. It has it all,” Mary
Lee said of the view.The Mississippi River is a lot of the
reason people come to Vicksburg, she added.
A fi fth guestroom, which will boast, perhaps, the best view of the river from their home is in the works on the home’s third fl oor. Just across the breezeway is where Dan and Mary Lee have their private quarters, a loft-style,
modern living space.“It’s totally different,” Mary Lee said.
“And, we need that world of differ-ence.”
What lies beneath sharply contrasts to where the Lees retreat after their long days. Many of the rooms feature furnishings that are original to the 1876 postbellum mansion. The archi-tecture and embellishments usher in
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Spring 2010 d 21
the old-world charm from the home’s early days. It was the breathtaking Bavarian plaster in the ladies’ parlor and the oval, arched moldings that complement the doorways and win-dows throughout the home that caught Lee’s eye upon her first visit.
Her love affair with the historic Klein Street home began as a sort of accident. The self-proclaimed Colora-do cowgirl decided to turn her passion into reality after the horrifying events of Sept. 11, 2001.
“That’s the day that changed my life — as it did for millions of people,” she said.
The search for the perfect bed and breakfast ensued for the Lees, who had never spent much time in the Deep South before purchasing their Belle. While Mary Lee’s sights were more set on another “M” state, Missouri, as she searched the internet for possible purchases, an accidental click of her
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22 c Spring 2010
mouse led her to Mississippi, where she said she was “sucked into the Civil War romance and hoop skirts.”
It wasn’t until years later that she and her husband set foot on Mississippi soil. But, after that first visit, they were ready to call Vicksburg and the historic mansion home. Within about five minutes of spotting the house along one of the city’s scenic routes, Dan Lee said, they noticed it was for sale and called to see more.
“It felt comfortable,” Mary Lee said. “Yep, we knew right away. It felt like home.”
It even feels like home to the hun-dreds of guests who pass through its hallowed halls each year. But, the house has only officially been home to five owners in its 134-year history.
Built by Mississippi State Senator Murray Smith, the home was later purchased by Ben Guider, a jeweler from New Orleans, who lived there from 1912 to 1919. The Buelow family lived in the home for 71 years, until Jo Pratt and her husband, Wally, purchased it in 1990. It was Pratt who turned the home into a bed and break-fast. In fact, the home’s interior has changed very little since Pratt turned the key over to the Lees, who negoti-ated for 90 percent of the furnishings, including many of the home’s original pieces.
It was also Pratt who dubbed the old home Belle of the Bends, a name also used for the 1898 paddlewheel boat her grandfather, Capt. Tom Morris-sey, owned and used to carry goods between Vicksburg and Greenville. The boat’s claim to fame is that it brought President Theodore Roosevelt to Vicksburg in 1908. The Lees, understanding the tradition of nam-ing Southern homes, stuck with it, but made it a bit more personal by adding “Ahern,” Mary Lee’s birth name.
“People in the Deep South love to name their homes. So, I thought,
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Spring 2010 d 23
this home’s going to have a name,” she said.
The Lees try to create a positive experience for their guests, especially if the guest is new to bed and breakfasts.
“Some people have a great deal of reservation. They’re not sure what to expect,” Mary Lee said of the bed and breakfast experience.
At the Belle, though, the experience is what the guests make of it.
“There’s as much privacy or as much interaction as you want,” she said.
That openness seems to keep people coming back.
“The house immediately endears people to it,” Mary Lee said. “Once they stay with us, they leave with a positive experience, which endears them to try other bed and breakfasts.”
Dan Lee said business has been good since they wel-comed their first guests on May 23, 2004. Currently, occupancy is just under 50 percent, which compares to the average of 25 per-cent occupancy nationwide. Their bed and breakfast is full almost every weekend
— March through Novem-ber. In 2008, from Valen-tine’s Day through the last day of November, the Lees had only four days without guests.
“We are blessed,” Mary Lee said. “We are really busy.”
In addition to the bed and breakfast operation, the Lees offer tours of their home and gardens.
“When I’m home and that doorbell rings, we’re open for tours,” Mary Lee said.
The gardens feature crepe myrtles, a ginkgo tree and two magnolia trees that are original to the property. In the spring, the camellias “bloom their little heads off” and create blankets along the garden’s paths with their brightly colored fallen petals. In the winter, the Lees refer to the area as the “forest” and, in the summer, the same area is called “the jungle” for its drastic growth. Dan Lee, an engineer at Grand Gulf Nuclear Plant in Port Gib-son by-day, keeps the home’s grounds in tip-top condi-tion in his free time.
“It’s a really lovely spot for
people to come and reflect,” Mary Lee said of the area. “You can’t buy this stuff.”
Another feature is the home’s gift shop, which is housed in a separate build-ing behind the gardens. The shop, Mary Lee’s pride and joy, is filled with various gifts and handmade items, including a Christmas orna-ment she designed featur-ing the Belle of the Bends paddlewheel. Umbrellas dangle from the ceiling, and shelves are filled with handmade goods that give visitors hints of both the history and the culture of the area.
Owning Ahern’s Belle of the Bends has been a “grand adventure” for the Lees.
“Being an innkeeper and having a bed and break-fast — it’s truly a great way to get to live in a beautiful home,” Mary Lee said.
But, new adventures await them. They put the man-sion on the market a year ago and, once the house is
sold — typically a three- to five-year market wait for homes of this size — they have plans to return home to Colorado to be near their son and daughter-in-law.
“We came to Vicksburg on a 10-year plan,” Mary Lee said, pointing out that they will soon begin their seventh year. “You always have to have a goal.”
The next goal for the Lees involves mountain property with, perhaps, one guest-room and definitely a gift shop. But, the Belle and their experiences in Vicks-burg won’t be far from their minds.
It’s something on which Dan Lee has already begun reflecting from the porch swing of his “little oasis” so steeped in history.
“I look forward to looking back on all of this,” he said.
Story & photos by Lauchlin Fields
The dining room at Ahern’s Belle of the Bends is one of the most popular spots in the postbellum mansion.
The Azalea is the home’s main floor guestroom. It features a view of the Belle’s side garden, which has azaleas blooming each spring.
Mary Lee arranges items in her gift shop, which she operates in a building behind the mansion and gardens.
Late morning sun pours into the home’s ladies’ parlor, which showcases the Belle’s architectural delights — Bavarian plaster moldings and arched doorways and win-dow casings that are featured throughout the home.
24 c Spring 2010
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Spring 2010 d 25
Competing in the Miss Mississippi pageant is “not for the faint at heart,” says Anna Tadlock, the 5-foot-4-inch blonde who took the 2009 crown last July.
“Behind the scenes, the contestants have to be tough, adaptable and some-times even innovative with preparations during the show, during rehearsal and competition,” she said. “You need energy to rehearse all
night and sometimes you’re up at fi ve in the morning and have to go out all day until midnight, all the while keeping yourself looking like a million bucks the best you can.”
Since 1958, Vicksburg has been the stage for the pageant, which brings beauty queens from all over the state to compete for the title, scholarship money and a chance of nabbing the Miss America crown.
Pageant timeGlamour on stage each summer
A Miss Mississippi contestant performs in the 2009 pageant. This year’s pageant will be July 7-10 at Vicksburg’s Conven-tion Center.
Miss Mississippi Anna Tadlock
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Vicksburg resident Mary Hallberg has been attending the Miss Missis-sippi Pageant since 1977. A member of what she calls the “pageant family,” Hallberg orders tickets in advance each year to ensure good seating and picks a “favorite” from the pool of contestants.
“We don’t know them, but it makes it more fun to have someone to pull for,” she said.
Vicksburg comes to life the week of the pageant, Hallberg said. Girls come from all over the state for one week for a parade, autograph parties, meet and greets and, of course, “rehearsal, rehearsal, rehearsal,” Tadlock said.
“Each girl feels like a celebrity for that entire period of time.”
The hustle and bustle don’t apply only to the women who grace the stage of the Vicksburg Convention Center each night for preliminaries that lead up to the crowning, when the pageant is televised. It is also a busy week for those in the audience.
The week is “very exciting but very hectic,” Hallberg said.
She balances work with the week full of activities. Preparations include choosing where to go to dinner before the show, deciding which cocktail dress she’ll wear for the final competition night and discussing which worthy contestant will win the crown. Then, it’s show time.
“The whole room is full of energy. Anticipation is the word. Everyone is so pumped up, and so many are anxious for ‘their girl’ to do well, even maybe be the next Miss Mississippi,” Hallberg said.
Some even show potential to go be-yond that.
Since the pageant began in 1934, four Miss Mississippis have become Miss America. Hallberg said 1976 and 1985 were memorable years to watch Miss Mississippi, because she knew Cheryl Prewitt and Susan Akin, respec-tively, would become our Miss Ameri-
26 c Spring 2010
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cas — and they did. Mary Ann Mobley and Lynda Lee Mead took consecutive wins in 1958 and 1959.
For the contestants, the Miss Missis-sippi pageant is “all about the glamour,” Tadlock said.
“For one entire week, all the atten-tion is focused on the contestants and watching them look their best in beau-tiful gowns, showcasing their talents and demonstrating their intelligence,” she said.
Hallberg said she loves the pageant “from start to finish.” She has even been a pageant hostess, a sort of surrogate mother to some of the contestants, she said. The experience gave her a back-stage look at what it takes to put on a pageant and an appreciation for Mis-sissippi being “on top” for its “pageants and pretty girls.” It’s the pretty faces combined with the poise, intelligence, talent and drive that complete the “total package” for the judges to award the thousands of dollars in scholarships.
Pageant scholarships allowed Tadlock to graduate debt-free from Mississippi State University in 2008. She plans to also attend graduate school on her Miss Mississippi scholarship earnings.
The 24-year-old Brandon native competed three other times before tak-ing the crown, each year learning more about the competition — and herself.
Both Tadlock and Hallberg consider Miss Mississippi to be one of the best within the Miss America Organization.
“Most people don’t realize that Miss Mississippi has one of the best and strongest production programs…it’s very much like a Broadway show,” Tadlock said.
In fact, the pageant has won statewide Emmys for its first-class productions. Each year the changing theme offers something new in the way of song and dance.
“The show is different, unique, cre-ative and very modern year after year,” Hallberg said.
Even though the pageant is known
mostly for its glitz and glamour, it’s not without its “goofs.”
“One year, I tripped and almost fell on my face during swimsuit. I had to step off a platform to the stage, and my ankle rolled when I hit the floor,” Tadlock remembered. “I heard one big unified gasp from the audience when it happened, but I just laughed it off and thanked the Lord gravity didn’t take me all the way to the floor.”
The moment when that crown was placed on her head overshadows any blunders.
“I don’t remember anything other than looking out at my family with my hand over my mouth thinking, ‘Wait a minute. Did I really just do this?’” she said.
This July, Tadlock will crown the next Miss Mississippi and take her seat as one of the former Miss Mississippis, a group she calls “an elite sisterhood.”
“Only a select few can call themselves members, It motivates me to want to make my life as productive and giving and significant as the rest of the former winners,” she said. “Many of them had wonderful lives and came across many wonderful opportunities after their year of service… I hope to do the same so that my name and membership into that sisterhood is as significant as theirs has been.”
Story by Lauchlin Fields
Spring 2010 d 27
The Miss Mississippi Pageant will have preliminary competitions July 7-9 with the televised performance and crowning of Miss Mississippi 2010 on July 10 at the Vicksburg Convention Center. For information, call 601-638-
6746 or visit www.missmississippipageant.com.
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Vicksburg Area Marketing Professionals meeting at Ameristar Casino on Tuesday, April 6, 2010.
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