This the state park in my hometown, the old museum was built in 1872 and was at one time the county courthouse. If this old building could talk it would probably tell us a lot more about the past than we care to know. After the county seat was moved to a neighboring town in the 1890's the courthouse became Jacksonports public school, later in 1905 it was converted into a cotton gin. Years later the once beautiful building became public housing for the homeless and elderly then in the 1950's it was used to store locally grown rice. In 1961 the old rundown building was offered for sale and the newly formed Jackson county historical Society bought the building.... These ladies in the group raised money to begin renovation of the building and in 1965 it was turned over to the Department of State and Tourism.
I remember old folks telling me how a lot of families stayed at the old courthouse during the flood when my mother was a little girl. I never thought to ask her or grandmother if they had stayed there during the flood. However I think they did since my mothers dad was electrocuted during the flood when he accidentally touched a live electrical wire in the river while in a boat with other men going for supplies.
I remember when I was about eight years old the old man that ran the museum would let me and a cousin in before opening time so we could help him sweep and dust all the artifacts... For all our work he would buy us a soda... He was a very smart man..lol
This is kind of interesting, the fancy outhouse outside of the courthouse. They were built a good piece from the court house like all outhouses were back then. I guess one reason this one is still standing is because nobody was strong enough to push over a brick outhouse.
At least you had some privacy while taking care of business, instead of your normal two seater you had it all to yourself. Look at them seats, that would be like sitting on a throne compared to some outhouses I have seen!
This is the Mary Wood No. 2 a stern-wheel tow boat built in 1931, it was donated to the park in 1967. We had a lot of fun swimming around and diving off that boat the first couple of years. That was the good ole days, you try that today and you would probably be paying a pretty hefty fine for tampering with state property or something like that. They restored the inside of this boat and opened it to the public in 1976. I have came across some interesting pictures of the old museum at Jacksonport and thought I would update this blog with them. This first picture is from 1905 when the building was used as a cotton gin.
Here is the old building in 1910 after it had been transformed into a county hospital for the aged, sick, poor and orphaned.
Here the building was used to store grain during 1954-1955.
This is a picture of the building in 1963 before they began restoration on it. What a picture, and what a life that old building had. I am amazed they were able to bring it back to life.
Another picture of the building in its broken down state.
Here is the museum as it stands today, thanks to the ladies from the historical society.
I remember old folks telling me how a lot of families stayed at the old courthouse during the flood when my mother was a little girl. I never thought to ask her or grandmother if they had stayed there during the flood. However I think they did since my mothers dad was electrocuted during the flood when he accidentally touched a live electrical wire in the river while in a boat with other men going for supplies.
I remember when I was about eight years old the old man that ran the museum would let me and a cousin in before opening time so we could help him sweep and dust all the artifacts... For all our work he would buy us a soda... He was a very smart man..lol
This is kind of interesting, the fancy outhouse outside of the courthouse. They were built a good piece from the court house like all outhouses were back then. I guess one reason this one is still standing is because nobody was strong enough to push over a brick outhouse.
At least you had some privacy while taking care of business, instead of your normal two seater you had it all to yourself. Look at them seats, that would be like sitting on a throne compared to some outhouses I have seen!
This is the Mary Wood No. 2 a stern-wheel tow boat built in 1931, it was donated to the park in 1967. We had a lot of fun swimming around and diving off that boat the first couple of years. That was the good ole days, you try that today and you would probably be paying a pretty hefty fine for tampering with state property or something like that. They restored the inside of this boat and opened it to the public in 1976.
Here is the old building in 1910 after it had been transformed into a county hospital for the aged, sick, poor and orphaned.
Here the building was used to store grain during 1954-1955.
This is a picture of the building in 1963 before they began restoration on it. What a picture, and what a life that old building had. I am amazed they were able to bring it back to life.
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Another picture of the building in its broken down state.
Here is the museum as it stands today, thanks to the ladies from the historical society.
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