Saving America's Wetland [the Mississippi Delta]

Washington Post ^ | December 12, 2004 | Kathleen Babineaux Blanco (LA governor)

[Cedar]

From TIME Magazine:

BY MARK COATNEY
The Mississippi Delta begins in the lobby of the Peabody Hotel in Memphis and ends on Catfish Row in Vicksburg. A lot of writers, including Bill Faulkner, have called that sentence their own, but the man who originated it was David Cohn, a writer from Greenville, Miss. A lot of southern writers have hung their hats in Greenville — Hodding Carter, Shelby Foote, Walker Percy — but our host for tonight is the most prolific of them all, Bern Keating, who has written more than 30 nonfiction books on subjects ranging from the Mississippi River to the Old West....

Link: http://www.time.com/time/reports/mississippi/day8.html

[Cedar]

Quote from the Houston Chronicle:

"In the Mississippi Delta, life is never far from the blues -- a challenge and an opportunity for those promoting tourism here.

Already, millions of people visit the region, drawn by nine casino resorts in Tunica County that pump more than $2 billion a year into the region's economy. But a short drive and a world away lies the real Delta, stretching from just beyond the glitzy gambling halls all the way to the magnolia-shaded lanes of Natchez.

Here, amid some of the nation's richest soil and poorest people, are the sharecroppers' shacks, cotton fields, small towns and juke joints where the blues were born -- music that slaves first sang about the hardships of life...."

Link: http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/travel/2927784

[Cedar]

The lifestyle publication of the Mississippi Delta

Launched in July 2003, Delta Magazine highlights and celebrates the beauty, creativity, and mystique of the famed Mississippi Delta culture–past and present.

http://www.deltamagazine.com/website/about.html

[razorback-bert]

You overlooked Johnny Winters, who is also from Leland.

Now, I have to order me a couple of dozen Doe's hot tamales by FedEx. I will not say how old I am, but I started eating at Doe's when I was two years old and I haven't stopped yet, though the times are further spaced out.

[Ditter]

I have been in your country I just have never heard of the river bank referred to as the delta. To me the delta is the land below New Orleans where the M river fans out. I have been there too. We have made 3 trips up the Natchez Trace as well, from Natchez to Nashville. Beautiful country, everyone should see it.

[Cedar]

Yes, and not only Johnny Winters but also Steve Azar (country music) from Greenville. Plus I'm sure lots of others we are forgetting about.

And of course B.B. King, who is from Indianola. He still does a hometown concert there once every year for his local folks.

And Oprah Winfrey was born in Kosciusko, MS.

Really the local "unknown" folks in the Delta are just as interesting and talented as the ones who became "stars."

My brothers and sister have spent years trying to duplicate Doe's salad. And you really can't beat their steaks and hot tamales--they have the best in the country. I don't get back there to eat as often as I would like to either.

[Cedar]

Yes, agreed. The Natchez Trace is beautiful.

I still could kick myself that I haven't been to the city of Natchez yet to see the antebellum mansions from the 1850's, etc. Hopefully, I'll get there next year.

[Ditter]

We have been thru Natchez a number of times and have driven around and looked from the outside. We have not been there when they are open for the home tour. There is one exception, a house just north of Natchez near where the Trace begins, that is open all year. I can look up the name if you want me to, at least I think I can.

[Cedar]

I really do plan on taking the home tour when I go to Natchez--I even got information from the Natchez Chamber of Commerce back in the spring. So I've got some info already, but thanks much.

I want to make the trip when those beautiful trees are full of leaves, maybe in May or June. Seeing those trees and the grounds will be worth the trip, IMO. They are a rare treat these days.

But I know the homes are works of art too. So I'm looking forward to it all.

[razorback-bert]

If you want a nice trip, go to White Castle La.

Nottoway plantion house is a bed and breakfast, when you stay there you get roam of the house at night.

http://www.virtualtourist.com/vt/c1e3f/3/

[Ditter]

I think I have been to Nottoway Plantation, not for the night but a daytime tour. Fabulous. Farther south down that road there is a plantation house called the Old Home Place. If I had millions of dollars to spare I would buy it and restore it. It is very old, late 1700's. The gate was open so we drove in and explored the property but not the house which was boarded up.

[Cedar]

Nottoway looks nice. I need to just take off and travel for a couple of years (wish I could). So many sights to see.