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| After leaving Ray at the gas station restaurant in Poplarville, I returned to Louisiana, crossing the new Pearl River Bridge. I swung around the base of the bridge after descending and got this pretty nice shot of the Pearl as she meanders south toward Slidell. It could be in Rivers Digest, don't you think? Ray really did a superb job in showing off a lot of Mississippi in a relatively economic fasion. We completely bypassed Hattisburg, the center of our circle. We rode all road types, saw lots of scenery, houses, bridges, and churches. It was a real nice day of Micro-Touring. Just immerse yourself into the country. Like the Merrill Bridge, stuff just jumps out at you. Bring a compass. Bring mosquito repellant. |
| I promised you 700 miles of Mississippi. This has been 350 of it. The next 350 is my ride up and over to Port Gibson to lay the assault on Grand Gulf Civil War Battlefield. See ya next time, head her home. |
| Added information below: |
| Marion, my long time contact on things Southern added: "You are
correct on the churches and stores being the centers of society for these communities.I think if you would locate the sites on a map, you would see that they are approximately a day's wagon ride apart. That meant that the farmers could come to the community store, or church, a half a day ride, stock up and get back home by dark. A half day ride either way to the store of their choice or need. I can remember when a trip from Eros to West Monroe for grocery shopping or automobile shopping was an all day affair, total mileage, 52 miles. Not that the roads were all that bad, just "scenic". |
| Dr. Ray Fagan, Southern academic, added this about the old stores: "I have a book on general stores in the South. Most were backed by big East Coast companies and the locations plotted to keep the stores from having to directly compete with each other. The store owner was obliged to buy most of his stock from them. Sam Walton just improved the idea". "We are talking Reconstruction time frame, here. As the auto came into use, more of the little family corner groceries came into being. A true general store was usually a big building or group of buildings. Many small towns grew up around them". |
| That's it for now, if you have anything to add, please do. |
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| More Mississippi |
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| Covington to Grand Gulf, the second 350 miles of this great Mississippi visit. |
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by The JavaScript Source
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