My Mississippi Literary Tour - Tennessee Williams

There is no argument that Tennessee Williams was a very creative, unique man.  Said to have been the most important American playwright ever, Thomas Lanier "Tennessee" Williams was born in Columbus, MS on March 26, 2011.  His Southern ties served as inspiration for years to come in his many hits - A Streetcar Named Desire, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, The Glass Menagerie, The Rose Tattoo and more. Don't we all know a Blanche?!?  Or maybe we girls are all a little bit of Blanche ourselves.

Tennessee was born in Columbus and had a genteel upbringing.  His father was a shoe salesman and had rather famous family including Tennessee's first governor and first senator.  Some members were the Sevier family (anyone ever been to Sevierville and Sevier County on the way to the Smoky Mountains?). He was also related to many presidents (both Adamses, Cleveland, Taft, Coolidge and 9 more) and other authors (Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Herman Melville, Truman Capote). His mother was of Germanic lineage (maternal side), and her father was the rector of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Columbus, MS when Tennessee was born.

Tennessee Williams

Rose, their mother - Edwina, & Tennessee

 Tennessee was VERY close with his sister, Rose, and even had a play named The Rose Tattoo for which he won a Tony Award.  She had mental problems and, after medical treatment that didn't work, she had a lobotomy and had to be institutionalized for the rest of her life, which he paid for. There are stories that his father was distant and abusive. He had a younger brother, Dakin, with whom he seemed to have a conflicting relationship - close at times, distant at others.  Many of their life experiences show up in his writings.  Sad.....

The 135-year-old childhood house has been restored and is on the National Register of Historic Places.  It is definitely worth a visit.  Admission is FREE!! and Mrs. Virginia, the curator, is so friendly and has been involved personally in the events and restoration.

Tennessee's upstairs bedroom

Downstairs parlor

 There are many other historical areas in the city you can visit. Go see Mississippi University for Women's campus - gorgeous!!  There is a spring pilgrimage of the Historic Homes (many are open year-round), 3 Blues Trails Markers, and other monthly events.

For more information, go to www.columbus-ms.org. Columbus is a sweet, southern town with a LOT of history.

"Home is where you hang your childhood, and Mississippi to me is the beauty spot of creation, a dark, wide spacious land that you can breathe in."  Tennessee Williams, 1950s

Friendship Cemetery in Columbus, Mississippi

  Friendship Cemetery

"Where Flowers Healed a Nation"

After uploading my National Board Renewal (yes, it was insane!), I decided to take a day for myself and went to Columbus, MS.  I spent a couple of years in Columbus when I attended Mississippi University for Women (MUW) to earn my Paralegal Studies Degree and I have many fond memories from there.  But it had been a long time, so a trip was overdue.

First on my list that morning was Friendship Cemetery.  It was here that a southern tradition of putting flowers on a loved one's grave in memory began. My family does it every year and has since before I was born, puts flowers on our loved ones' graves on the "2nd Sunday" in May - Mother's Day.  Tradition began in Columbus when two women set out to place flowers on the graves of their Confederate soldiers.  But as they walked among the graves which included Yankee soldiers, their hearts hurt for the families who wouldn't be able to honor their loved ones in the same way so, in a kind gesture, they placed flowers on ALL soldiers' graves.  It was the beginning of the modern day Memorial Day.  And it was known as the places "Where Flowers Healed a Nation."

The cemetery is sitting on a bluff overlooking the Tombigbee River and was put on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.  It was founded in 1849, is made up of 65 acres, and has veterans from at least 6 wars beginning with the American Revolution.

Birmingham Museum of Art

I teach intellectually gifted 4th graders. One of our novel studies is My Dog Skip and another is Chasing Vermeer. I had been researching Johannes Vermeer and George Rodrigue Blue Dog paintings to visit, and one of these was supposed to be here - I just couldn't remember which one.  When we got to the museum, neither were.  I guess it had been a traveling exhibit.  I was sad that I didn't see either of them, but I enjoyed the rest of the museum.

 On the positive side:

• It's easy to get to from the interstate.
• Parking is easy, free (in lot behind museum) or affordable (in the Boutwell Parking Deck) and very close by.
• It's free (they ask for a donation - your choice but it's worth it) unless there's a blockbuster exhibition.
• It's cool on a warm summer day.

On the negative side:
     Ummm, can't think of anything.  Maybe that it's closed on Mondays.

 

 

Lovely sculpture garden outside the museum

 There's a restaurant in the museum - Oscar's at the Museum.  We didn't eat here because we had plans to eat at The Magic City Grill, but there was a large crowd and it smelled yummy!!

It's a wonderful place to spend a few hours.
For more information:  http://www.artsbma.org/

Sloss Furnaces in Birmingham, AL

Who has ever heard of Sloss Furnaces?  I hadn't and I only live a couple of hours away from Birmingham.  I first heard of them while I was watching an episode of Ghost Hunters. The cast had gone to the furnaces to check out reports of paranormal activity there.  When I realized the place was on the National Historic Landmark list, I had to go.

 Sloss Furnaces was founded in 1881 and was once the WORLD's largest producer of pig iron.  Pig iron?  I didn't know either.  It's a metal material created by the melting together under intense air pressure several materials. The name came from the processing technique: the hot liquid ore would run down a long tray that had several inlets.  It was said this looked like a sow and her piglets.

Pig iron

The furnaces began blasting in April of 1882 at the intersection of 2 major railroads.  In its first year, it 24,000 tons of iron.  Remember, this was the late 1800s.  The site has 2 400-ton blast furnaces and forty other buildings.  The oldest building dates from 1902 and the oldest machines date from around 1900.  The massiveness (if that's a real word) is incredible.  I climbed the steps to one of the machines and was amazed at the thought of working the site (as I held on tightly with both hands).

It is currently the only 20th century blast furnace in the US being preserved and interpreted as a historical industrial site. 

And the ghost stories.....that's another story.  Because of the deaths here and the manner in which they happened, many say there is paranormal activity here.  My mom and I tried, but we didn't see or hear anything.  You might have more luck....  You can take private tours, which are free, but they are only offered certain days and staff is limited so call first.  You can always take a self-guided tour, which is also free.

You can definitely feel the history here.


For more information:  http://slossfurnaces.com/

16th Street Baptist Church Birmingham, AL

Today's travels took my mom and me to Birmingham, AL.  I had several stops on my always-there list: 16th Street Baptist Church, Birmingham Museum of Art, Sloss Furnaces and Whole Foods.  Yep, Whole Foods - we don't have one in my home town and dealing with my hypothryoidism has led me to healthier eating....usually. :)

First stop....16th Street Baptist Church

This church was the first house of worship for African Americans in Birmingham. It was established in 1873.  After moving and having that building condemned, this building was built in 1911. This church is very active in the community as a "tourist spot" but more importantly as a house of God.  Tours can be scheduled and you can worship here during the church's regular services.

Unfortunately,  it became well-known when, on September 15, 1963, it was bombed by the Ku Klux Klan.  Four young girls were killed: Denise McNair (11), Addie Mae Collins (14), Carole Robertson (14), Cynthia Wesley (14).  The girls were getting ready to lead in the 11:00 adult service. It was targeted because the church had been a staging ground for activism in the Civil Rights movement.

Currently, a photo of the 4 girls is displayed on both sides of the sanctuary.

The bomb was under these steps.

The surge of anger and emotions following the death of these girls and President John F. Kennedy two months later helped ensure the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
The church became a National Historic Landmark in 2006.

For more information:  http://16thstreetbaptistchurch.businesscatalyst.com/