Monthly Archives: August 2010

by | August 30, 2010 · 10:07 am

The Newness of West Jackson

Welcome sign at new Highway 80 McDonald's

Oh how we love seeing new things come to West Jackson! New things bring new people and provide new goods and services for those of us living here.  Newness doesn’t always signify something that is absolutely, positively new.  Sometimes, newness is the rediscovery of a place or the renewal of feelings that may have existed for years.  Such is the story of West Jackson.  Those of us who are here can see the potential of this side of town–that’s why we’re here!  Not because we HAVE to be, but because we WANT to be.

That’s why it is heartwarming to see new investments come to fruition.  It means that other people “get it” and want to stake their claim to the community.  New neighbors are welcome here, and if you would like to renovate a charming home with beautiful wooden floors, rent an apartment in the newly constructed University Place, or find a place to post your business’s “Now Open” sign, then by all means come and be a part of the rediscovery, the renewal, the NEWNESS of West Jackson.

Last Thursday was a busy day for the West side.  One University Place opened its doors for potential residents to take a sneak peek at its 78 apartments and McDonald’s (see story) cut a ribbon to signify the reopening of it’s Highway 80 restaurant.  McDonald’s demolished its old restaurant and rebuilt the new one on the same site in approximately 3 months.  Take a look at the photos taken at the Open House event at University Place and the Ribbon Cutting at the newly constructed McDonald’s.

(P.S. Much thanks to the Center for University-Based Development‘s Director, Dr. Kimberly Hilliard, for taking pictures for the blog at the McDonald’s Ribbon Cutting ceremony!)

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by | August 26, 2010 · 7:00 pm

WESTerday Trivia Answer: Battlefield Park

Old cannon installed on park grounds.

On May 14, 1863, Union forces invaded Jackson and battled with Confederate forces for nearly 5 hours.  During this short battle, Union troops suffered 250 casualties while Confederate troops suffered 800.  Being overpowered, the Confederates retreated to Canton.  Union forces would return to seize Jackson several times during the civil war, turning the gleaming capital city into a town of ashes and ruins.
One of the sites of activity during the civil war was Winter’s Woods (now known as Battlefield Park).  While it was a wooded area during the war, this site was acquired by the City of Jackson in 1927, and is now a center of recreation complete with 12 tennis courts, swimming pool,  basketball courts, playground equipment, pavilions, baseball fields, clubhouse, and an open field that is ideal for soccer.  As for the trees of Winter’s Woods…well, they’re still there too.
Written by Curnis Upkins, III
Sources:
Mississippi Civil War: A Narrative History by Ben Wynne
Jackson: The Capital City and the Civil War

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by | · 10:00 am

WESTerday Trivia

WESTerday Trivia: This West Jackson greenspace was the site of civil war activities in May & July of 1863.

The answer will be posted on the blog at 7pm tonight so answer away! We love hearing from you!

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by | · 9:20 am

Don’t forget about the University Place

Don’t forget about the University Place Open House Event TODAY (Thursday, August 26), from 4 pm – 6pm. Located at the intersection of John R. Lynch St. and Dalton St., this exciting new development is looking for new residents. Will you be our neighbor?

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by | August 24, 2010 · 9:59 am

Service Learning 101

Last Thursday and Friday, Jackson State University’s Community Service/Service Learning Center coordinated various community service projects as part of Orientation Week for the university’s freshmen.  I served as a chaperon for 19 of the 362 freshmen that showed up on Thursday to volunteer.  While many of the students in my group were from Jackson (Forest Hill, Jim Hill, Provine, Wingfield, and Murrah grads to be exact), there were also students from Chicago, Louisiana, Huntsville, Alabama, Florida, and Memphis.  Most importantly, the group was a LOT of fun!

My group’s assignment was to assist with duties at the Capitol Unit of the Boys and Girls Club (1450 W. Capitol Street) here in West Jackson.  Mr. Randall Gray, Unit Director, greeted us as we filed into the club.  Then he began to tell us the story of the importance of this facility.  The Capitol Street facility serves 200-250 children during the summer months and 300-380 children during the school year.  Mr. Gray attended this very club between the ages of 6 and 9. Oh, and the cost to the parents per child is a whopping $25 per year. That’s right, $25 per YEAR!  Of course, it costs the Boys and Girls Club a lot more per child, but the goal is to make sending children as affordable as possible to parents who may not otherwise be able to afford daycare or after-school care.

So, how many children were present during our visit? Zero. Zip. None. Why? Mr. Gray explained to us that the organization has encountered serious budgetary difficulties that have caused many of the facilities to close until the first part of September.  That means that many of the 300-380 kids that would have been joyfully playing and learning at the club are probably at home alone.

The Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Mississippi is in dire need of mentors and financial contributors. If you’d like to contribute to this organization, please visit their website at http://www.bgccm.net/donate.htm.

As for my group of  JSU freshmen, all 19 of them contributed 3 hours of service as they organized the game closet, painted the classroom and cubby holes, mopped the gym, and took out the trash of this important West Jackson facility.  In all, 830 students participated in the two days of service.  In addition to the Boys and Girls Club, they volunteered at the Christian Mission Learning Center, Stewpot, Operation Shoestring, West Jackson CDC-Youthbuild, Women’s Resource Center, Neighborhood Christian Center, Computer Recycling Center, and the WIC Center.  JSU students must earn 120 community service hours before graduating, and for the freshman, these two days provided a great start to reaching that goal.

Some photos of the students in action:

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Written by Curnis Upkins, III

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by | August 23, 2010 · 11:53 am

University Place Open House THURSDAY

Last week we posted an entry on the One University Place development underway at the intersection of Dalton Street and John R. Lynch Street. Well, the new apartments of the mixed-use One University Place development are almost ready and the leasing agents invite you to attend an open house this Thursday, August 26 from 4 pm to 6 pm. Come by and take a tour of the project that has the potential to transform West Jackson. Interested in leasing one of these apartments? Leasing agents will be taking applications on site.

For more information, call 601.923.2882 or email oneuniversityplace@ledic.com

P.S. This is a come and go event, so come when you can and stay for as little or long as you’d like. We hope to have you as a new West Jackson resident!

Update (8/23/2010):

If you plan to submit an application for the One University Place apartments, make sure that you bring the following with you:

-Valid Photo Identification

-Social Security Card

-$35 Money Order for the application fee

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by | August 19, 2010 · 7:00 pm

WESTerday Trivia Answer: Mrs. A.M.E. Logan

Mrs. A.M.E. Logan

Today’s trivia refers to long-time West Jackson resident A.M.E. Logan. Mrs. Logan was born in 1911 as the eighth child of Reverend John Collins (“J.C.”) Marshall and Nellie Rembert Marshall in Myles, Mississippi.  Reverend Marshall named his daughter in honor of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, hence the name “A.M.E.” A.M.E.  eventually met and married Style “S.L.” Logan, and the two built a home on Biloxi Street in 1944 in Jackson, Mississippi.

Mrs. Logan immersed herself into the advocation of civil rights for African Americans. She served various capacities in the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), was a founding member of Womanpower Unlimited, and was a founding member and officer of the Jackson Chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC).  Womanpower Unlimited was founded by Mrs. Claire Collins Harvey, manager of Collins Funeral Home, in the spring of 1961.  Harvey’s goal was to provide support for the Freedom Riders, a group that sought to enforce the federal requirement of a desegregated transit system. Mrs. Harvey reached out to Mrs. Logan to participate in Womanpower and Mrs. Logan was eventually elected the group’s first executive secretary.  Womanpower Unlimited grew into an interracial force of 300 women who provided supplies and accommodations for the valiant Freedom Riders.

A letter/petition has recently been circulated in West Jackson that encourages neighbors to support the renaming of Biloxi Street to honor Mrs. Logan.  James Tucker and Sylester Watts, the authors of the petition, are proposing to rename the street “Mrs. A.M.E. Logan Street.”  Tucker and Watts are attempting to honor Mrs. Logan through this effort.  While Mrs. A.M.E. Logan’s age is unclear (accounts range from 93 – 99 years old), family and friends treated her to a much deserved birthday celebration yesterday.  Happy Birthday Mrs. Logan!

Thanks again for participating in this week’s trivia!

Click the picture below to view a recent WAPT video on Mrs. Logan. There’s a short 15 second commercial before the video starts:

Click to launch video of Mrs. A.M.E. Logan

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by | · 10:05 am

WESTerday Trivia!

WESTerday Trivia: This longtime West Jackson resident and Avon sales rep was one of the founders of Womanpower Unlimited and one of the first members of the Jackson Chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.

You have plenty of time to research…err, answer ;) . The answer will be posted at 7pm tonight. If you think you know the answer, feel free to comment!

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by | August 18, 2010 · 11:57 am

We’re Featured on JSU’s Homepage!

Here’s a quick note: the Emergence of West Jackson Blog is featured on Jackson State University’s homepage today! We’re taking over. First, JSU’s homepage…then the WORRRLLD! *evil laugh*

Seriously, thanks to JSU’s Office of University Communications for helping us get the word out about this blog.  Go West Jackson and GO BLUE! Keep spreading the word about the goodness of West Jackson.

P.S. Welcome to our new readers! You can stay up to date on the blog by submitting your email address in the “Email Subscription” block on the right. Don’t worry, we won’t spam you. Any new article posts to the blog will come right to your inbox.

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by | August 17, 2010 · 3:26 pm

The Old Coca Cola Plant Blog

One of the proposed options for the building's new facade.

In 1949, Jackson Coca-Cola Bottling Company opened up a brand new plant on Highway 80.  The new plant would host groups of school children for plant tours for many years.  In fact, a commenter on the West Jackson (Mississippi) Memories page asks “how many people went there on a field trip in elementary school and got a tiny Coke bottle key chain?”

The plant was a mainstay on Highway 80 for 58 years. Then, in 2007, the company vacated the aging facility and moved into a newer building in the Northwest Jackson Industrial Park near Interstate 220.  The bright spot in this story: at least they didn’t leave the city. However they did leave 143,000 square feet of building space to rest vacant and lonely on the west side.

But there’s hope! New York investor Gil Sidi has purchased the property and is working with the Jackson Community Design Center (JCDC) to develop a plan to make this property something hip, cool, and unique for the city of Jackson.

Follow their progress through their new blog, The Old Coca-Cola Plant Blog.

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