Monthly Archives: March 2011

Take a drive along Ellis Avenue, and as you approach Westland Plaza, you’ll notice something peeking over the tree line. That tall building that you see is none other than (A.) Madonna Manor–the answer to today’s trivia.

Madonna Manor was built in 1971 and serves as home to low-income residents aged 55 and older.  In 2007, the 149-unit facility was purchased by The Wishcamper Companies and $5.5 million of renovations were performed on the building. These renovations included new finishes and appliances.

Amenities and services at Madonna Manor include an on-site laundry facility, beauty salon, computer lab, onsite nutritionist, community room, and a walking path.

So next time you’re on Ellis, and you see a skyscraper (in Mississippi terms) in the middle of a neighborhood–you know it’s Madonna Manor.

Good morning to our loyal readers! Sorry, we missed dishing out the trivia last week. But after a short break, we are back with a fresh batch. Here we go…

This building was constructed near Claiborne Park in 1971 as a 13-story high-rise  apartment complex for retirees.

A.) Madonna Manor

B.) The Admiral

C.) Camelot Apartments

D.) Standard Life

Submit your answers by 7 p.m., and hey, even if you don’t know the answer–guessing is okay. There are not losers in trivia, only winners! Now go for it!

Photo of 2002 Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the Palisades @ eCity (Photo: JSU Department of Public Relations)

Nearly a decade ago, dignitaries and community leaders gathered to proclaim the opening of the newly constructed Palisades at eCity. This was a very big deal because before The Palisades, the next door neighbor of Eddie & Ruby’s Fish House was the abandoned Delta Cotton Oil plant.

Okay now, don’t get alarmed. Cotton oil isn’t the same as the black stuff that goes for over $100 a barrel. Cotton[seed] Oil plants were actually quite common in Jackson at the time.

Cottonseed oil has a consistency similar to olive oil.  Moody’s Magazine explains  prior to the discovery of cottonseed oil, the vast amount of cottonseed remaining at cotton gins was seen as a waste product and was simply discarded.  However, when manufacturers realized that that cottonseeds could produce an oil byproduct that rivaled that of olives, a huge new industry was created.  In fact, by 1900, byproducts of cottonseed oil had a total market value of $42,000,000 dollars.  Cottonseed oil was used to create an array of products that included “butter, paper, fertilizer, cotton batting, cattle feed, soap, lard, cattolene, crude oil, and salad oils.”

On this same site rests the Palisades–a $16.3 million, 144-unit apartment complex that was built with private funds for the benefit of Jackson State University’s faculty and students.

So there it is. Consider The Palisades at eCity our version of Atlantic Station before Atlantic Station was even thought of. Ok, not quite, but they both were built on old factory sites.

Thanks for playing this week’s trivia! We’ll be back after these messages.

Sources:

The Jacksonian, Spring 2003, p. 23

Nicholas, Henry C. “The Utilization of Waste”. Moody’s Magazine and American Investments. June 1906: 276-280.

In 2002, this West Jackson apartment complex opened with much fanfare on a redeveloped site that once housed a Delta Cotton Oil plant. The complex was developed to house the students and faculty of Jackson State University.

A. The Grove Apartments

B. Highland Grove Apartments

C. The Reserve

D. The Palisades at eCity

The official answer will be posted at 7 p.m., but we’re looking for your answer before then. Correct answers will be eligible to win this week’s gift card from Koinonia Coffee House. Go for it!

The answer for today’s trivia is (A.) Mel Luna Saw Company. The narrative below is verbatim from the City of Jackson’s Winter 2010 issue of the go80 Signpost–a community newsletter that was funded as part of the Highway 80 Economic Development planning grant.

Thanks for playing this week’s trivia!

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Change is inevitable–especially in today’s marketplace. New technologies and rapidly changing business models can thwart even the savviest company. But, at Mel Luna Saw Company, [one of] the largest supplier[s] of high-end comercial lawn equipment in Mississippi, owner Mike Cox knows the key to thriving in any economic environment.

It is maintaining the tradition of sound business principals, which began in March of 1967 when Mel Luna decided to open shop on Highway 80 in Jackson. Mike’s father worked with Mr. Luna from the beginning and Mike grew up knowing the founder and learning the business.

In 2000, Cox purchased the business from Luna and continued the core value of consistency–consistent products, consistent customer service and consistent location.

“We don’t swap product and we don’t change location” says cox. “Our customers know where to find us. They know we’ll have the products they need. And, they know they’ll be taken care of.”

This straight-forward strategy has served them well, making Mel Luna Saw a multimillion dollar company, even in the midst of dire economic times and strong competition.

In 1998, when the big box retail shops like Home Depot and Lowe’s  came into the area, Mel Luna Saw Company switched its focus to serving the high-end commercial market instead of the residential consumer.

Cox says, “It was one of the best moves we ever made–that and the decision to stay at our location on Highway 80. We are very accessible from the North, South, East and West. Around ten years ago there was a lot of pressure for local franchisees and dealerships to move out to the suburbs and build new facilities. As an independent contrator we decided to stay put.”

Instead of using profits to build a new store on the outskirts of town, Mel Luna Saw Company expanded its existing location in 2002. With no mortgage, steady clientele, and a convenient location, the company continues to grow.

“Our business is booming even in this economy. Before the dry spell (which affects turf growth), we were on track to have the best year ever,” Cox added.

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Mel Luna Saw Company (1250 Dewey Street, 601-353-8392) sells and services equipment for Exmark, Stihl, Reedmax, Kawasaki, Kohl, and Honda. It is the 2nd largest distributor of Exmark turf equipment in the South Central Region (an eight state region).

P.S. They’re on Facebook!