Downtown Brandon Historic District

The Downtown Brandon Historic District is a ten-acre district consisting of the downtown square of Brandon, Mississippi, mainly located along a section of East and West Government Street. The district also includes the 100th block of North College Street, where St. Luke's Episcopal Church and the Purvis House are located; as well as the 100th block of Black Street, where a historic African American Theater is located. The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2010. The district includes two other places listed on the NRHP: the Rankin County Confederate Monument and the Rankin County Courthouse.[2]

Downtown Brandon Historic District
LocationE and W Government Sts from Timber St to College St, 100 blocks of N College St and Black St, Brandon, Mississippi
Coordinates32°16′23″N 89°59′16″W
NRHP reference No.10000926[1]
Added to NRHPNovember 18, 2010

Description and History

Presently, the district is largely commercial, home to a number of local businesses, as well as a community theater and administrative buildings of the local government. There are also some residential buildings and a church. The majority of the buildings in the district were originally constructed between 1929 - 1950, with some later additions in more recent years. The architectural style of most buildings is brick-and-mortar, though some building now have a more modern appearance following renovations.

A fire in 1924 destroyed much of the greater downtown area, including the original Rankin County Courthouse; which was then rebuilt by famous architect Noah Webster Overstreet, Jr., and was later added to the National Register of Historic Places. The fire spared one building of historical significance: the Ohleyer Building, which is now the believed to be oldest existing structure in the downtown district area.[2][3]

Rankin County Courthouse

See the Wikipedia article for the Rankin County Courthouse

Confederate Monument

See the Wikipedia article for Rankin County Confederate Monument

Purvis House

The Purvis House is a two-story structure located on North College Street. The house was constructed in 1924. It currently houses the offices of a local lawyer.[4]

Ohleyer Building

The Ohleyer Building is a pre-Civil War era building, constructed by a family of French-born immigrants. The history of the building is not well documented. A website dedicated to Rankin County history (article by rankinhistory.com) reported the recollections of long-time residents regarding the history of the building and its construction. The account includes the following description:

"This two-storied building of hand-hewn rock was built at the tremendous cost of $6,000. The story goes that he discovered the local rock deposit, hauled rock into town, shaped each one and then put them in place – all by himself. The walls were made two feet thick of solid rock held together with cement. It is thought to be the first two-storied building in Brandon."

The building was one of few that survived a large fire in 1924, and is currently believed to be the oldest structure in the downtown district area.

African American Theater

Currently known as Black Rose Theater.

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References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. MDA&H HRI Historic District Profile, Fact Sheet, Downtown Brandon Historic District
  3. National Register of Historic Places registration form; Downtown Brandon Historic District, narrative detail
  4. MDA&H Historic Resources Inventory Fact Sheet; Purvis House
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