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The Simmons & Wright Company facts for kids
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The Simmons-Wright Company
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Simmons - Wright Company in 2010
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 Location in Mississippi
Location in the United States
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| Location | Kewanee, Mississippi |
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| Nearest city | Meridian, Mississippi |
| Area | 2.4 acres (0.97 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 08000198 |
| Added to NRHP | March 13, 2008 |
The Simmons - Wright Company is a very old and special general store in a small town called Kewanee, Mississippi. It first opened way back in 1884! This store is so important that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2008. This means it's recognized as a historic landmark. It's located near Meridian in Lauderdale County.
Contents
A Look Back: The Store's History
How the Store Started
The Simmons - Wright Company was first built in 1884 by two people, William Simmons and Tom Wright. Back then, the main road was called the Old Dixie Highway. This road went all the way from Meridian to Key West, Florida. The store was built close to the railroad tracks. This was a smart idea because trains could easily stop and drop off supplies for local farmers.
Busy Times at the Store
The store was super busy from when it opened in 1884 until the 1960s. It was very important for the cotton industry. Many farmers in the area needed supplies, and the store helped them. In the 1880s, the store was more than just a shop. It also had a blacksmith shop where metal items were made. There was a gristmill to grind corn and wheat into flour. It even had a cotton gin to separate cotton fibers from seeds. A sawmill was also on site to cut wood.
The store sold everyday items like groceries, clothes, and other things people needed. During the Great Depression, money was hard to come by. So, customers could pay for their items with cotton! The store owner would buy their cotton. If the cotton wasn't enough to pay off their bill, the owner would let them pay the rest next year.
The Store's New Building
In 1926, a fire sadly destroyed the first store building. But don't worry, it was rebuilt in the same year! The new building was made of strong brick instead of wood. The current building has two floors. It has a nice porch on the front. A wooden cover, called an awning, hangs over the porch. It's held up by cables attached to the building.
The roof of the store is flat. It has a low wall around the edge called a parapet wall. Inside, you'll find lots of wooden shelves and glass cases. These are used to show and store all the different items for sale. The second floor has a balcony that goes all the way around. You can get to it by a staircase at the back. Most of the store is open, except for a small office on the first floor and a closet upstairs. In winter, a wood-burning stove keeps the first floor warm. There's no air conditioning, but fans help keep things cool in the summer.
Other Buildings on the Property
Behind the main store, there's a warehouse that was also built in 1926. It's made of wood and aluminum and stands on brick supports. There's a brick area on one side that was used to store ice for the store. You can also find other buildings on the property. These include a cotton gin, a blacksmith shop, and several buildings for storing seeds. These were mostly used for cotton farming. There are also some older, worn-out buildings like an old cotton gin, a shed, a gristmill, and a sawmill.
The Company Today
Who Owns the Store Now?
In the early 1950s, a person named C.H. Ryan bought more than half of the store. The rest of the ownership went to Rowena, Bo, and Jean Simmons. They inherited it from William Simmons, one of the original owners. Later, Bernice Simmons owned the company from the mid-1970s until she passed away in 1998. Since then, Gary and Janice Pickett have owned the store. At one point, there were Gasoline pumps in front of the store, but they were removed in the 1980s.
What the Store Sells Now
Today, the Simmons - Wright Company is still open for business! It sells many different things. You can find antiques, which are old and special items. They also sell hardware, like tools and building supplies. Farmers can buy seed and feed for their animals. Small farming equipment is also available. The store still sells groceries, just like a modern convenience store. And it's famous for its special hoop cheese!
The Store on the Big Screen
In 2009, filmmakers came to the store! They were working on a movie called Due Date, which starred Robert Downey Jr.. They filmed parts of the Simmons - Wright store. Some of these shots might have been used in the movie!
Images for kids
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Inside view of the store