Former Home Of Creekmore To Receive Historical Marker
Tallahatchie Valley Electric Power Association has completed construction on a new electrical substation in the Water Valley industrial park that has multiple benefits for the area including improved service and the possibility of supplying the city of Water Valley with backup power in the event of an outage. The substation was among items discussed by aldermen at their meeting last week. – Photo by Jack Gurner
Reporter
WATER VALLEY – The Panola Street birthplace of one of Mississippi’s notable authors will be recognized with a historical marker.
The plaque will signify the location of the home of Hubert Creekmore, currently the residence of Ersel and Gloria King at 114 Panola Street, Water Valley Main Street Manager Mickey Howley told aldermen at their regular first Tuesday meeting March 3.
Howley explained that the Water Valley Arts Council has been working for the last year with the Department of Archives and History on the project. They had received the text for the marker and were expected to approve it at their monthly meeting. “We hope to have this marker listed on the Southern Literary Trail,” he added.
Creekmore, a poet and novelist, was born in 1907 in the two-story Victorian house built by his father around the turn of the century. His father, H. H. Creekmore, came to Water Valley from Calhoun County to establish a law practice with Earl Brewer, later governor of the state. The family lived here until the mid-1920’s, when they moved to Jackson. Creekmore was a contemporary and very good friend of Eudora Welty.
Among other actions March 3, aldermen:
• Approved changes to the beer ordinance made during the last meeting February 3.
• Mayor Larry Hart said that the changes are to Articles 5, 6 and 7 and will reduce the business fee to $15 for on-premise or off-premise sales and require the licensee to file only an annual report on the amount of sales.
Aldermen Larry Bell voted against the section that requires documentation of sales figures stating that he was opposed to any request for that information.
• Accepted bids from G & O Supply for metal and plastic culverts based on a recommendation by City Clerk Vivian Snider.
• Agreed to advertise for bids for a street sweeper to replace the aged model currently in use. “We have a street sweeper,” Hart said, “and about all that baby is doing is burning diesel fuel.”
The mayor added that the city has been blessed with an improved Main Street “and we need to be able to keep our Main Street clean. So, we’re going to need to get us another street sweeper.”
Hart speculated that three could have been purchased with the money spent on keeping the current model pieced together.
•Voted to complete the necessary paperwork and sign agreements for the electrical substation under construction by TVEPA on the industrial park property in the southwest corner of the city.
• Resolved to apply for a CDBG grant to be matched with a ARC grant for sewer rehabilitation work and to apply for a small municipalities grant to restore downtown sidewalks.
• Adjourned after meeting for just under 25 minutes.
