Caulfield Has Deep Roots In The Valley

Caulfield Has Deep Roots In The Valley

When I asked Barron Caulfield why he was here in Water Valley, he responded, “My roots are deep in these old hills.”

The Outsider

By Justin Geurin

A new Water Vallian sits down with the people that make this town special. Geurin and his wife, Robin, and twin daughters moved to town last July

After spending some time with him, listening to his story, I realized his statement could not be more accurate. In fact, Caulfield lives within a quarter-mile from where two of his great-great-grandfathers, one great-grandfather, both of his grandfathers, and his father all lived. So, to say Caulfield is deeply connected to Water Valley may be a bit of an understatement! 

The home he was raised in on Leland Street was the same home his father had been born in and was originally built by his great-grandfather for his daughters and the house remains in the family today. One of his great-great-grandfathers was originally from Vermont and came to Water Valley by way of Georgia in 1857 to survey the railroad. His son-in-law, Caulfield’s great-grandfather, came to Water Valley by way of Pontotoc in 1867 and went into business with Daniel Wagner. 

In addition, his mother’s father had been a Presbyter-ian minister who came to Water Valley years ago. As you can see, Caulfield’s family has been a part of the Water Valley community for many years. 

Caulfield himself was born right here in town, in Dr. Brown’s clinic and loved growing up in Water Valley. He recalls living in a great neighborhood with a lot of friends around who would ride their bicycles, swim in creeks, and play “kick-the-can” all over town. All of the neighbors could discipline any of the children at any time, so it kept them all in line. In 1962, a pretty girl named Elizabeth moved to town and she and Barron began dating. The couple dated for eight years before getting married and as he says, “the rest is history!” 

As a kid, Caulfield always thought he would grow up and move away, if nothing else because of a lack of opportunities in Water Valley. He enrolled in the engineering program at The University of Mississippi and after graduating, accepted a job with an oil field equipment company in south Louisiana. As he was preparing to move, the company called him and unexpectedly rescinded the job offer. According to Caulfield, “They told me they had hired four Ole Miss Engineering grads in a row, and the first three were all very capable and worked hard, but apparently all of their wives hated south Louisiana so much, they had all left the job and moved away within one year, and the company couldn’t take a chance on that happening again!” 

Needing a new plan, Caulfield enrolled in graduate school at Ole Miss, and completed his MBA with an emphasis in management. “I never used my engineering degree,” Caulfield said, as after completing graduate school he took a job in Calhoun City where he would work for 13 years. During that time, he was transferred to the company’s Oxford branch, and then back to Calhoun City, and the company approached him several times about moving to either Oxford or Calhoun City, but Caulfield remained in Water Valley and commuted to work. 

There were more changes in store for Caulfield, though, and after his company downsized and he was laid-off, he once again needed a new plan. He ended up taking a position with the Water Valley Housing Authority, where he would spend the next 26 years. “

I had never thought about working there before,” Caulfield says, but within a year he had been named the Executive Director and he felt a great sense of purpose in his new role. As Executive Director, he managed 200 low-rent, federally assisted housing units that provided people with an opportunity to get back on their feet, while also ridding the town of some badly blighted areas. “I truly enjoyed helping people with a genuine need,” says Caulfield. Deciphering complex federal regulations was often complicated, but overall, Caulfield enjoyed the experience. 

Since retiring from the housing authority, Caulfield remains active in the Water Valley community. He currently serves on the Board of Commissioners for the Housing Authority and works with both the local Lion’s Club and the Yalobusha County Forestry Association. Caulfield’s faith is also very important to him and he is a member at First Presbyterian Church on Main Street. 

“I love the association with my friends and church family,” he says. He owns 35 cows on land west of town and has three children and two grandchildren, with whom he tries to spend as much time as possible. 

In regards to Water Valley and how much it has changed throughout his lifetime, he praised the efforts of newcomers who have shown the potential for economic growth in the town. As he sees it, there was an establishment of good people here, who just needed a slight push to see what the community could become. Moving forward, Caulfield says he would like to see, “Greater cross-sectional participation in community organizations.” 

He is proud of how the town has grown, but does not want it to grow too much. “There is a clear set of values among people in town, that I would like to remain,” he states. 

Overall, Barron Caulfield feels Water Valley is a great place to live. According to him, it is a safe environment with a lot of good people. “It is also not far from other places you would want to visit,” he says.  He told me that he once saw an article calling Water Valley one of the best-kept secrets in North Mississippi, and he completely aggrees with that assessment. I think his opinion should carry some weight on this subject, after all Caulfield and his family’s roots are a part of the very fabric that has made Water Valley what it is today. 

Now for the rapid-fire questions to close  the interview with Barron Caulfield

What was your first car? 

– 1954 Pontiac that would not reverse

You are stranded on a desert island, what three things do you want to have with you? 

– Water, fishing equipment, and a Bible

Is a hotdog considered a sandwich? 

– Yes, it is meat and bread

If you could have one superpower, what would it be? 

– Ability to change people’s hearts

It’s karaoke night, what is your go-to song to sing? 

– Country Roads but I substitute Mississippi for West Virginia every time!

Last meal, what do you want? Entrée, desert, and beverage? 

– Medium rare New York Strip steak, a good merlot, and coconut cake