History

Put Another Penny In Or Pay The Fine by Jack Gurner It’s hard to believe that no one under thirty-something is old enough to remember the downtown parking meters. Here is the Herald story from 50 years ago, announcing the beginning of their use on Main Street. I haven’t been able to find the exact…

This editorial appear 50 years ago in the Dec. 26, 1957 issue of the Herald. Looking Into The New Year Probably there are few of us who, at various times, do not attempt to look into the future. This is particularly true at New Year, and as 1958 dawns, we find ourselves doing just that.…

To generations of Vallians, Shine Tyson was “Mister Christmas”. Many of us mid-century classics were small children when his snowman-in-a-wreath first appeared on Main Street lightpoles. His decorations are very much a part of our collective Christmas memories. This story by a very young Lucia Hollaway was published in the Herald in December 1956. —————————…

Dear Santa… That greeting has been written by generations of Yalobusha kids to the jolly ol’ gent. And, the Herald has always passed along these letters to the North Pole to help out our friends at the Post Office. These are from 1987: Dear Santa, For Christmas I want a watch, Amazing Heather, Cricket and…

Fifty years ago – in 1957 – Edward B. Shearer wrote in his Shearings column: Christmas decorations on Main Street and around the City Park are almost finished, and work completed to date indicates that Water Valley will this year again be among the best-decorated cities in the state. In our opinion, the decorations add…

By Jack GurnerReporter The Christmas Parade scheduled for this weekend is a tradition that goes back almost 60 years. In early December of 1953, this story about a visit from Santa and four of his reindeer appeared in the Herald. Santa Claus To Lead Christmas Parade Wednesday “The moon rides high on the new fallen…

By Jack GurnerReporter Here is a history quiz in honor of the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. The answers are directly below the question, so you can cheat a little by taking a peek. What year was Thanksgiving first celebrated? 1621. The Pilgrims landed in December of 1620 and managed to survive a harsh winter. Their first…

By Jack GurnerReporter Don Holloway recently brought in a photograph of the Park View House that was located on North Main at North Court Streets facing the park. Not a lot is known about the early history of the building other than a doctor named Porter owned it and had his office there. The photograph…

New City Hall In Works For Water Valley 50 Years Ago     This article appeared 50 years ago in the Herald on October 17, 1957.     The Mayor and Board of Aldermen at a recessed meeting Monday afternoon set Tuesday, Nov. 12, as date for a city election to decide whether the city will issue…

Longtime Water Valley Ag Teacher Spent Four Decades Doing What He Loved By Jack GurnerReporter In 1988 the Future Farmers of America changed their name to the National FFA Organization. They did so to “reflect the expanding career field of Agricultural Education”. Rodney Childress, who taught agriculture in the Water Valley School System for 40…