History

By Jack Gurner Reporter October 11, 1962 – Photographs of the Water Valley Army National Guard unit preparing for riot duty at Ole Miss appeared in the Herald. The unrest at the University came as federal marshals were ordered on campus to aid in the enrollment of James Meredith. By the time the photos appeared…

Tom Myers and Casey Jones both came to Water Valley in 1888. Railroad men were needed here and W. H. Myers, moved the family from Centrailia, Illinois, so the older Myers could work as a fireman on the Illinois Central Railroad. Myers was almost three when he came to Water Valley. He went to work…

By Jack Gurner Fall officially arrived this past weekend. Autumn commenced at 5:44 a.m. last Sunday morning, according to those who keep track of such things. For those of us who don’t, the transition between Summer and Fall is a lot more than a number on a calendar page. For me, the end of September…

  Poultry Plant Has Five Decade History By Jack Gurner Reporter The history of the poultry processing plant in Water Valley goes back almost 50 years. Here is a summary of the early days of the business: Construction of the Water Valley poultry processing plant began Tuesday, June 24, 1958, when Doc Bell, Beat Three…

Water Valley Rotary Organized in 1925 By Jack Gurner Reporter In April of 1925 the Water Valley Rotary Club was organized. They group’s first meeting was held at the Herring Hotel on Main Street and included a “sumptuous” banquet. The officers selected for the club were H. K. Hunter, President; H. H. Creekmore, Vice-President; T.…

 Tyler’s 1956 Junior Devils Were Undefeated Great moments in sports aren’t always national championships or Olympic gold medals. Sometimes a great moment is just a footnote to local history. But, for those involved that special time will never be forgotten. The seventh and eighth grade Blue Devils of the 1956-57 school year were undefeated under…

By Jack Gurner Highway No. 7 between Water Valley and Coffeeville hasn’t always been  the smooth drive it is today. During the early part of the 20th Century, a trip over the dirt road could take most of a day. It wasn’t until late in 1923 that the road – then known as the Jeff…

By Jack Gurner In May of 1911 a man who was to become one of America’s most important photographers came to Water Valley. His name was Lewis Hine and his assignment was to photograph the work force at the Yocona Mills for the National Child Labor Committee. The Committee was organized in 1904, incorporated by…

By Jack Gurner This is a fish story about the one that DIDN’T get away. Fifty years ago this week on July 31, 1957, Fred Bright of Memphis  caught a five pound, three ounce white crappie at Enid Lake. Mr. Bright,  who said he had been fishing all his life, had affidavits filled out on…

By Jack Gurner Eighty years ago a group of business and professional men of Water Valley appropriated  $28,000 toward building and equipping a Kraft Cheese plant to be located on Central Street. The Kraft Company was to repay this amount when the volume of  daily receipts of milk equaled 45,000 pounds for a period of…