Town of Tishomingo, MS
Date: August 18, 2023 (Friday)
Time: 10:00A.M.
Location: 1302 Main Street/Trace
The Old Courthouse Museum, Staff, and Board Members would like to extend a whole-hearted welcome to everyone, all ages and ethnic groups, to attend the opening day of meet the “ARTIST” that will be restoring the historical mural that was designed and implemented in 2017. Due to tornadoes, high winds that carry damaging objects, ice, and many days of rain, the community’s 90- ft wall mural arranged in collages highlighting the heritage of the local culture of the town will begin the restoration process to bring this piece of art back to its original state. We want the community to receive recognition and take part in this great process that leads the people to “take a walk back in time.”
WANTED: Vintage and newly handcrafted textile items for display at Iuka Old Courthouse Museum.
The Old Courthouse Museum will participate in this year’s Iuka Heritage Day with its own Living History event on Saturday, September 2nd. The museum will be open from 9:00 to 3:00.
The upstairs courtroom will serve as the display area for various types of textiles to include quilts, books, magazines, patterns, vintage linens, tapestries, and woven blankets. This serves as a request to bring your precious family memory items to the museum for display. Each item will be separately identified, well taken care of and returned to you the week following the event. Please provide a typed or hand written short info card with likely date and maker of the item as well as any known history. Items will we accepted now through Aug 30th. The museum is open Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 9:00-4:00 to accept your items.
The Iuka Apron Museum will also provide a clothesline display of their wonderful collectible aprons.
Our Native American room will be open with a chance to meet members of the Cherokee Tribe that were such a hit at lasts year’s Heritage Day in Mineral Springs Park.
Historic tours of the museum will be given throughout the day.
In celebration of Iuka’s fame as the Marriage Capital of the South with over 44,000 marriages performed, mock Tom Thumb type weddings will be held for anyone wishing to profess their love and document the joyous event with a photo. Just a Kind Word Florist is providing wedding décor for the venue. “Weddings“ will $5 and pictures $5.
Traditional basket making and broom making techniques will be demonstrated.
Local area history books, t-shirts and memorabilia as well as refreshments will be available for purchase.
Museum entrance for the event is $5.
MWR, INC.--Owls of Mississippi
Thursday, July 20, 2023 1:00
Old Courthouse Museum
Owls are some of the most beautiful yet seldom seen animals in our area. Take the opportunity on July 20th to earn more about these beautiful birds. Representatives from the Mississippi Wildlife Rehabilitation, Inc. will be on hand at 1:00 to give a presentation on owls of the Mid-South. Special guests will include MWR's own ambassador birds. The event is free and open to the public. We would like to thank our friends at Tri State
educational Foundation for sponsoring this event
Living History Day at Old Courthouse Museum
Sept 2nd 2023
Be sure to mark your calendars to attend the Seventh Annual Renaissance Day at the Old Courthouse Museum in Iuka on Saturday, April 22, 2023.
The fun will begin at 9 a.m. and continue until 2 p.m. Once again the grounds of the Old Courthouse Museum will come alive with fun, food, and fellowship. Bring your lawn chair, plan to spend the day, and learn about a time when life moved at a slower pace.
The courthouse lawn will be covered with presenters demonstrating blacksmithing, basket weaving, broom making and much more. Sadly, many of the aforementioned skills are practically nonexistent today, so being able to observe and talk with these demonstrators is a rare treat. Civil War reenactors will have a Civil War era cannon and camp set up at Mineral Springs Park, and Mr. Autry, “The Poetry Man”, will be telling stories inside the Old Courthouse. Kristi Lovelace of Southern Hearts will be on hand helping children make pinch pots. Jack Martin of Hockaday Handmade Brooms, winner of the Tennessee Governor’s Folklife Heritage Award, will be demonstrating how brooms have been made in his family for over 100 years. Pony rides and a petting zoo will also be available for a nominal fee. Music will be yet another facet for attendees to delight in.
Throughout the day multiple groups will be on the grounds to perform for your entertainment. Patrons of Renaissance Day will enjoy the musical stylings of The Mallards of Mayhem, North Mississippi Dulcimer Association, the Lisa Lambert Band and many more. We hope to see you there!
Thursday, July 20, 2023 1:00
Old Courthouse Museum
Owls are some of the most beautiful yet seldom seen animals in our area. Take the opportunity on July 20th to earn more about these beautiful birds. Representatives from the Mississippi Wildlife Rehabilitation, Inc. will be on hand at 1:00 to give a presentation on owls of the Mid-South. Special guests will include MWR's own ambassador birds. The event is free and open to the public. We would like to thank our friends at Tri State
educational Foundation for sponsoring this event
Living History Day at Old Courthouse Museum
Sept 2nd 2023
Be sure to mark your calendars to attend the Seventh Annual Renaissance Day at the Old Courthouse Museum in Iuka on Saturday, April 22, 2023.
The fun will begin at 9 a.m. and continue until 2 p.m. Once again the grounds of the Old Courthouse Museum will come alive with fun, food, and fellowship. Bring your lawn chair, plan to spend the day, and learn about a time when life moved at a slower pace.
The courthouse lawn will be covered with presenters demonstrating blacksmithing, basket weaving, broom making and much more. Sadly, many of the aforementioned skills are practically nonexistent today, so being able to observe and talk with these demonstrators is a rare treat. Civil War reenactors will have a Civil War era cannon and camp set up at Mineral Springs Park, and Mr. Autry, “The Poetry Man”, will be telling stories inside the Old Courthouse. Kristi Lovelace of Southern Hearts will be on hand helping children make pinch pots. Jack Martin of Hockaday Handmade Brooms, winner of the Tennessee Governor’s Folklife Heritage Award, will be demonstrating how brooms have been made in his family for over 100 years. Pony rides and a petting zoo will also be available for a nominal fee. Music will be yet another facet for attendees to delight in.
Throughout the day multiple groups will be on the grounds to perform for your entertainment. Patrons of Renaissance Day will enjoy the musical stylings of The Mallards of Mayhem, North Mississippi Dulcimer Association, the Lisa Lambert Band and many more. We hope to see you there!
Owl Program July 20th, 2023 1:00
Owls are some of the most beautiful yet seldom seen animals in our area. Take the opportunity on July 20th to earn more about these beautiful birds. Representatives from the Mississippi Wildlife Rehabilitation, Inc. will be on hand at 1:00 to give a presentation on owls of the Mid-South. Special guests will include MWR's own ambassador birds. The event is free and open to the public. We would like to thank our friends at Tri State Educational Foundation for sponsoring this event.
Animalogy July 21, 2023 11:00
On Friday, July 21st at 11 a.m. Bob from Animalogy, along with his wildlife friends, will join us at the Old Courthouse Museum for an educational wildlife program fun for audiences of ALL ages!
NHECM programs are presented by professional wildlife biologists who carefully design curricula tailored to schools, libraries, conservation organizations and other special events throughout the Southeast.
Programs will include our resident wildlife friends and new babies acquired this spring! This year’s event is entitled “Building Communities Wildlife” where Bob will showcase how animals are built for specific roles or jobs in the ecosystem.
This program is free and open to the public.
We would like to thank our wonderful friends at Tri State Educational Foundation for sponsoring this event.
NHECM programs are presented by professional wildlife biologists who carefully design curricula tailored to schools, libraries, conservation organizations and other special events throughout the Southeast.
Programs will include our resident wildlife friends and new babies acquired this spring! This year’s event is entitled “Building Communities Wildlife” where Bob will showcase how animals are built for specific roles or jobs in the ecosystem.
This program is free and open to the public.
We would like to thank our wonderful friends at Tri State Educational Foundation for sponsoring this event.
Lunch Lecture Series
Author Charlie Spillers
Discussion : Confessions of an Undercover Agent
Noon Thursday June 22, 2023
Free and open to the public
Author Charlie Spillers
Discussion : Confessions of an Undercover Agent
Noon Thursday June 22, 2023
Free and open to the public
On June 22nd at noon the Old Courthouse Museum in Iuka will host a Lunch Lecture Series featuring bestselling author Charlie Spillers. Spillers currently resides in Oxford and is a former Baton Rouge Police Officer, Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics regional commander, career federal prosecutor, U.S. Department of Justice Attaché for Iraq, and combat Marine.
Mr. Spillers served with the Baton Rouge Police Department for six years, working undercover as an Intelligence and Narcotics officer, infiltrating the criminal underworld. He then served 12 years with the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics (MBN), with the first five years undercover, and rose to the rank of Regional Commander for all of north Mississippi.
His book, Confessions of an Undercover Agent, describes his experiences during a decade of undercover crime-fighting, exciting years filled with heart-pounding encounters and narrow escapes. Playing different roles, he infiltrated rings of burglars and safecrackers, drug trafficking groups, Dixie Mafia auto-theft rings in Northeast Mississippi, and Mafia and Mexican drug smuggling operations. During his last undercover role, smugglers delivered 3,000 pounds of marijuana to him in Houston, Texas.
He capped off a unique career by becoming a career federal prosecutor working on major drug trafficking organizations, violent street gangs, corruption, and white-collar crime. In addition, he volunteered for three tours in Iraq for the Department of Justice, serving as an attorney-advisor to the Iraq court that tried Saddam Hussein and other regime leaders.
He served as the U.S. Department of Justice Attaché for Iraq, and led a joint project to disrupt al Qaeda financing. He examined chemical warfare samples in Belgium, collaborated with the British government on a war crimes case in the High Court of England and Wales, and worked on a notorious Hezbollah commander based in Iran who orchestrated attacks against American and British forces in Iraq. Additionally, he met with the E.U. representative to discuss Saddam’s defense minister, Ali Hasan Al Majid, aka “Chemical Ali”; assisted the Italian embassy and the Vatican on Tariq Aziz, and met with Iraq’s National Security Council.
His contributions were recognized by the FBI Director, the Deputy Attorney General, the Italian Embassy, the British Ambassador, and Britain’s Minister of State for the Armed Forces.
Beyond his exceptional law enforcement career, Charlie Spillers became widely respected as an instructor in law enforcement academies and training courses for federal, state, and local officers. He was also an adjunct professor in graduate criminal justice programs and an instructor for federal prosecutors at the DOJ National Advocacy Center. As an innovator in law enforcement training programs, Mr. Spillers led the development of the groundbreaking Mississippi Highway Patrol criminal interdiction program. He organized a comprehensive air and marine drug smuggling course attended by MBN and Louisiana State Police narcotics agents and state agents from Tennessee, Texas, Alabama, and Georgia. In addition, he developed the first MBN Basic Agent Academy to be certified by the state minimum standards board.
Amazon declared his book Confessions of An Undercover Agent a #1 New Release nationwide in law enforcement memoirs, and it became required reading in criminal justice courses at two universities. He has been featured in over 180 book appearances and speaking engagements across Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama, Arkansas, and Louisiana, including dozens of newspaper, magazine, and radio stations including MPB Radio state-wide. He has done TV interviews with WTVA in Tupelo, WREG in Memphis, and stations in Hattiesburg, Gulfport, Biloxi, and in Alexandria and Monroe, Louisiana. Mr. Spillers was a featured author at the Mississippi Book Festival and the state book festivals in Louisiana and Tennessee.
Mr. Spillers is also the author of Whirlwind: A Frank Marsh Novel, and is currently working on the sequel and a memoir about Iraq.
Lunch Lecture Series
Author Laura Finger
Discussion : Being a Self-published Writer
Thursday May 5, 2023
Free and open to the public
Author Laura Finger
Discussion : Being a Self-published Writer
Thursday May 5, 2023
Free and open to the public
Lunch Lecture Series
Author Laura Finger
Discussion : Being a Self-published Writer
Thursday May 5, 2023
Free and open to the public
Author Laura Finger
Discussion : Being a Self-published Writer
Thursday May 5, 2023
Free and open to the public
On May 25 at noon, the Old Courthouse Museum will host author, Laura Finger, as part of our Summer Lunch Lecture Series. Laura will be discussing being a self published writer. The Laura currently lives in Booneville, Mississippi. After receiving her Master's Degree in History from Middle Tennessee State University, she worked as Archivist for the Houston Public Library System in Houston, Tx and at the Rosenberg Library in Galveston, Tx. Following her years as an archivist, she moved to Austin, Texas, where she worked as a Records manager for the Texas State Library and Archives Commission and the Texas Water Development Board. Over a decade ago, she returned to Mississippi to start a career as a freelance writer and author. She is the author of over twelve books, writing nonfiction under her own name, and historical fiction under her pen name, Laura de Pre. An accidental discovery of her own genealogy led her to start the Three Graces Trilogy, set in 16th Century France during the time of her Huguenot ancestors. Her current project is a nonfiction exploration of the role of Christian Mysticism in the modern Episcopal Church. When not writing, she is a back- of -the -pack runner in local races, paints in acrylic and watercolor, and serves on the Vestry of St. Paul's Episcopal Church.
Old-Time Mississippi Fiddle Concert
October 22nd, 2022
On October 22nd, at 3 p.m. the Old Courthouse Museum in Iuka is planning an Old-Time Mississippi Fiddle Concert to raise awareness about two Tishomingo County fiddle players: John Alexander Brown and John Hatcher. During the height of the Great Depression, both of these men recorded fiddle music for the Works Progress Administration’s Mississippi folk music collection for the Library of Congress. Recording sessions were prearranged, and often several musicians gathered at one central location to meet “the sound wagon.”
John Hatcher was an “orphan boy” raised by his grandfather near Burnsville. Hatcher was a farmer and wood hauler and, for the recordings, was dressed in his Sunday-go-to-meeting suit with his hair neatly parted down the middle. He enjoyed playing at fiddle contests in Corinth and Sheffield, and for some time he played with the Tishomingo County Jamboree Boys on the radio in Jackson, Tennessee. His favorite, however, was playing at local dances and when folks took a break from dancing, Hatcher often sang. In the WPA recordings, Hatcher can be heard singing while John Brown plays “Wolves a-Howling”.
John Alexander Brown, father of 13, was 67 years old when he made his recording. He lived near Mill Creek. According to Albert Ferris, the project’s photographer, when Brown played “music animated his eyes, as he swayed from side to side. His interest, his enthusiasm to everything that he said, and his kindly attitude toward others made him delightful”. The story goes, when the recording wagon arrived in town, Brown was in the field plowing with his team of oxen. He came straight from the field to record so his dress was in sharp contrast to Hatcher. After recording, he said he had to hurry home because he “left his oxen in the field.”
On October 22nd, composer, performer, and music teacher Tim Avalon of Clinton, Mississippi will be performing a concert exclusively featuring songs by Hatcher and Brown. Mr. Avalon launched a career at the age of 13, thanks to his “Aunt Vangie” who gifted him with his first guitar. It was the beginning of a lifelong love-affair with music. Self-taught, he also mastered the banjo and mandolin and began playing professionally while in his teens joining rock and roll and country bands. The fiddle was next on the agenda, which he studied for a couple of years after learning that his grandfather had been an accomplished player. Since that time, Tim’s musical taste has developed to include Celtic, swing, jazz, bluegrass, and old-time.
For the past 40 years, he has been teaching private lessons at the Avalon School for String Instruments, with students ranging in age from 5 years to 90. Many of his students have won contests for the traditional musical forms at the State Fair or in fiddling competitions.
His awards and honors include state championship at the State Fair for two consecutive years in mandolin, and Mississippi Folk Artist of the Year, 2000. He is also the author of numerous old-time and Celtic tunes and has published a collection of Irish and Old Time Fiddle Tunes, a book of Traditional Music of Mississippi, and The Tim Avalon Alphabet Anthology which includes over 400 original tunes.
This concert will introduce a new exhibit on Hatcher and Brown at the Old Courthouse Museum and bring awareness to an ongoing effort to erect historical markers in honor of these two accomplished musicians.
We would like to extend a huge thank you to our sponsors, Tishomingo County Tourism Council, Drs. Nicholas and Adrienne Phillips, The Sparks CPA Firm of Iuka P.C., and Just A Kind Word Florist. As always, without the support of generous sponsors, as well as our Tishomingo County Board of Supervisors, events such as these would not be possible.
Tickets are $10 per person and are on sale now at the Old Courthouse Museum. To purchase, stop by Wednesday through Friday or call 662-423-3500.
John Hatcher was an “orphan boy” raised by his grandfather near Burnsville. Hatcher was a farmer and wood hauler and, for the recordings, was dressed in his Sunday-go-to-meeting suit with his hair neatly parted down the middle. He enjoyed playing at fiddle contests in Corinth and Sheffield, and for some time he played with the Tishomingo County Jamboree Boys on the radio in Jackson, Tennessee. His favorite, however, was playing at local dances and when folks took a break from dancing, Hatcher often sang. In the WPA recordings, Hatcher can be heard singing while John Brown plays “Wolves a-Howling”.
John Alexander Brown, father of 13, was 67 years old when he made his recording. He lived near Mill Creek. According to Albert Ferris, the project’s photographer, when Brown played “music animated his eyes, as he swayed from side to side. His interest, his enthusiasm to everything that he said, and his kindly attitude toward others made him delightful”. The story goes, when the recording wagon arrived in town, Brown was in the field plowing with his team of oxen. He came straight from the field to record so his dress was in sharp contrast to Hatcher. After recording, he said he had to hurry home because he “left his oxen in the field.”
On October 22nd, composer, performer, and music teacher Tim Avalon of Clinton, Mississippi will be performing a concert exclusively featuring songs by Hatcher and Brown. Mr. Avalon launched a career at the age of 13, thanks to his “Aunt Vangie” who gifted him with his first guitar. It was the beginning of a lifelong love-affair with music. Self-taught, he also mastered the banjo and mandolin and began playing professionally while in his teens joining rock and roll and country bands. The fiddle was next on the agenda, which he studied for a couple of years after learning that his grandfather had been an accomplished player. Since that time, Tim’s musical taste has developed to include Celtic, swing, jazz, bluegrass, and old-time.
For the past 40 years, he has been teaching private lessons at the Avalon School for String Instruments, with students ranging in age from 5 years to 90. Many of his students have won contests for the traditional musical forms at the State Fair or in fiddling competitions.
His awards and honors include state championship at the State Fair for two consecutive years in mandolin, and Mississippi Folk Artist of the Year, 2000. He is also the author of numerous old-time and Celtic tunes and has published a collection of Irish and Old Time Fiddle Tunes, a book of Traditional Music of Mississippi, and The Tim Avalon Alphabet Anthology which includes over 400 original tunes.
This concert will introduce a new exhibit on Hatcher and Brown at the Old Courthouse Museum and bring awareness to an ongoing effort to erect historical markers in honor of these two accomplished musicians.
We would like to extend a huge thank you to our sponsors, Tishomingo County Tourism Council, Drs. Nicholas and Adrienne Phillips, The Sparks CPA Firm of Iuka P.C., and Just A Kind Word Florist. As always, without the support of generous sponsors, as well as our Tishomingo County Board of Supervisors, events such as these would not be possible.
Tickets are $10 per person and are on sale now at the Old Courthouse Museum. To purchase, stop by Wednesday through Friday or call 662-423-3500.
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Camp Courthouse 2022 Thursday July 21, 2022
Featuring award winning educator Pat Arrinder and Southern HeArts ' Kristi Loveless, this year's Camp Courthouse is set for July 21st from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Camp Courthouse is a fun, informative experience open to kids aged 6-12. Lunch will be provided. From 11:00 to 12 :00 Mr. Pat Arrinder will be dressed in period clothing and will present a wide range of pioneer games and musical entertainment to regale local youth.
From 12:30 to 1:30 students get to experience the art of pottery. Kristi Loveless from Southern HeArts in Iuka will walk campers through the process of making one of a kind pieces of pottery. These pieces will be finished at the studio and ready for pickup two weeks after camp.
Let us put a little history and art into the hearts of your kids! Capacity is limited and all children MUST pre-register no later than July 15th. Cost is $10 to attend and must be paid at the time of online registration. For more information, call the museum at 662-423-3500 or email [email protected] or sign up at http://www.eventbrite.com/e/camp-courthouse-tickets-372199357297
Camp Courthouse is a fun, informative experience open to kids aged 6-12. Lunch will be provided. From 11:00 to 12 :00 Mr. Pat Arrinder will be dressed in period clothing and will present a wide range of pioneer games and musical entertainment to regale local youth.
From 12:30 to 1:30 students get to experience the art of pottery. Kristi Loveless from Southern HeArts in Iuka will walk campers through the process of making one of a kind pieces of pottery. These pieces will be finished at the studio and ready for pickup two weeks after camp.
Let us put a little history and art into the hearts of your kids! Capacity is limited and all children MUST pre-register no later than July 15th. Cost is $10 to attend and must be paid at the time of online registration. For more information, call the museum at 662-423-3500 or email [email protected] or sign up at http://www.eventbrite.com/e/camp-courthouse-tickets-372199357297
Thursday, July 14, 2022 2:00 pm
Owls are some of the most beautiful yet seldom seen animals in our area.
Take the opportunity on July 14th to learn more about these beautiful birds. Representatives from the Mississippi Wildlife Rehabilitation, Inc. will be on-hand at 2 p.m. to give a presentation on owls of the Mid-South.
Special guests will include MWR’s own ambassador birds!
This event is free and open to the public.
We would like to thank our friends at Tri State Educational Foundation for sponsoring this event.
Animalogy July 7, 1:00 pm
June 11, 2022
Restoration of the Mural Scenes
