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  THE OLD COURTHOUSE MUSEUM
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Lunch Lecture Series 
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. 
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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.
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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 tish.courthousemuseum@gmail.com or sign up at http://www.eventbrite.com/e/camp-courthouse-tickets-372199357297 

Thursday, July 14, 2022 2:00 pm

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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

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June 11, 2022

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Camp Courthouse 2022  Thursday July 21, 2022

​​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!

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 On July  7th at 1:00 pm Bob from Animalogy,  along with his wildlife friends, will be visiting the Old Courthouse Museum.  The program is a presented by professional wildlife biologists and include resident wildlife friends and new Spring babies. The event is free and open to the public. 
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Randy Brown presented History of Mexican American War.

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Local baseball hero Tommy Dean sharing his history at Renaissance Day 2022

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Autry David "The Poetry Man" entertained full rooms throughout the day.

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Jimmy Don Whitfield and Lamar "Fuzz" Bolton showing off their vintage tractors. 

Tinsel and Trees 2019!

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Second Annual "Vote Yes to the Dress!"

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The Old Courthouse Museum in Iuka was once called “The Marriage Capital of the South".  On this site more than 44,000 couples were married.  Since there was no three day waiting period and since marriage licenses were issued to individuals as young as 14 years old, couples would cross state lines from Tennessee and Alabama to marry in Iuka.

​According to legend, ministers and Justices of the Peace would race to the cars outside in order to be the first to marry the betrothed couples and earn the $5 fee.

We would like to remind everyone to bring your wedding dress and wedding photo to the museum starting on Thursday, July 24.  This event has been postponed until further notice due to the COVID-19 pandemic

This year we will also be accepting preserved wedding dresses. Winners will be announced on Heritage Day. 

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For more information, contact Chairperson Kathy Everitt at 662-423-9962.

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Camp Courthouse 2019

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  • Home
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  • About Us
  • Location
  • Camp Courthouse 2019
  • Book our Venue for Weddings and Events
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  • Kyle Carpenter/Trees
  • New Page
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