Tombigbee Tales

A Dark Chapter in Columbus, Mississippi’s History: The Era of Lynching

In the decades following the American Civil War, a disturbing phenomenon gripped the Deep South - the practice of lynching. This extrajudicial killing of individuals, predominantly African Americans, served as a brutal method of racial control and intimidation. This narrative explores this dark chapter in Southern history, examining its causes, patterns, and lasting impact on American society.

The Sykes Family of Aldan Hall

 The story of James Williams Sykes CSA and his family is more than just a tale of one man or one family. It's a microcosm of the Antebellum South. And it captures the complexities, the contradictions, and the ultimate tragedy of a society on the brink of monumental change. 

Leon and Ina Ellis and the Luck of the Irish

Leon Cicero Ellis, was the first in his family to complete high school, after which he packed his bags and headed to Chicago to enter college and then to attend and graduate from medical school at what is now Rush University. Chicago is about an eight-hour train ride north of Possum Town and over his collegiate years, I am sure Doc made that trip many a time. During one of those visits home, Leon proposed to his high school sweetheart and they made plans to be married after he completed med school.

The History and Mystery of Aldan Hall (1839) in Columbus, MS

Nestled at 901 7th Avenue North Aldan Hall, is a structure rich with history dating back to the antebellum era. Originally known as the Topp-Sykes Home, this frontier-style residence was constructed around 1839. The initial design featured a simple two-over-two layout, typical of homes built during this period in the American South. 
Aldan Hall is on this year’s Columbus, MS spring pilgrimage. Miss Betty Bryan has said it is her last year to host it herself. Come see this treasured home!

Baskerville Manor- A Columbus Legacy of Strong Families

Hamilton Hall (now Baskerville Manor), built in the Italianate style popular in the antebellum South, was constructed in the late 1850s by the Whitfield family. The house featured characteristic elements of the style, such as columns, a symmetrical shape, a tower, and a wide entryway. The Whitfield's wedding present sold the home to the Hatch's. Marcellus Hatch lost the home to Richard Moore in a poker game. Moore's descendants sold the home to the Hamiltons - relatives of President Andrew Jackson's wife Rachel. The Hamiltons' purchase and subsequent care of this historic home demonstrated their commitment to preserving Columbus's architectural heritage. A legacy that continues today is now named Baskerville Manor. 

The Moton Family - Builders of Twelve Gables Columbus MS

In the annals of American history, individual stories often intertwine with broader historical narratives, creating a tapestry that illuminates our understanding of the past. The Morton family, particularly siblings Whitfield "Whit" Morton and Martha "Matt" Elizabeth Morton, exemplify this intersection between personal and national history during the tumultuous period of the American Civil War and its aftermath.

The Playboy Photoshoot at White Arches and Southern Womanhood

...And in 1981 her daughter, a college student at one of the finer institutions of the South became one of the Girls of the Southeastern Conference part 1 in Playboy's September issue at a photoshoot held in White Arches in Columbus, Mississippi. 
Yep, in all their glory lovely ladies from all over the SEC converged on Columbus, Mississippi to show as my daddy would say, “their name, address, and phone number” in various provocative poses at White Arches. Playboy photographers David Chan and Arny Freytag posed the girls in various stages of undress on the verandah, the front parlor, the library, on wicker chairs, and on leather wingbacks. The high beds and antique lamps never looked prettier set off by the coquettish co-eds. Why does the wholesome nursing student leaning on the porch rails look like the girl next door partially wearing some man’s oversized button-down falling off her shoulders? And Miss Alabama looks fit to be “tide” on the back verandah. 
I wonder where they are now? Would they come back and tell of their experience with Playboy?

Twelve Gables and the First Decoration Day in Columbus, MS

The legacy of Twelve Gables and Miss Matt Morton, like the holiday it helped inspire, has become a cherished part of American heritage—a testament to the power of compassion to heal even the deepest of wounds. It stood not just as a beautiful example of antebellum architecture but as a monument to the human spirit's capacity for forgiveness and the enduring strength of a nation united in remembrance.

James O. Banks Jr. Naval Engineer

James Banks was born on July 27, 1900, in Columbus, Mississippi, at Bent Oaks Plantation. He came from a family with military history - his grandfather was Colonel James O. Banks who fought in the Confederate Army. As a young man, Banks attended Franklin Academy and Stephen D. Lee High School in his hometown while living at the Banks Harris Home (White Arches). He then went on to study at the Tennessee Military Academy before graduating from Annapolis in 1925.

White Arches and Col. James O. Banks

*Columbus, Mississippi - November 10, 1904*
The morning fog hung heavy over Columbus as news spread through the town - Colonel James O. Banks, one of Mississippi's most respected citizens, had drawn his final breath at 5 o'clock that morning. The mournful tolling of church bells echoed through the streets as black crepe appeared on doorways. At Merchant's Bank, the American flag flew at half-mast. As townspeople gathered in hushed groups outside the Banks family home on College Street, sharing stories of the man they'd known, a remarkable life story began to unfold.