Two historic Mississippi landmarks in Jackson that once were on the top ten most endangered historic places, are being rescued.
A non-profit group announced their big plans to the public this morning.
In an old, historic district of Jackson where many homes are threatened by demolishment for new development, two homes with unique history have stood the test of time and today, a group of artists, professors and architects announced a year-long project to revive these relics and open them to the public.
The two homes were built in the 1890s by formerly enslaved Mary Green Scott and later owned by her daughter; a respected midwife in the community.
The major renovations underway are an effort to maintain the families’ legacies and to also add something extra special to this historic district.
The Scott Ford Houses sit at 136 and 138 Cohea Street in the Ferish Street District.
The Fords’ and their descendants owned the properties for more than a century.
Mary’s daughter, Lula Ford, witnessed the Civil Rights Movement in the city and then in 1996, another descendant donated the homes to non-profit Scott Ford House Incorporated.
After an anticipated year of restoration, the houses will serve as a museum and interpretive center of the Mississippi midwives story, as well as an informative visitor hub for civil rights sites in the area.
“We understand that the preservation of history is extremely important in helping to show people where we come from and to provide a vision of where we would like to go,” said co-organizer Dr. Safiya Omari.”
Organizers say the exteriors will be adorned in art by artists from local colleges.
“Telling the story of the Scotts and the Fords by having these paintings done is going to benefit awareness of the houses and the effort to restore them.”
