What really concerns me is the former Yazoo & Mississippi Valley RR Station that is being renovated and there's no flood wall behind it. This morning as we drove down the hill, facing the Yazoo Diversion Canal, I took this picture. At the bottom of the hill to the right, a new flood wall is being built, closing off the street in front of the building. It's probably being constructed to save the riverfront murals. I would think the depot is in jeopardy big time!
According to Wikipedia, the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley RR was incorporated in 1882 and was part of the Illinois Central Railroad system (IC). Construction began in Jackson, MS, and continued to Yazoo City, MS. The line was later expanded through the MS Delta and on to Memphis, TN. In 1982, the IC bought the Memphis-New Orleans Louisville, New Orleans and TX Railway and they later purchased the MS & TN Railroad. These lines were merged into the Y&MV.
Between 1945 and 1946 the IC began to absorb its subsidiaries and the Yazoo and MS Valley RR ceased to operate as an independent railroad.
I have a love of trains because my Grandfather, James E. Love, was a telegraph operator for the IC RR for 50 years. He was originally from New Orleans and came to Vicksburg when my Dad was 9 years old. We would get passes when I was young and ride the trains! What great memories! I would really hate to see this historical building take on water.
Entrance - Floodgate
Looking toward Horizon Casino and the Exit from the waterfront.
Exit from the waterfront closed. The Horizon Casino boat is in a cofferdam.
6 comments:
Marian, I'm with you...it seems to me that some effort would already be in progress to protect that building...it's been there a lot longer than the murals.
Thanks for your comment was21. I saw no effort today...hopefully, something will be done quickly!
Marian ... I'm a train chaser who grew up in the Delta. I think my first chase was as a 5-year-old in my Daddy's pickup from Yazoo City down to Satartia and it was a steam engine! How much water did the depot catch in 1973 and 1993? Was up there Saturday and water was trickling through the manhole cover over near rhe floodgate ... a friend sent me a photo from Sunday, and water was lapping at the top step.
http://rcs74.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2527523
Best regards ... John Walker, Bogalusa, La. (formerly Louise and Greenville)
John - when I was younger and visiting my Aunt and Uncle in Chaffee, MO, my Aunt and I would get in there car and chase my Uncle's train (Frisco Lines) headed to Memphis. It was so much fun and he would blow his whistle and we would blow the car horn. You brought back a lot of memories for me.
In 1973 and 1993, I don't recall the Depot getting water. I saw where it was coming in and hate to see what's happening. They are renovating it now and had to stop work on it because of the flooding...now is will cost more to get it back like it was. Thanks for the picture you sent. It's very depressing to see that and it will get worse.
Best regards to you as well and thanks for stopping by John.
Marian - Dogged determination led me to discover your blog. I've been mining Google for several hours, searching for answers as to why a treasure like this was not afforded protection.
Several dozen HESCO Baskets could have made a difference.
I've written several emails, one to a "Laurel" at the Visitors & Convention Bureau in Vicksburg, seeking answers as to why, with weeks of warnings, this structure was not protected.
I author a rail blog www.oil-electric.com and am writing a followup article to my last entry, concerning Barnes and Tallulah Louisiana and the rail connection to Delta, Louisiana, during the 1927 floods.
You have a nice blog, interesting stuff. Let's find some answers!
Regards,
Robert (McDonald) in Port Townsend
www.oil-electric.com
Thanks Robert for coming by my site. In fact, I just saw where you came by and left a comment here and it's late Sat. night.
I sent you an email today at my other email account and gave you a name that you can try to get in touch with. Good Luck on finding the answers!
Appreciate your kind words about my blog and I will be checking your blog out as well.
Take care. Marian :)
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