Jackson Jambalaya

'Why we can't have nice things anymore'. Take a drive down this street now...

Wow. Can't say I ever remember seeing a street/neighborhood where so many of the houses had metal awnings over doors and windows. Surprisingly, a LOT of them are still up and the street/houses actually looks pretty good according to Google Earth. This street runs between Robinson Road and St. Charles, just a couple blocks or so east of Provine High.

Clarification: The street/houses look pretty good, but the yards for the most part are no where near as nice as in 1959.

12:17 you can't drive down this street anymore. The potholes will swallow your car.

My grandparents lived on Mt. Vernon Ave. from the 40's until their deaths in 1960 and 1970. Their yard was always loaded with beautiful azaleas. My grandfather was awarded Yard of the Month several times as well as Prettiest Yard in the City. During that time most all of the residents of the area worked hard to keep their yards looking very nice. It sure is nice to see this film of a time when Jackson still had many beautiful areas.

Speaking of the metal awnings, my grandparents had them. In the days when air conditioning was rare the awnings allowed one to keep their windows open during periods of rain to provide cross ventilation. They also shaded the windows from direct sunlight.

Thanks for something positive about Jackson, even if it was 60 years ago!

Notice there is no cars parked up in the yard. Not any trash anywhere on the street or in the yards. Lawns cut. Look at the street. Not a single pothole anywhere.
Where did Jackson go wrong?

P.S. I failed to mention that the Google Earth pix were from 2014. Yeah, I know a lot can happen in 3-4 years, especially to Jackson streets!

KF,

Thank you for posting this video!

It reminds us of a very different time in society. One of respect, self reliance, decency and civic pride.

Fun to watch!

The photos bring back good memories from the 1960's. Back when the zoo was thriving and growing, public parks were safe, Western Plaza was a place to go for shopping and food (mostly Shoney's), and there was an outdoor drive-in movie theater nearby. Later came nearby Metro Center which spawned numerous restaurants and other commercial businesses along HWs 18 and 80, most of which are now gone as per JJ's Matchbook Mondays.

What happened?

All these questions about what happened? Everybody left soon after integration. And those that stayed died out. And the houses got old. Same thing that will happen in Ridgeland and Pearl and Byram. Dump the little starter houses on people with little financial means and watch how long they last.

Right next to Arbor Vista. Arbor Vista and Pecan Blvd were pretty swanky digs back around that time.

Where did Jackson go wrong? Really folks are so naive as to ask that? I grew up 1959-72 on Springfield circle behind Mynelle Gardens. I attended French elementary, Hardy Jr High the year of forced busing 69-70 then later Jackson Prep when we moved northeast after the projects came in off White Rock rd/ Country Club drive in fall 1972
My granddaddy’s home and property became the Reformed Theological Seminary after his death in the mid 60s. My maternal grandmother was on Eisenhower now a wasteland and later Lexington. Part of the areas bordering the old Fyke land near St Mary’s was pretty swank by West jackson measures.

It’s all gone now. Most of West and south Jackson will become like Eisenhower drive eventually

Walking Dead looking yet everyone pretends not to know why

My ancestors were right to fear the future. And I was a hopeless youthful liberal too stupid to realize it

It’s just sad, it’s sure not how well meaning folks like my dad or grandpa or Pete Freirson hoped it would