MERIDIAN: The GOOD, BAD and UGLY of Meridian, MS

[@morganstrickland0924]

It’s refreshing to see a positive review of my hometown. So much of our area not highlighted…Merrehope, Poplar Springs area. And yes, there is a huge push to renovate downtown. Also, Hartley Peavey started Peavy music in his basement here in Meridian.

[@ljacree5764]

I was just there today - visited the bank. I was impressed with the old-ish buildings. Thinking of buying a house & living there full time. Wish me luck!

[@Crazytraveladdicts]

❤️❤️🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@stephenmarshall7709]

I was stationed in Meridian Ms when I was in the Navy in 1979. The Naval Base was twenty something miles away. We had a community van that took us into town.

[@kingstongreen1658]

Nice Video👍🏼 Watching from Chicago

[@Titanandenceladus]

Did you guys see the Opera House (now the MSU Riley Center)? Its supposed to be gorgeous

[@Crazytraveladdicts]

Yes!!! We passed by!!!! It was beautiful ❤️

[@Titanandenceladus]

@@Crazytraveladdicts it's a shame you didn't get to see the inside

[@dianemarshall44]

What a shame y'all didn't head north to the Popular Springs area. I kept hoping y'all would turn 😊. I moved here a year ago & love it. Come back

[@Crazytraveladdicts]

We loved Meridian! We will definitely be back to the area sometime in the near future

[@darrellgossett5342]

At 2:00 you are passing the Temple Theater. You would be blown away if you went inside. Very ornate & the acoustics for a concert are amazing. You should also take a tour of Merrehope. It's a large antebellum home & one of the few that Gen. Sherman didn't burn to the ground on his march from Vicksburg to Atlanta.

[@Crazytraveladdicts]

We are definitely planning another trip to Meridian when it’s not a holiday weekend and everything is closed 🤦🏻‍♀️

[@montyreeves7302]

I've been a Lauderdale County resident most my life.

[@Crazytraveladdicts]

We loved Meridian❤️

[@cliffordholloway6291]

I enjoyed your tour of my hometown.... come visit again soon.

[@Crazytraveladdicts]

We loved Meridian! We are planning on coming back when more businesses are open!!!❤️❤️💀

[@danielmaxwell5633]

They just knocked down the ef young hotel which was a all African American hotel back in 1946 til late 70s

[@kendracummings538]

Thumbs-up for the info. Thumbs-down for the demolition of that historical landmark.

[@turhanruffin3201]

Downtown Meridian became ghostly when the mall was built in the early 1970s. Many of the stores from downtown moved to the mall which left the downtown area ghostly. The Threefoot building was originally an office building until most of the tenants vacated during 1990s. I am so happy the right people had the foresight to renovate and preserve this building. Before the mall was built. downtown was very lively with eateries, stores, pool rooms, movie theaters, and of course beauty/barber shops. Nice video!

[@Crazytraveladdicts]

Thank you for the information and for watching

[@kendracummings538]

Thank you for showing the area. I’m wondering how to recruit many folks from California and New York (and other expensive cities / states) to take back the South that our ancestors left in search of better opportunities. Can we make a mass exodus BACK to Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, etc and invest these California dollars in new business, revitalized homes and communities and live on LESS? I think we can if we’re willing to let go of the attractions we have for those places (enjoying the oceans, snow-skiing, mountain biking, etc.). #randomrants #wishfulthinking

[@rosalindmatteson3697]

You need to go up 8th Street to the colleges, you also need to go up Poplar Springs Drive. It has a lot of really nice houses. There is also North Hills to explore. I live across from the colleges.

[@Bambi595]

The story Michelle mentioned in the earlier portion of the video, is also based in the movie Mississippi Burning.

[@GeorgiaPeach513]

Yup

[@morganstrickland0924]

And yes, the cars are in front of apartments. The gray building with arched windows are renovated apartments. The furniture store you saw was Hulett Furniture. The church is Central United Methodist. Threefoot Brewery is new and always busy on the weekends. Have a daffodil day is in memory of a local girl killed several years ago-there’s a benefit done annually in her honor. Weidmanns Restaurant is a must do if you come back-it’s across from Threefoot hotel. You were a block from The Grand Opera House-also an absolutely beautiful restoration. Temple Theater is a landmark that is still used for shows/recitals/pageants etc. So much history here.

[@Crazytraveladdicts]

Thank you for all the great info! We will definitely be back to Meridian one of these days❤️

[@danielmaxwell5633]

Hulett furniture was owned by mr Fred hulett you can ride down state Blvd and you will see his old house he sold few years back it’s awesome built in early 1900s and has a bowling alley in it from 1900s he owned the house for 30 years when he closed the business he sold the house! The original builder built Marion park

[@jackiefloyd8003]

We were taught about Chaney, Goodman and Schwerner in school right along with the struggle for civil rights for black people in the 1960’s. Unfortunately, Mississippi is full of places where civil rights workers were killed. Medgar Evers is another famous case. I really wish they still taught this in school; it’s a disgrace it’s not.

[@Crazytraveladdicts]

Agree 100%

[@kendracummings538]

Thank you for showing the area. I’m wondering how to recruit many folks from California and New York (and other expensive cities / states) to take back the South that our ancestors left in search of better opportunities. Can we make a mass exodus BACK to Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, etc and invest these California dollars in new business, revitalized homes and communities and live on LESS? I think we can if we’re willing to let go of the attractions we have for those places (enjoying the oceans, snow-skiing, mountain biking, etc.). #randomrants #wishfulthinking

[@heartlogo2023]

Place Kinda looks like a clean homeless free version of OAKLAND, CA.

[@Master_Of_Chaos]

i moved to meridian Ms from bakersfield Ca and ii love it never wanna go back

[@Steve-h2k6q]

What you didn't see in your tour of Meridian is the Lauderdale County Courthouse with the Confederate statue in front standing on a very tall monolith. As I remember, several years ago there was a county-wide referendum on removing or leaving the statue in place. The voting public of Lauderdale County voted more than 60% to leave the Confederate Memorial in place. While Meridian is majority black, Lauderdale County is majority white. Don't forget you're in Mississippi where the Lost Cause dies hard.

[@Crazytraveladdicts]

Wow!! Thanks for the info!!

[@wileyj.amerson3580]

Nice tour but it was a whole lot more of Meridian to show than the few blocks that you guys showed.

[@Crazytraveladdicts]

Thank you for watching!!! Right now we tend to just focus on the downtown areas of the places we visit. Hopefully one of these days we will have more time to spend in the towns we visit so we can see as more! 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻😊😊😊

[@heartlogo2023]

Nice video. Good job!

[@Crazytraveladdicts]

Thank you ❤️

[@heartlogo2023]

You're welcome😸@@Crazytraveladdicts

[@heartlogo2023]

Kinda looks like a clean homeless free version of OAKLAND, CA. Nice intro music. U got SOUL...

[@RoderickMcCoy-h1t]

All you saw was the South side of town there’s way better places in Meridian

[@Madtwho]

I’m from Meridian. My great grandfather helped build the Threefoot building which is the tallest building in town that you can see from all over the downtown area. It’s a beautiful art deco building from 1929 with intricate and colorful tile stylized motifs that add to the building’s vibrant aesthetic appeal. The city was decimated multiple times over the years including by union general Sherman, multiple devastating fires, and a tornado. It was a booming railroad town in the late 1800's-early 1900's though you couldn't tell by how desolate it is now. Meridian was also the birthplace of Jimmie Rodgers a (the father of country music) who influenced countless future musicians and made quite an impact on not only country music, but American music in general. David Ruffin from the temptations was also from Meridian. My dad worked for Peavey Electronics (which was established in Meridian) for about 18 years, and I worked in a music shop that used to be located in the building where Hartley Peavey opened his first shop.

[@Crazytraveladdicts]

@@Madtwho thank you so much for watching and sharing your family roots with us❤️

[@robertbrouillette6767]

A lot of these old brick buildings downtown have the old lime cement. The brick is strong, but the mortar is going. Little by little they are coming down. But they are not structurally sound. The old E F Young Hotel came down here while back. The old Kress is now Mississippi State University branch. Be sure to head to the Queen City Truck Stop

[@Traci_rene]

Born and raised in meridian! There was definitely more to see in other parts of town. But if I heard correctly it was a holiday that’s why it was like a ghost town.

[@jessicadonato887]

Interesting 🧐, lot’s of history, nice houses 🏡, but there is a lot of sadness and loneliness in Meridian…by the way, despite some cars that I saw moving, are there any humans in Meridian?🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@Crazytraveladdicts]

We made the video on Memorial Day morning so it was a bit of a ghost town around there lol

[@jessicadonato887]

@@Crazytraveladdicts ahhh ok 😉♥️

[@danielmaxwell5633]

There is so much history in meridian you wouldn’t believe I could tell you about Sherman coming through and burning meridian to the ground during the civil war to a women named ma shumate and her no tell motel. Meridian was once beautiful it was the Queen City I could show you in 1900s meridian lined with rows of mansions! But corruption has seen it fall apart! Just a few will keep up the old buildings that were built to last! Little by little they put money into 3 ft building a x nfl qb has bought the union hotel! Weidmanns (opened in 1870) is still going strong and has brought back things from the original owners! We need a strong mayor and city council tho bc crime has taken over the city.

[@kendracummings538]

Thank you for showing the area. I’m wondering how to recruit many folks from California and New York (and other expensive cities / states) to take back the South that our ancestors left in search of better opportunities. Can we make a mass exodus BACK to Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, etc and invest these California dollars in new business, revitalized homes and communities and live on LESS? I think we can if we’re willing to let go of the attractions we have for those places (enjoying the oceans, snow-skiing, mountain biking, etc.). #randomrants #wishfulthinking

[@heartlogo2023]

Say word@@kendracummings538

[@carrollmccoun110]

For a town with a 25% poverty rate and such a high crime rate Meridian continues to thrive and grow. I am a lifetime Mississippi native and also a over the road truck driver. I've seen towns with much lower poverty rates and much less crime. Those cities are on a downward spiral and is not as beautiful as Meridian Ms. It must be another one of those," Wonder Why's ".

[@mothermayhem1566]

I loved meridian when I went there i would really like to move there

[@Crazytraveladdicts]

We will definitely be going back! Lovely place

[@robertbrouillette6767]

I live in Meridian. I remember the restoration of the Threefoot Hotel. And all the rest of downtown.

[@danielmaxwell5633]

And David Ruffin was born in whynot ,Ms and lol yea that’s kinda exactly what the ruins was but it was a rental venue with a bar it was really pretty too but it’s closed I believe now it just opened in like 18-19 I believe I’m sure covid got it

[@Crazytraveladdicts]

Yeah, Covid took out way too many businesses everywhere!

[@doublea3295]

My Great Grandmother married Uncle David Dad her name is Earline Ruffin My grandmother use to live in the alley across from the Blue Bar Her house burned down yearsssss ago Uncle David did visit my grandmother in the alley

[@doublea3295]

My Great Grandmother married Uncle David Dad her name is Earline Ruffin My grandmother use to live in the alley across from the Blue Bar Her house burned down yearsssss ago Uncle David did visit my grandmother in the alley

[@marniebell5617]

I used to live in Meridian. My family moved there in 1978.

[@Blairbee095]

The ruins was a outdoor patio like bar but the building it was connected to was falling apart so they’re going to knock the whole thing down

[@Crazytraveladdicts]

Thank you for the info

[@arthuradams6561]

I grew up there, and Meridian has a racist history. I did NOT encounter it when i was growing up, but the older folks like my grandparents told me stories of the KKK parading through the middle of the Black community. Plus, there were doctors that required Blacks to enter from the back door, and whites to enter through front door.Chaney grew up in a house four blocks from where i lived.They defnitely had a race problem because we have NEVER had a Prom at the highschool, due to parents not wanting to have the races together. and it is one of the largest highschools in the State. The highschool is 90 % Black and 10 % white now. It used to be about 50/50, but there was a lot of 'White' flight from the city. Mississipi is not the great place you say it is, just yesterday on NBC National news it was reported by Lester Holt, a six man group of Policeman called the GOON SQUAD were convicted for beating Black men, sexually assaulting them, and not getting warrants to enter there home.....and that was in Mississippi. Mississippi is still Racist Mississippi.

[@Crazytraveladdicts]

Oh wow!!! There is definitely a lot of history there! Unfortunately it seems to be the same in most of the southern states.

[@arthuradams6561]

@@Crazytraveladdicts Yes, you are so right. I have to admit. After living in Denver , Colorado. The South seemed even worse. I do love the weather. I am back in Baton Rouge now. I enjoyed your post. Safe Travels !

[@robertbrouillette6767]

Follow the signs to Poplar Springs Drive and 24 th Avenue.

[@robertbrouillette6767]

Don’t forget the mural for Jimmie Rodgers, the Father of Country Music

[@kylehyde215CA]

I know it's probably been a while, but a second brewery?

[@PastorDanWhite]

Renovating a house on Meridian is sending good money after bad. No way could someone get their money back much less sell it for a profit. Meridian is in big trouble. The money has gone to the coast where the casinos are.

[@lanceparker4796]

My dad's hometown.

[@cedricfleming3045]

Put Natchez, Mississippi as one of your future places to visit.

[@Crazytraveladdicts]

Will definitely do that thanks!👍✌️

[@burnedoils]

love my meridian, naysayer-grass-greener-in-another-city can get wasted

[@MrBreezy226]

Im from there that church is older than me and I'm 47

[@Crazytraveladdicts]

Oh wow!!!

[@RoderickMcCoy-h1t]

This was a very bad video you rode around for thirty minutes on the south side of town in circles next time go to the north side or to Bonita Park or Highland Park go Briarwood or Northhills and Northhills County Club Meridian MS has way more offer than this video shows next time just get off one side of town

[@ElijahTanksley-e1d]

I’m from meridian nice review the story of meridian is not black and white…. it’s the have and have nots…. So when you said 50 50 you were right… but you all didn’t make it to the nice part of town lol

[@arthuradams6561]

A;lso, Mississippi has ridiculous laws. They have said at some restaurants Blacks sit on one side, and Whites on the oppopsite side ( that is NOT going on in Meridian though ). This is 2024 and the lawmakers still think Stupidly like that.They even were planning to pass a law that prohibited Black Policeman from pulling over Whites for speeding, and stop White Policeman fron pulling over Black drivers. That is simply ridiculous !! In regard to Meridian, It is just a few People that have compamies that requires citizenry for there workforce, and when other companies were trying to move to Meridian, it was suggested that too many obstacles prevented it. This is why a 50,000 population has dwindled to 35.000. I was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and the best place i have ever lived is definitely.......DENVER, COLORADO !

[@Crazytraveladdicts]

Wow, that is crazy!!!!! We love Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Montana….. hubby would love to live there one day but i don’t know that we could survive the cold winters! Georgia is bad enough lol

[@arthuradams6561]

There was NEVER a Prom at Meridian Highschool due to parents not wanting the Black & White kids together. I never heard of school dances where the races were together of any kind. The highschool has many more teams for its students now. ( i.e. Bowling, Archery, Swim, Chess, along with Golf, Basketball, Baseball, Girls Softball, Track, Tennis, Weightlifting, and Football ). In 2013, The Justice Department announced that, jointly with the Meridian Public School District in Meridian, Miss., and private plaintiffs, it has filed a landmark consent decree to prevent and address racial discrimination in student discipline in district schools. If approved by the court, the proposed consent decree will resolve the department’s investigation into complaints that the district unlawfully and disproportionately subjects black students to suspension, expulsion and school-based arrest, often for minor infractions. In the course of the investigation, the department found that black students frequently received harsher disciplinary consequences, including longer suspensions, than white students for comparable misbehavior, even where the students were at the same school, were of similar ages, and had similar disciplinary histories. The consent decree would amend a longstanding federal school desegregation decree enforced by the United States, which prohibits the district from discriminating against students based on race.

[@arthuradams6561]

Just yesterday, Lester Holt reported on NBC News that a group of six Policeman called the GOON SQUAD was convicted in Mississippi for sexually abusing, beating, and entering the homes of Black Men, and have been operating for ten years or so with no reprimand from Sheriffs. Mississippi is still Racist Mississippi.

[@arthuradams6561]

There are Many, Many, MANY , more interesting places in USA than Meridian, Ms . ( ,,,and Jackson too )

[@Crazytraveladdicts]

Yes, we went through part of the delta region and saw many small, interesting towns. We hope to make it back one day soon❤️❤️

[@patrickshaneomarra5162]

Meridian could be so much more if they would elect a Republican.

[@arthuradams6561]

The State as a whole is Republican. That is a Repuplican Governor that was in the Southern Miss. University Scandal with former NFL QB Brett Favre. They stole millions from the poor , in the state's Welfare Coffers, to give to a University for building a Volleyball Arena. So, Electing a Republican could do so much more...ILLEGALLY !