Meridian's #1 Soul Singer – Jimmy Ruffin

Another Piece Of Meridian History

E. F. Young, Jr. Hotel opened in 1946, with a barber shop, shoe shine parlor and beauty shop
at 500 25th Ave. (corner of 5th Street) Meridian, MS

The founding father of the company, Eugene Fred Young, Jr. was born about the turn of the 20th century in Russell, Mississippi. His father, Reverend E. F. Young, Sr., a minister and farmer, laid a firm foundation of honesty, integrity, and industriousness for his son to grow up under. E. F. Young, Jr. seemed like a normal, quiet, average boy, but little did anyone realize that this young man would become the entrepreneur of one of this country's finest black owned manufacturing companies.

In 1927, E. F. Young, Jr. finished school from Haven Teacher's College. It was there that he received an extensive background in Business and Chemistry. Being black and with very little work experience, he found it extremely difficult to secure a job or start a business. While in school, however, he started to work part-time in a barber shop and as a cab driver. He later decided to pursue a fulltime career as a barber. E. F. Young, Jr. married Miss Velma E. Beal in 1927.

In 1931, after having had worked in the barber shop for four (4) years, he purchased it from the owner. He noticed while working in the shop that there was a need in the marketplace for a maintenance line of products for Black hair. E.F, Jr. began to formulate and manufacture samples at night in the privacy of his kitchen. During the day he used and sold his preparations to customers in the barber shop. The demand for his products became so great that he was forced to go into the manufacturing business.

In 1933, E. F. Young, Jr. Manufacturing Company received its official trademark from the U.S. Patent Office in Washington, D.C. By this time, however, thousands of satisfied customers were spreading the word about the new revelation. The company grew and prospered and by 1945, E. F. Young, Jr. products were household items to hundreds of thousands of people. The demand for the product line was so great that E.F. Young, Jr. opened a second manufacturing location in Chicago, IL.

In 1950 tragedy struck, E. F. Young, Jr. died after a long terminal illness. It was at this time that his wife, Velma Young, had to assume to responsibility of the business because her oldest son, Charles, Sr. was only 19 years old and still in school at Tennessee State University.

Downtown Meridian

From a very good photographer identified only as Rebecca B.

Her description:

Front Street Meridian, MS

Front Street. Not much left downtown but if you are downtown Meridian

and like old fashioned home cooking, you have to eat at Jean's restaurant.

It's packed at lunchtime, practically a landmark. There are several vintage

and antique shops to poke around in. And Amy's (the purple shop with

the green awning) always has great gift items. I like wandering around

and seeing all of the old buildings being put to good use again.

An Inspiration.

Midnight, Mississippi

Yes, there is a Midnight, Mississippi.

Midnight is an unincorporated community located in Humphreys County, Mississippi. Midnight is approximately 5 miles (8.0 km) north of Louise and 5 miles (8.0 km) southwest of Silver City along Mississippi Highway 149.

Although Midnight is unincorporated, it has a zip code of 39115. Population in 2010 was less than 200 people.

Meridian's Chris Ethridge - Bass Guitar

Nice tribute to a Home Boy, Chris Ethridge.

Gone: 4/23/12. Rest In Peace, Chris. Ave Atque Vale

Chris Ethridge (born 1947 in Meridian, Mississippi) is an American country rock bass guitarist.

Jacky Jack White hosted a tribute to local legend Chris Ethridge at the Sucarnochee Review on July 2, 2010 in the historic Temple Theatre, Meridian, MS. Chris’s mother attended and Chris’s brothers, Tommy and Joey, also musicians, performed with their groups.

Career

Ethridge began playing in local bands in the South before moving to California aged 17, having been spotted in Biloxi. He played with Joel Scott Hill before joining Gram Parsons in ISB. He played with Parsons after the end of ISB, and again after Parsons left The Byrds, before cofounding the Burrito Brothers with him. He played bass and piano on The Gilded Palace of Sin, but left before Burrito Deluxe. When Parsons left the Burritos, Ethridge played with him again, touring with Byron Berline, Emmylou Harris, Clarence White, Gene Parsons, Sneaky Pete Kleinow, and Roland White.Ethridge left the Burritos again in February 1976, returning to session work. He has been a session musician throughout his career, recording with many leading country-tinged acts, including Judy Collins, Johnny Winter, Ry Cooder, Leon Russell, Randy Newman, Linda Ronstadt,The Byrds and Jackson Browne. He also toured with Willie Nelson's band for almost eight years and later played with the Kudzu Kings.

With the Flying Burrito Brothers. Chris is at the far right. Click on.

Eudora Welty- also a photographer.

Before she was a writer she was a photographer.
Photos are titled: "Sunday Morning", "Underwear" and "Kite"..

More of her work shown here.

We all know this.

FYI

Meridian's own, Paul Davis.

1966 or '67 (?)

April 1948 – April 2008 R.I.P.




Singer/songwriter Paul Davis, who had a hit with the 1977 song “I Go Crazy” died in Meridian, MS. on April 22, 2008.

According to his cousin, James Edwards, Davis died of a heart attack at Rush Foundation Hospital. Edwards said Davis had come back to the city he grew up in to retire, after living in New York and Nashville.

Davis also had hits with "A Little Bit Of Soap", "65 Love Affair", "Sweet Life" and “Ride ‘Em Cowboy.”

May be from the South...

Sarah McLachlan

Lake Okeechobee, Fl- Fishing w/Son.

 Photos: #1 At dawn, #2 9lbs.10oz, #3 Snowy Egrets

Nelva Court & Restaurant

Click on to enlarge.

Above Nelva photos attribution:

Ginger Brook @deepfriedkudzu.com

"Copyright, DeepFriedKudzu.com.

Used with permission."

There is little or no information about many of our old places. The Meridian Star is provides very little help. I had to dig to pick up these diary entries from a dead lady.

This diary is now the property of Ohio State University.

A LIFE REVEALED:

THE DIARY OF GLADYS BOLON COOPER

(1939-1989) 345 pages. This is from Volume IV

JANUARY 1,1967 to DECEMBER 31,1975

Page 14

THURSDAY, MARCH 23,1967 Left motel (after breakfast there) at ten 'till seven. Weather like summer, redbuds in bloom. Ate lunch roadside table. I drove 55 miles. Country not very interesting. Drove to Meridan, Mississippi. Stayed at Nelva Hotel, where we stayed last November. $8.50 after Charles told her what AAA listed. She had charged us $9.00. Had dinner at Nelva Restaurant. $1.60.

Page 77

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1968 Beautiful day. We had breakfast at Ackleys. Margaret packed us a lunch. Left at ten of eight. Got mixed up and drove about 10 miles out of our way. Bought rolls at Birmingham and ate lunch in the parking lot there. I drove 43 miles. Got to Meridian. Motel, Nelva at 4:30. $9.00 and tax. Had been warm driving but heater in motel felt good. Had a good chicken dinner at the Nelva Restaurant! $1.50. $2.36 total.