Neighbors: Newton's McElroy Hoye House opens Thursday

The historic McElroy Hoye House will officially open to the public Thursday with a grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony 13 years after it was purchased by the Newton Historical Cultural Commission.

Welcoming guests will be

NHCC President Dorothy Turnage and City of Newton Mayor Murray Weems will welcome guests. State Sen. Terry C. Burton will be the keynote speaker for the celebration, which will begin at 10:30 a.m. Jerry Mixon will bless the house followed by a luncheon on the porch.

The McElroy Hoye House ca. 1861 was designated by the state as a Mississippi Landmark in 2006. On Feb. 2, 2017, the NHCC, Inc. officers and board members unveiled of the Mississippi State Historical marker on the front lawn of the house, located at 400 East Church St., Newton.

The marker memorializes a center hall planter’s cottage built in 1861 by Marine Watkins and the subsequent owners, Dr. J.C. McElroy in 1871 and Bettie Russell Hoye in 1891. The house remained in the Hoye family until it was purchased in 1972 by the First Baptist Church. The house and owners are both significant in the historic development of the town of Newton.

Since the move across the street in 2009, the house has gone through many rehabilitation projects. The first was to relocate the house, rebuild the house to its original floor plan and the addition of 1920s, secondly replace plumbing, electrical, central air and heat, handicapped parking, and bathroom facilities. The third project was the exterior of the house: painting, windows re-roped, restored front gallery and the double leaf doors.

Turnage said now that the interior is complete with period furniture and paintings, and the home will be known as an Art and Cultural Center with a museum flair to it.

“The next stage is to promote the house for the programs we want to incorporate, and also use for rental,” Turnage said. “We already have a wedding booked in August we are really excited about.

“We just hope the house will be a place people can come and enjoy with friends and family.”

Meridian writer honored

Foreword Reviews, a book review journal focusing on independently published books, recently announced the winners of its INDIES Book of the Year Awards. The awards recognize the best books published in 2017 from small, indie and university presses, as well as self-published authors.

Mississippi and the Great Depression, authored by Meridian resident Richelle Putnam and published by The History Press (Charleston, S.C.) was awarded the bronze medal in the Regional Non-Fiction Category.

More than 2,000 entries were submitted in 68 categories, with Foreword’s editors choosing the finalists, and a panel of more than 150 librarians and booksellers acting as judges to pick the winners.

All winners can be viewed at www.forewordreviews.com/awards/winners/2017.

Cheryl Owens writes the Neighbors column for The Meridian Star. Submit items for consideration to cowens@themeridianstar.com.