Wlox the turkey creek community is working to restore a piece of its history. Work begins on restoration of turkey creek landmark. The battle for turkey creek follows the painful but inspiring journey of derrick evans, a boston teacher who moves home to coastal mississippi when the graves of his ancestors are bulldozed to make way for the sprawling city of gulfport. Open yearround, turkey creek water park with its 250acre lake, attracts travelers from many areas. Together, audubon and community leaders in gulfport, mississippi are protecting turkey creek s rich cultural and natural history. You can enjoy fishing and skiing on a beautiful 250 acre. A different take on turkey creeks epic story tonight on. They have been the primary contributors to the establishment of the turkey creek greenway plan and the turkey creek watershed plan. I realized that the celebration of our history, the documentation of our history. Mississippi habitat restoration and conservation in turkey creek phase i this project seeks to conserve important habitat and enhance water quality in the 30,000acre turkey creek watershed through habitat and stream conservation and restoration. The following is an excerpt from an interview with the filmmaker. Thames, hardy history teacher page gulfport school district. Evans returns to preserve his hometowns cultural history and soon becomes a community organizer and environmental justice champion by necessity. From the coast of africa to the homestead of skuna valley mississippi comes a twisted tale of hoodoo magic, slavery, rape, torture, and murder.
It is no coincidence that the 1866 settlement of turkey creek by. This is a list of large cities closest to turkey creek, ms. Neither designation is enough to stop development, said trisha miller, a staff attorney with the washington, d. Volunteers spent the morning saturday cleaning graffiti from the walls of the turkey creek head. Something so historical, cultural, and spiritual about all of the characters and the.
Based in biloxi, mississippi, jeff rosenberg is the mississippi gulf. The event had to be postponed from july because of rain, but officials with the park. The turkey creek section of gulfport, mississippi, a predominantly. Jan 09, 2019 established in 1866 by freedmen, the turkey creek community was named for the creek on which it is located. The turkey cre ek community historic district, located in the north part of gulfport, harrison county, mississippi represents a surviving example of a local community established by newly emancipated african americans during the reconstruction era.
In 2001, derrick evans, a civil rights historian and teacher living in boston, and his longtime friend leah mahan, an acclaimed filmmaker, began to document the history of turkey creek, a historic africanamerican community in coastal mississippi. Check flight prices and hotel availability for your visit. Located in the midst of gulfport, mississippi, this africanamerican community was originally established in 1866 by freed slaves during the forty acres and mule era of reconstruction after the u. Located just off highway 15, five miles southwest of decatur, the park is one of the most popular water skiing spots around attracting skiers as early as midmarch. The reconstruction era settlement was founded by evans emancipated ancestors in 1866. Residents will enjoy the full splendor of taylor morrisons signature esplanade brand from active recreation to relaxing pursuits. History weyerhaeuser company began more than 100 years ago with 900,000 acres of timberland, three employees and a small office in tacoma, washington.
The turkey creek watershed encompasses a mix of rural and urban land use areas in. The battle for turkey creek with leslie fields sierra club director of environmental justice and community partnerships, reilly morse director of mississippi center for justice, derrick evans of turkey creek, mississippi and cofounder of bridge the gulf and me, leah mahan, director and. Established in 1866 by freedmen, the turkey creek community was named for the creek on which it is located. In 1866, a small group of recently emancipated africanamericans exercised their newly acquired rights of citizenship, propertyownership and selfdetermination to purchase and settle the 320 acres or eight forties that came to be known as the turkey creek community. Whether youve got an rv or just love to pitch your tent, turkey fork has a spot for you that includes a campfire ring, access to water, showers, a dump station and restrooms. Turkey creek topo map in copiah county, mississippi. During this critically important period of american history, the thirteenth amendment. Looking for justice at turkey creek rethinking schools. From the coast of africa to the homestead of skuna valley mississippi c. Settlement patterns in the gulfport area reflect the areas long history. The film follows local derrick evans struggle to defend the coastal mississippi watershed where his ancestors settled as former slaves. Rbanism u ew n cnuc governors commission mississippi renewal.
Jan 07, 2014 turkey creek, mississippi lies at the very crossroads of americas most noble and ignoble traditions. Preziosi checked up on a resident who is on the board. Founded in 1900 by frederick weyerhaeuser, weve grown to become one of the largest sustainable forest products companies in the world. In mississippi, history is now a salvage job the new. Dollars and sense magazine and textbooks provide analysis and opinion on. Battle for turkey creek and chapters in the books freedom writer teachers and a. In 2001, the mississippi heritage trust named the neighborhood one of the states 10 most endangered historic places. It got its name because a creek actually runs through it. You can choose to have your event in the oak grove overlooking the 6 acre lake, on the. Jan 19, 2006 north gulfport is home to the historic african american community of turkey creek. Turkey creek, mississippi the town where nobody died in. If you like a little exorcism and a whole lot of history this. Mississippi anacostia community documentation initiative. Feb 03, 2016 together, audubon and community leaders in gulfport, mississippi are protecting turkey creek s rich cultural and natural history.
Find the top 100 most popular items in amazon books best sellers. When the eye of hurricane katrina smashed into the gulf of mississippi with its full. Turkey creek community historic district, a historic district in harrison county, mississippi creeks edit turkey creek windsor, ontario, a creek crossed by the e. Visions mississippi teen summer volunteer program takes place in a small community just outside gulfport, called turkey creek. Gatlin, mississippi department of archives and history, turkey creek community historic district, harrison county, mississippi, nomination. The battle for turkey creek follows derricks painful but inspiring journey. Thompson was raised with a bother and a sister in his mothers house in turkey creek, a community of about 150 that was founded in 1866 by emancipated people. They created a selfsufficient and socially isolated community of farms, residences, businesses, a church, and a school that flourished for more than a century. Turkey lake is conveniently located in bruce, mississippi, less than 30 minutes from oxford, home of the university of mississippi. Turkey creek water park decatur, mississippi campground. A group of freed slaves bought 320 acres of swampland north of what would later become gulfport. Oct 16, 2006 turkey creek watershed implementation plan september 2006 land trust for mississippi coastal plain page 7 of 42 b.
Turkey creek community historic district wikipedia. Established by emancipated slaves, the settlement began in 1866 as a long awaited promised land for a people denied all manner of dignity, even names, for fourteen generations. Turkey creek water park is located just outside of town and is a great get away for fishing, skiing, camping and many other activities. I started teaching in the mississippi delta through a teacher recruitment. Figure 2 shows a map of the drainage area of turkey creek. With the rustic cabin overlooking the beautiful private lake, 160 acres of lush woods and fields, you can have the beautiful wedding or event of your dreams.
Redevelopment master plan charrette book gulfport, mississippi introduction critical regional environmental systems but for their social and cultural relevance. Turkey creek is older than the city of gulfport, thompson said. To say that it is a drainage ditch is just ignorant. Oct 06, 2020 rushing is located in turkey creek township on highway 9 just south of where highway 263 merges with it for a short distance traveling east. Turkey creek documentary on bill moyers journal visions. Gulfports turkey creek community has a long history associated with the. Mississippi landmarks 2018 preservation in mississippi. Feb 19, 2020 turkey creek fantastically jumps in time describing the misadventures of a family that in the present time mo ves to their dream house, one that used to be a plantation. Sep 08, 2005 at turkey creek, a historic africanamerican community about 10 miles west of biloxi that was settled by freed slaves after the civil war, mr. The pat harrison waterway district phwd is a mississippi state agency that provides camping, cabins and recreational facilities in mississippi and is responsible for managing the rivers and their tributaries along the pascagoula river basin in southeastern and east central mississippi. Nov 16, 2007 turkey creek tells the story of a handful of determined mississippians whove struggled to save their endangered community in the wake of hurricane katrina. Turkey creek s campgrounds feature a picnic area, and a playground with modern equipment for children of all ages. Turkey creek is covered by the hopewell, ms us topo map quadrant. Turkey creek community historic district, gulfport city.
The extent to which that has been accomplished was recognized by the mississippi heritage trust in 2001 when turkey creek was named one of mississippi s ten most endangered historic places. Come hell or high water the battle for turkey creek. A big city usually has a population of at least 200,000 and you can often fly into a major airport. In mississippi, history is now a salvage job the new york times. Mississippi department of archives and history mdah. Hurricane katrina devastated portions of the mississippi coast with storm surge flooding of. In 2001, derrick travels to mississippi with filmmaker leah mahan to record oral history but a visit to the community cemetery changes the course of his life.
Get directions, find nearby businesses and places, and much more. Turkey creek water park turkey creek offers fishing, swimming, and hiking. Turkey creek, mississippi is the subject of a documentary by leah mahan, come hell or high water. From the coast of africa to the homestead of skuna valley mississippi. After years of restoration work to bring turkey creek back from the brink of death. Audubon and turkey creek pascagoula river audubon center. Over the course of a decade, derrick and his neighbors stand up to powerful corporate interests and politicians and face ordeals that include hurricane katrina and the bp oil disaster in their struggle for selfdetermination and. Redevelopment master plan charrette book, october 2005. Camping at turkey fork recreation area is a one stop shop adventure. The battle for turkey creek follows the painful but inspiring journey of derrick evans, a boston teacher who moves home to coastal mississippi when the graves of his ancestors are bulldozed to make way for the sprawling city of.
The land trust for the mississippi coastal plain will restore. Joining protestors against a mayor who called them dumb bastards for standing in. Cities near me turkey creek, mississippi travelmath. Turkey creek community historic district is a settlement established by emancipated african americans during the reconstruction era after the american civil war.
Geological survey publishes a set of the most commonly used topographic maps of the u. On march 30, 2014, journalist brentin mock moderated a discussion about come hell or high water. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. For campers, the park has fully developed camping spurs as well as three new vacation cabins available for rental. Turkey creek bookstore of mindstir media book publishers. Our community is very fortunate to have good people putting faith, family, and education at the forefront of our lives.
Turkey creek is a historical black district, established by. As their knowledge grew, so did their appreciation for turkey creek and their affinity with its residents. Over the course of a decade, derrick and his neighbors stand up to powerful. At turkey creek, a historic africanamerican community about 10 miles west of biloxi that was settled by freed slaves after the civil war, mr. In 2007 the turkey creek historic district was listed on the national register of historic places. Turkey creek mississippi fishing map and location information. The next year, an early turkey creek homes joined the national register of historic places.
From the coast of africa to the homestead of skuna valley mississippi comes a twisted tale of. Its something of a miracle that turkey creek, miss. Harrison county marriages, book 1 july 1841 book 12 november 1899 family history library marriage records and marriage bonds, 18411967, 18691951, 18411951 family history library. The community is situated in north gulfport, mississippi, and was added to the national register of historic places in 2007. This will improve your browsing experience on all sites and should be done periodically. Because of the difficulty in making a living from farming there and because of its isolation, rushing did not attract settlers until after the civil war. Mississippi recipients habitat restoration and conservation in. According to derrick evans of turkey creek, gulfport is a g. Turkey creek is a stream in harrison county, mississippi and can be found on the gulfport north usgs topo map. Together, audubon and community leaders in gulfport, mississippi are protecting turkey creeks rich cultural and natural history. Gulfport is a giant textbook of incompatible land use, evans. The next year, an early turkey creek homes joined the national register of.
Evans grew up in turkey creek, an independent africanamerican settlement north of gulfport. The following are committees of turkey creek and north gulfport neighborhoods community plan. Turkey creek flows east into bayou barnard on the western end of biloxi bay. Rushing is in the rugged hills of the ozark mountains, with rocky soil unsuited for large crops.
The park also features a white sand beach, wooded picnic areas, and nature trails. An environmental history of the mississippi and its peoples. With the inrush of casino money, gulfport became mississippis fastest growing. Contact us today for pricing information and to schedule your personal tour. Oct 02, 2005 in 2001, the mississippi heritage trust named the neighborhood one of the states 10 most endangered historic places. The struggle to preserve the community and the surrounding environment, its history and heritage, are the subject of an upcoming documentary. On the banks of turkey creek, a hoodoo magic curse is cast to avenge the mistreatment of innocent slaves. The monitored segment is contained entirely within the watershed, 03170009037. Turkey creek is a special place that should be appreciated by more people, not bulldozed or flooded. City of decatur, mississippi committed to faith, family. Follow the journey of derrick evans, who moves home to mississippi when the graves of his ancestors are bulldozed to make way for sprawling gulfport. Plantation owner cassius lue shannons years of horrifying culture towards slaves bring down a living hell upon his family. Wlox a historical marker celebrating the heritage of gulfports turkey creek community was vandalized sometime in the overnight hours between thursday and friday.
Welcome to the retreat at turkey lake, the areas premier outside wedding and event venue. Come hell or high water traces the painful, inspiring journey of derrick evans, a boston teacher who moves home to the mississippi gulf coast community of turkey creek, first settled by former slaves, when the graves of his ancestors are bulldozed to make way for the sprawling city of gulfport. This documentary demonstrates the profound love that derrick evans, a social studies teacher working in boston, has for his ancestral, african american community of turkey creek, mississippi. If you like a little exorcism and a whole lot of history this is your book. This north mississippi wedding and event venue features multiple event sites to make your day just the way you always imagined. Despite interstate 49, which separates north gulfport from turkey creek, these two historically connected communities still organize as one and together advocate against gentrification, environmental. Aug 27, 2015 turkey creek is a historical black district, established by emancipated african americans during the reconstruction era after the american civil war.
This weekend the mississippi department of archives and history. When lasalle became director of the pascagoula river audubon center, 30 miles from turkey creek, he brought with him a commitment to the communitys plight. Newton county archives visit newton county archives and learn about newton county, union and decatur. White can trace his family history back to the founding of turkey creek in 1866. Turkey creek fishing, harrison county ms gulfport north area. Historic district mount pleasant united methodist church in the turkey creek community historic district show map of mississi. On the gulf coast, a community fights for its life. When i heard that the daily show was sending one of its correspondents to turkey creek in coastal gulfport, mississippi, i tried to imagine how a brief satirical news segment might shed light on a story i take seriously, and one that ive been documenting on video for more than a decade read about the turkey creek documentary here. Get directions, maps, and traffic for turkey creek, ms. It is a beautiful wildlife park to visit and get close to nature.
Little do they know, the property seems to be cursed and haunted, dragging the chains of a vicious character named cassius, who was the owner 160 years ago. A photo of nathaniel rich alongside the cover of his book. Turkey creek fantastically jumps in time describing the misadventures of a family that in the present time mo ves to their dream house, one that used to be a plantation. If you need to book a flight, search for the nearest airport to turkey creek, ms. Mar 14, 2018 turkey creek historic yaryan selected for national park service civil rights restoration program. Discover places to visit and explore on bing maps, like turkey creek mississippi. Feb 17, 2012 an hours drive east of new orleans along the gulf of mexico, there thrives the largely unknown historic black settlement of north gulfport and turkey creek, mississippi, established in 1866. A historical marker celebrating the heritage of gulfports turkey creek community was vandalized sometime in the overnight hours between thursday and friday. Author pat fitzhughs personal account of growing up on turkey creek in humphreys county, tennessee.
1152 1051 1348 1234 83 1502 1672 255 97 1533 413 973 1022 728 347 1308 1189 1015 1552 1263 1 955 337 358 22 94 702 815 792