Magee in Simpson County, Mississippi — The American South (East South Central)

Magee - McNair Springs

— Simpson County Heritage Trail —

Photographed by Mark Hilton, December 2, 2017

1. Magee - McNair Springs Marker

Inscription. Simpson County is located in the Gulf Coastal Plain within the Pearl River watershed, and is graced with numerous rivers, streams, and springs. One such spring is McNair Springs, which along with Saratoga Springs, feeds the Okatoma Creek, a noted regional recreational waterway. Traditionally, the name Okatoma is attributed to Choctaw words meaning "radiant water."

McNair Springs and its associated waterways are central to the history of Magee. The beginnings of Magee date to 1840, when Willie Magee built his gristmill on Little Goodwater Creek. Early in the 1900s, the Gulf and Ship Island Railroad built a fine hotel at the springs, equipped with its own water works and spring-fed pools. In addition, a bottled water manufacturing plant was built around the same time. When the Sanatorium was built, McNair Springs supplied it, as well as the town of Magee, with drinking water.

Today, McNair Springs is the center of a park built by the City of Magee. Although no longer supplying drinking water to Sanatorium or Magee, the spring still produces approximately 400 gallons of clear

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spring water per minute. Whether one is interested in the history or the natural beauty of the area, a visit to Magee is incomplete without a visit to McNair Springs. McNair Springs is located approximately one-half mile from U. S. Highway 49 South off Siloam Road within the city limits of Magee.

Inset An Anecdotal History of Simpson County
From the Columns of Bee King
The Simpson County News
1937-1948
[Today, several highways, including U. S. Highway 49, serve Simpson County. In the earlier days, the county's many waterways served as "highways."]
Simpson County never had but one river town, that was Osceola, founded at the "bluffs" on Pearl River about a mile south of the present Rockport bridge. It was named in honor of the famous Indian chief Osceola. The first store was opened there in 1830. At that time it was the head of boat navigation. The first line of steamboats was owned and operated by Captain Poitevent, usually known all along the river as "Captain Potervine." Later, he extended navigation as far up the river as Georgetown. During the Civil War, steamboat navigation was almost abandoned on account of cutting trees into the river to prevent federal gunboats from ascending the river. That was the death blow to Osceola, and it was practically abandoned at the close of the war.

Erected by the

Magee - McNair Springs Marker on left of the Community House. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, December 2, 2017

2. Magee - McNair Springs Marker on left of the Community House.

Simpson County Development Foundation.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Railroads & Streetcars • Settlements & Settlers • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1840.

Location. 31° 52.432′ N, 89° 44.007′ W. Marker is in Magee, Mississippi, in Simpson County. It is on 1st Avenue NW north of Choctaw Street, on the right when traveling north. Located in front of the Magee Community House. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 115 1st Avenue NW, Magee MS 39111, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Natchez Trace Corridor

and in Greater Jackson.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Deep South.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 7 other markers are within 13 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies:

Magee - McNair Springs marker on right with the Chamber of Commerce beyond it. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, December 2, 2017

3. Magee - McNair Springs marker on right with the Chamber of Commerce beyond it.

Magee (here, next to this marker); Simpson County Veterans Monument (a few steps from this marker); Sanatorium (approx. 2.9 miles away); Weathersby and Choctaw Heritage (approx. 7.3 miles away); Billy Ray Reynolds (approx. 9.2 miles away); Mendenhall (approx. 10.1 miles away); D'Lo And Finkbine Lumber Company (approx. 12½ miles away).

Guide to the Simpson County Heritage Trail and provides directions & map. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, December 2, 2017

4. Guide to the Simpson County Heritage Trail and provides directions & map.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 28, 2018. It was originally submitted on February 28, 2018, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 4,861 times since then and 230 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on February 28, 2018, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.