Philadelphia in Neshoba County, Mississippi — The American South (East South Central)

Old Neshoba County Jail

Photographed by Mark Hilton, October 5, 2019

1. Old Neshoba County Jail Marker

Inscription. Built in 1955, the county jail remained in use until 1978. Civil rights workers James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner were held here after being arrested in 1964. On June 21, 1966, a voter registration march, led by Ralph Abernathy and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stopped here before moving to the Neshoba County Courthouse. This is the third structure built on this site to serve as county jail. The first being a timber structure built in 1836, which burned in 1906.

Erected 2012 by Mississippi Department of Archives and History.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights • Law Enforcement. In addition, it is included in the Mississippi State Historical Marker Program series list. A significant historical date for this entry is June 21, 1966.

Location. 32° 46.347′ N, 89° 6.625′ W. Marker is in Philadelphia, Mississippi, in Neshoba County. It is on East Myrtle Street east of Byrd Avenue, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 412 East Myrtle Street, Philadelphia MS 39350, United States of America.

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Regionally, this marker is in Central Mississippi. 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 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Marty Gamblin (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Neshoba County Confederate Monument (about 400 feet away); Marty Stuart (about 600 feet away); Adam Monroe Byrd (approx. 0.2 miles away); Grierson's Raid 1863 (approx. ¼ mile away); Otis Rush (approx. 0.4 miles away); Philadelphia Historic District (approx. 0.4 miles away); Booker T. Washington School (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Philadelphia.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, October 5, 2019

2. Old Neshoba County Jail Marker

The building was a previously meeting place for the local chapter of the Knights of Columbus. The building is currently for sale.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 23, 2019. It was originally submitted on October 12, 2019, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 1,593 times since then and 75 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 12, 2019, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.