Hernando in DeSoto County, Mississippi — The American South (East South Central)
421 Commerce Street
c. 1920
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 17, 2024
1. 421 Commerce Street Marker
has been placed on the
National Register
of Historic Places
by the United States
Department of the Interior
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Notable Buildings. In addition, it is included in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1920.
Location. 34° 49.405′ N, 89° 59.798′ W. Marker is in Hernando, Mississippi, in DeSoto County. It is on West Commerce Street (State Highway 304) just west of West Street, on the left when traveling west. The marker is mounted at eye-level, directly on the subject building, at the center of the north/front faηade. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 421 West Commerce Street, Hernando MS 38632, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the American South, specifically in the Deep South, in the Mississippi Delta, and in the Great River Road Region. 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: 449 Commerce Street (within shouting distance of this marker); The Dickinson Family (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Historic artwork in this courthouse portrays our regions past (about 600 feet away); Trade helped the Indians develop ties with Hernando de Soto (about 600 feet away); Hernando (about 700 feet away); "Beale Town Bound"
this page online
Regarding 421 Commerce Street. Contributing property, Hernando Commerce Street Historic District, National Register of Historic Places № 01000918.
From the National Register Nomination prepared by Samuel H. Kaye, AIA, 12/15/2000:
The Commerce Street Historic District resources represent the architectural styles of private residences from the late 19th and early 20th centuries and the sustained but slow development of the city. The Commerce Street area is a good representation of the residential growth around the central courthouse square. The period of significance for this district is 1890-1950, which represents the time the residential district was expanding westward from the courthouse square. Hernando is locally notable as the best concentration of early-twentieth-century commercial and residential architecture in the county.
While the Town of Hernando was founded in 1836, many of the original homes were destroyed by accident or by design to make way for the "latest" styles in new homes of the 1890-1950period. The smaller lots closer to the courthouse square were probably the result of subdividing a larger piece to build several smaller houses. Some working in the cotton mill, now the site of City Hall, and in the commercial section of town needed lower-cost housing. Bungalows such as 421 Commerce Street were built, several as rental property.Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 17, 20242. 421 Commerce StreetThe marker is mounted at the center of the front facade - between the two doors. Today the former bungalow is home to the Hernando Main Street Chamber of Commerce.421 Commerce Street Bungalow
One-story frame, front-gabled rectangular, drop-sided bungalow with wrap porch under side gable, has 4-bay facade with 4/4 DH windows, 1-light and wood doors. Composition roof and concrete foundation. Part of "set" of cottages.
Also see . . . Hernando Commerce Street Historic District.
Excerpt: From 1910 up until the Great Depression (1930), the population grew from 660 to 938, about a 30 percent increase. Many of the town's good examples of Craftsman style houses appear to date from this era. The Craftsman style overcame Colonial Revival and Victorian era styles in popularity during these years and carried on through the World War II era.(Submitted on December 16, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 17, 2024
3. 321 Commerce Street (east elevation)
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 17, 2024
4. 321 Commerce Street (north/front elevation)
Credits. This page was last revised on December 16, 2024. It was originally submitted on December 15, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 174 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on December 16, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
