Vicksburg’s downtown is what drew me to this city.

Walking back to my car after dinner the weekend I interviewed for a position with The Post, I looked at the bricks below me, turned on their sides for horse-drawn transportation — at least that’s what I was told — and I realized how special this city’s combination of history and potential is.

I’ve met a journalist who said she hated when people spoke of a city’s potential because if everyone focuses on the potential, then no actual work gets done. And I see her point. It’s a true point in some towns, but it doesn’t seem to hold much truth here.

Though I have not been a part of Vicksburg for long, I quickly learned how much effort has gone into revitalizing the Red Carpet City of the South’s downtown. I’ve had the privilege of meeting so many people who work everyday to revive the downtown district, to make it the perfect combination of history and modern convenience.

I see downtown as the heart of Vicksburg, so when downtown thrives, the city thrives. Of course that’s just my personal opinion, but I would wager that many who work to make it better feel the same.

I have the privilege of getting to cover downtown as one of my beats. It combines my love of historic buildings with my favorite part of my job: getting to interact with people who are passionate about what they do.

Dale Jennings, who is renovating H.H. Biedenharn’s former home, said, “I never thought about it on this huge great scale like this, but my other passion — really my first passion — is restoring. I just want the city to have it….I just don’t want this building to go to waste. I love this building.”

I hear similar sentiments each time I profile a new renovation, and it never gets old.

Rachael Walker, who recently purchased a building on Washington Street, said, “I lived here when I was a kid and I remember there being one or two places to go downtown, but that was really it. It’s kind of exciting coming down here now and seeing everything coming back. It’s just exciting for this side of the street. There’s a lot of vacant on this side.”

Over and over, the potential is now turning into action, changing the heart of Vicksburg building by building.

I’ve lived in places where that is not necessarily true, so I give major props to Vicksburg for walking the talk.

Of course, room for improvement still exists and downtown will hopefully continue to improve. I’m looking forward to getting to watch — and report on — those improvements.

 

Sarah Mahan is a staff writer at The Vicksburg Post. You may reach her at sarah.mahan@vicksburgpost.com. Readers are invited to submit their opinions for publication.