Outlook: Catfish Row exhibit tells Vicksburg’s merchant history

Published 4:00 am Sunday, July 25, 2021

Telling Vicksburg’s story is the aim of the Catfish Row Museum and since opening this year, visitors from across the globe have had the opportunity to view Vicksburg’s history. 

In February, the museum focused on Black History and its relation to the River City; in March, the focus was on Women’s History. 

At the end of May, the museum began showcasing Vicksburg merchants with the popup exhibit entitled “Merchants of Vicksburg: The Roots of Culture in Commerce.” 

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The exhibit, which will run through the end of July, takes visitors on a journey beginning in 1805 when the roots of commerce began to take hold in Vicksburg. 

It continues through the 1990s when, in 1998, Rowdy Nosser opened a Taco Casa franchise. 

“With the rich diversity here in Vicksburg and the many ethnic groups that settled here as merchants, we wanted to tell that story,” museum founder Linda Fondren said. 

One of the merchants that particularly stood out for Fondren was The Hub, she said. 

The Hub, which was a men’s clothing store, opened in 1933 and was owned by Mike Jabour. 

“The Hub was a place where African Americans could go and shop and if they did not have money, they could trade. At The Hub, they were also waited on and treated equal,” Fondren said. “So, from an African American point of view, it was always a shop you could go in and you felt okay about going in. 

“Pam Mayfield’s family owned The Hub and I was really excited to find information about it.”

Also on display at the museum are pairs of baby shoes worn by Norma Massey, who now owns Frederick’s Shoe store, which opened on Washington Street in 1950. 

The Catfish Row Museum, 913 Washington St., will exhibit from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. 

For more information about the Catfish Row Museum, visit catfishrowmuseum.org.  

About Terri Cowart Frazier

Terri Frazier was born in Cleveland. Shortly afterward, the family moved to Vicksburg. She is a part-time reporter at The Vicksburg Post and is the editor of the Vicksburg Living Magazine, which has been awarded First Place by the Mississippi Press Association. She has also been the recipient of a First Place award in the MPA’s Better Newspaper Contest’s editorial division for the “Best Feature Story.”

Terri graduated from Warren Central High School and Mississippi State University where she received a bachelor’s degree in communications with an emphasis in public relations.

Prior to coming to work at The Post a little more than 10 years ago, she did some freelancing at the Jackson Free Press. But for most of her life, she enjoyed being a full-time stay at home mom.

Terri is a member of the Crawford Street United Methodist Church. She is a lifetime member of the Vicksburg Junior Auxiliary and is a past member of the Sampler Antique Club and Town and Country Garden Club. She is married to Dr. Walter Frazier.

“From staying informed with local governmental issues to hearing the stories of its people, a hometown newspaper is vital to a community. I have felt privileged to be part of a dedicated team at The Post throughout my tenure and hope that with theirs and with local support, I will be able to continue to grow and hone in on my skills as I help share the stories in Vicksburg. When asked what I like most about my job, my answer is always ‘the people.’

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