Third O' Christmas Tree series - The Vicksburg Post

Third O’ Christmas Tree series

Published 7:29 pm Tuesday, November 21, 2023

This is the third in a series featuring Vicksburg’s Holiday Tour of historic homes. The history of the homes is provided by executive director of the Vicksburg Foundation for Historic Preservation Nancy Bell.

Twelve homes will be on display for the public during O’ Christmas Tree, an inaugural event, sponsored by Vicksburg Main Street and the Vicksburg Heritage Guild, as a fundraiser for the Vicksburg Main Street Façade Program. Homes will be open from 1 to 3 p.m. Dec. 2, 3, 9 and 10. Tickets are $20 or $25 with a Vicksburg Trolley pass and are available at the Vicksburg Main Street office, Walnut Hills Restaurant, 1214 Adams St., or online at tickettailor.com/events/ochristmastree.

1414 Chambers Street (Sunday, Dec. 3)

Known as the Edward M. Durham House, the current home is the second to be built on the lot after a fire destroyed the first. Edward and Emily Durham in 1903 hired the architectural firm of Rawson and Paunack, which was quoted in The Vicksburg Herald:

“The firm intends to make a specialty of the better class of residences and has made a

study of those suited to a Southern climate.” The initial cost of the nine-room home was $8,000. After a devastating fire in 1909, the Durhams built a new house on the same lot with the same plans. The price, however, increased to $15,000, partly because the former frame walls were covered with stucco.

1419 Chambers Street (Sunday, Dec. 3)

This Colonial Revival house was built in 1909 by Lucian and Martha Oates, most likely by Hyland Construction Company. Oates was a cotton buyer with G.P. Reeve and Company when the house was built. The Oateses moved to Memphis, and the house eventually was sold to L.N. and Elizabeth Allen and later, by 1929, to Henry and Ellen McCabe.

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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