Does anyone remember Stevenson’s School?

    Remember when Chalk School burned?

    Anybody remember the drug store on the corner of 8th street and 23rd Ave. next to the old Royal Theater?

    Does any one remember Brookshires downtown? Going there walking home from Kate Griffin.

    Remember when there were bears at Highland Park and alligators, too!

    What about the old player piano at the McDonald’s on Eighth Street?

    Remember driving up and down Eighth Street between College Park and Subway?

    Remember when you only had to dial 4 numbers to call someone on the phone?

    These are just a handful of comments people have written on the new Facebook page “Remember When in Meridian, MS.”

    It started on Tuesday, August 2 and within a few days had reached more than 3,000 members. There is constant feedback. Sometimes I wonder if anyone on there sleeps. It has slowed down some, but there are still posts coming in every minute.

    It has currently added more than 5,000 members and they keep coming.

    I have spent several hours on there reading comments, answering comments and posting my own questions. I have also enjoyed all the old photos people have uploaded. There are thousands of them! Of course one of my favorites is an old picture of The Meridian Evening Star.

    There are pictures of the 1906 tornado, downtown streets from the early 1900s to the 1980s, and famous fires in Meridian. Places that still exist but are no longer operational, like the old fairgrounds. There are before and after pictures of places like Rush Hospital and East Mississippi State Hospital. And there are pictures of buildings that have long been destroyed.

    Last week, with Michael agreeing to drive me around town, I took my little pink digital camera and took a few pictures of my own. They were mostly old houses — probably between 75 and 100 years old. Some looked great and in good condition. Others were dilapidated and falling down with no one to take care of them.

    Many people are living somewhere else, but remember their time spent in Meridian. Others remember how it was when they first moved to Meridian. And still others who have lived here all their lives and have seen all the changes remember how it used to be.

    Some of the most posted were about Smith’s Bakery, located near Kate Griffin School and St. Patrick School. The smell of fresh bread baking was enough to make any student drool. To this day I can still smell that fresh bread.

    Dixie Bowl Lanes was another popular one. People remember the put-put golf that was next to it.

    Many people commented about Frank’s Drive Inn with lots of fun and happy memories.

    There were also many posts about Kress and Woolworths downtown. I wish I could have seen these places in their hayday. I do remember going shopping at Marks Rothenberg with my mom. Lots of people remembered the elevator and the woman who ran it.

    Others have commented on the future demolition of the Meridian Hotel. Some think it should be saved, others say it’s a sign of progress.

    I wish all of these older, historic places could be saved. Some, in my opinion, are worth saving, like the Threefoot Building. But nothing lasts forever and there isn’t enough money in the world to “fix” everything we love from Meridian’s past.

    There are more than 5,000 memories on this Facebook page and each one is special to the one who posted it. It has brought people together, friends have found each other, and people become friends because of one common memory.

    There is not one hurtful, rude comment on this page. There is no arguing. People are just having fun reminiscing over old times.

    Thanks to Sarah Burnside Johnson for starting this Facebook page. It has warmed my heart to see how many people have such good memories of Meridian.

    Helen Reynolds is news editor at

The Meridian Star. Email her at hreynolds@themeridianstar.com