Lee County Book Mobile: It was one of the first in the region to serve African Americans (1939-1965). A 19th Century Blacksmith Shop: Popular during the 19th century in many Mississippi towns. The shop bought and sold tools, equipment and other goods to the wealthy in the community. They made shoes for horses and mules which was an important mode of transportation in the 1800s. Sparks Church and School buildings were moved to the museum location and the buildings provide a glimpse into the past. Inside you will see the old slate chalkboard, a wood burning stove, bucket for hauling water from the nearby stream and a drinking gourd. A stool and a dunce hat, a bell that called the students to order. There was a piano for church music. If you used your imagination, you might be reminded of the time when folks walked from miles and miles away to go to church or school and once they arrived on Sunday for church service, they might stay all day and have supper on the grounds. There is an 1870’s Dog-trot house on site that was donated to the museum in 1984. The dog-trot design is represented by rooms on each side of a breezeway. Traditionally cooking would be done on the outside of the house. On one side of the breezeway was the bedroom where everyone slept and on the other side was the gathering room. The breezeway and surrounding porch is where the children played or where the family gathered to catch a little breeze on a hot summer’s day. Traditionally, there is no bathroom in an old dog-trot house, but look around and you can quickly spot an outhouse because there would be no indoor plumbing. There is a sorghum mill reflecting on a time with syrup was homegrown from sugar sorghum stalks (sugar cane). This mill, in its day, would have been driven by a mule powered grinder that extracted the juice from the cane. As you continue touring the outside of the museum, its starting to feel like the old Tupelo community. There are silos on the property that was once used for storing gran or crushing the corn that fed the cattle that lived on the property around Ballard Park. The Forest Lake Farms dairy barn was once located on the grounds and the Oren Dunn Museum building was once the birthing barn where baby calves were born. One of the first things you will see on site is the old Frisco Railroad Caboose. It was one of two rail lines that ran through Tupelo and if you pay attention and look around you will see the replica of a train station. Another structure that catches your eye as you walk up to the museum is an early 20th century Memphis streetcar that was brought to Tupelo in 1947. It was converted into what was known as Dudie’s Diner. It was known for its breakfasts, barbecue and Dudie Burgers, which was a local sensation. Gene Simmons, singer/songwriter (not the one from KISS), wrote a song about it. The diner remained in operation until 1986 and closed because it could not compete with the fast-food places that were popping up around town. The diner was moved to the museum grounds in 1990.
