Pachuta, Mississippi
Keith E.Wilkerson
Prior to and following the aquisition of this section of the Mississippi Territory, European settlers migrated into the virgin forests of Jasper and Clarke counties. Most of them soon established small hard-scramble farming operations. For unknown reasons and at an unknown date, a village was formed in the current location of Pachuta. This area was situated along the route of a stagecoach road that ran from Mobile, AL to the booming city of Paulding, MS, and may have been the site of a way station.
Although a post office was established at Pachuta in May of 1856, the village was not formally named until 1882 when a map was drawn up for the newly chartered New Orleans and Northwestern Railroad. Captain William. H. Hardy, who assisted in the development of the map, submitted the name. It is unknown if the word represented a nearby creek or was the name of a local resident family. The Pachuta surname is fairly common, originating in the Slavic regions of Eastern Europe, and this may lend credence to the latter speculation.
Hicks Home in Pachuta
The first school, a "pay" school, was formed in 1846 and taught by Malcolm Logan. Classes were suspended during the War Between the States, but reinstated in 1866. Classes were held in a two room dogtrot building and continued there until the public school system came into play in 1921.
With the introduction of the railroad, the long established
northern industrial base looked to the vast untapped timber
resources of the south. A turpentine still and stave mill was
built within the town and served as a catalyst for
growth. Several general mercantile businesses and other
buildings were established along a centralized strip parallel to
the railroad right of way. Land for a rail depot was contributed
by Major M.F. Berry, a Confederate veteran, who also assisted in
the first land survey of the town. Streets were established,
including a Main Street that ran North and South on the East side
of the railroad. In 1890, an act of the Mississippi legislature
incorporated the town.
Growth in the town was slow and steady with additions of
several small businesses, a bank, and medical services. The
timber industry maintained a presence as the leading industry
with several large sawmills being established. One major example
was the Mayerhoff Mill, which was a large enough operation to
include a commissary.
Around 1900, when US Highway 11 was routed through Pachuta,
the route followed the main street. The additional width and
easements required that all of the businesses be relocated to the
east side of the highway, a layout that remains unchanged.
Consolidation of Mississippi schools began in 1921 and Pachuta
was selected as the proper site for a regional High School.
Elementary students from the communities of Orange, Paulding,
Pine Hill, Souinlouvie, Silver Hill, Vossburg, and Harmony
continued to attend local schools while High School students
would attend Pachuta. In compliance, a large school was build at
the location of East Chestnut and Poydras Streets. During the
following years, an auditorium, grammar school, and a gymnasium
building were added. As the aforementioned local schools were
closed, the elementary students joined the upper classmen.
Pachuta Consolidated High School
The growth of Pachuta crested in the 1940's and 50's only to fade when Interstate I-59 replaced US Highway 11 in 1967. The once thriving village has become a largely forgotten landmark along a sparsely used byway. Most of the businesses have closed and many of the buildings are now gone. The Pachuta School was closed during 1962. With the exception of the gymnasium, all of the school buildings have been demolished.
Main Street (Highway 11) - 2003
Once the Site of the Pachuta School
The Original Gymnasium - The Only Remaining School Building
Sign Over the Entrance Door to the Gymnasium - "Bleachers" "Lunch Room"
This
page is under construction
These pages are a work in progress. While
every attempt has been made to include accurate historical
information, some error may be included. I invite corrections,
additional information, additional photographs, and accounts of
personal experience. Please contact me at the supplied address.
Very little has been documented in regards to the dying towns and
landmarks of east-central Mississippi. With your help, I hope to
put together a few pages that we all can pass along to our
grandchildren. Thanks!