Posted by redusmfan (anonymous) on March 5, 2008 at 6:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Same old song and dance.

Posted by reb1843 (anonymous) on March 5, 2008 at 7:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I am honored to know my grandmother (Mrs. R. Hicks Parker) was one of those Natchez ladies instrumental in beginning what is now known about all over the world. She was one of the true 'steel magnolias' of her time. The Natchez pilgrimage has spawned similar events all over the South.

Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on March 5, 2008 at 7:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)

get over it redusmfan.

Posted by lambchop (anonymous) on March 5, 2008 at 8:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)

This newer generation thinks everything old and saved is a most go in order for Natchez to survive. Actually Pilgrimage, in my opinion, is not for Natchez, but for the South. It is not holding on to the past as much as showing the past to the present. There is a lot of fakery but for the most part, showing of the homes is a representation of what it was like in our community 150-200 years ago. Preservation of record. Many go to museums and see what we have here at home. Many of the homes are not held by true Natchezians because we don't have the wealth needed to maintain these old homes which need a lot of care.

The old homes brings people to our city and people move here because they once came through on a Pilgrimage tour and liked what they saw in our community. For those who talk of blue hairs and no change - get a grip on life and step into reality. Every segment of our society bounces off another. The hotels, the restaurants, the mom-pop stores, the grocery stores, the gas stations, etc. all propagate by the history started by a group of old ladies. (I guess if it had been men to tune would have been different)

Posted by lambchop (anonymous) on March 5, 2008 at 8:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)

After all, look at Constitution Hall in Philadelphia and places in Williamsburg, Virginia - it is all part of our history and our heritage. My g-g-g-g-g-g-g-grandfather had a lot to do with the beginnings of Natchez and I am so proud to part of that family. However, I don't own a large house, drive a fancy car, and live payday to payday just like everyone else. My inheritance came on the side of a daughter and the MEN became the property owners.

Posted by roberth33 (anonymous) on March 5, 2008 at 10 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Bravo for Pilgramige. I look forward to seeing the houses every year. I so admire the huge effort the owners make to keep these great houses up. It ain't cheap and it aint easy.

Thank you owners for keeping this tradition alive.

Posted by NatchezEnema (anonymous) on March 5, 2008 at 10:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)

If the people who lived in these homes were here today they would call over half the home owners CARPET BAGGERS and the rest they would take a broom to them. I know someone who dresses up in the hoop skirt and welcomes the people and she told me she was told to tell the tourist want they want to hear, make it sound like Gone With the Wind. This industry is a joke.

Posted by geauxtigers (anonymous) on March 5, 2008 at 10:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Great story, well written. I forget that people actually live in most of the homes on the tour.

Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on March 5, 2008 at 10:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Yes, good story Julie

I grew up in Pilgrimage, kinda took it for granted now that I look back on it

Maybe I should get involved again

It would be a nice business, to run a B&B and it certainly would be nice to have some revenue to help pay a mortgage if you owned an antebellum

I do get a little boost from tourist shopping, I appreciate that and LOVE to talk with pilgrims.

Thank you Garden Clubs, makes me think of my mom and her friends, I miss them, it meant so much to them socially.

Posted by beammeupscotty (anonymous) on March 5, 2008 at 1:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I guess I could dress up in rags and try to sell them some pcanpraulines.

Posted by Peace007 (anonymous) on March 5, 2008 at 1:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I love touring the homes, myself; although, I haven't done that for years now.

Why would you have to dress up in rags to sell pecan praulines? But then, on the other hand, if you will make them, beammeupscotty, I'll buy some from ya. I love pecan praulines.

Posted by Peace007 (anonymous) on March 5, 2008 at 1:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)

krogers what business do you have, other than the martial arts?

Posted by redusmfan (anonymous) on March 5, 2008 at 2:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I believe that there needs to be a fake big auction down at the Fork in the Road place. Make the history of Natchez really come to life, Show what really built Natchez, not just a bunch of hoop-skirts and other b s non-sense they always talk about.

I read the true history of Natchez one time. Not glamorous at all.
The common people of Natchez had a real different view of the Pilgrimage. It was a time when a lot of old men walked around in sandles and dark colored dress socks, old women with dyed hair would try to tell us what Natchez was all about(even though we lived there) and lots of out of town vehicles going the wrong way down the one-way streets all over Natchez.

It was a time when a few people would sit in front of Dunleith and try to sale pecan praulines to everybody. We saw them every day as we walked home from Braden and Martin. It was a time when the lady that would not speak to us poor kids in church every sunday morning would be walking around with total strangers from states, that thought we were backwards and stupid, telling them everything they wanted to know about the house on the corner of Homochitto and Duncan Park Street ( may be the wrong name, but you know what I am talking about) This same woman would look at us every sunday liked we had manure on us, but she would go out of here way to be charming to the Out-Of-Towners.

It was a time when you were supposed to give direction to any old house all day to anybody that would stop you on the street even if you weren't sure, and give directions to Nellie's every night to the old men after they dropped off the women at tea parties or the old stores downtown where they were shopping for southern antiques. We were supposed to bend over backwards when we got our drivers license to be courteous to these people when the suddenly turned around in the street in front of you when they realized they had just past up the driveway to the next old house on the tour. We were supposed to never cut-off the Winnebago's in traffic or pass them even when they were in the left hand lane doing 10 mph while we were on the way across town to be with family. We were not supposed to holler at these same vehicles when the would sit through green lights looking for a sign pointing them to the Indian Mounds or City Cemetary.

Thats what the pilgrimage meant to us.Wonder why I grew up and despised those old homes, huh?

Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on March 5, 2008 at 3:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)

It is called "Hospitality" and the true meaning of being southern is to be nice, kind and polite and to go out of your way to help others whether that is a tourist or your next door neighbor. THAT is what pilgrimage makes ME think of and I am proud to be a "true southerner".

Posted by bellesouth (anonymous) on March 5, 2008 at 3:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)

redusmfan, Po' wittle baby! You don't like the idea of people coming to your town? That is sad, truly sad. What do you do for a living? I hope it doesn't depend on consumers because it sounds like you're the kind that doesn't like to be bothered and you would go broke. But a lot of people depend on tourism in this town and it is the biggest industry we have right now, so you ought to be grateful.

Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on March 5, 2008 at 4:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)

YOU are sooooo right bellesouth!!

Posted by roberth33 (anonymous) on March 5, 2008 at 4:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I am to the point that whenever I see certain names posting on here I skip right over whatever they post.

Maybe someday they will post something worthwhile, but I'll never know it because their evilness blinded me to anything they have to write.

Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on March 5, 2008 at 5:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)

red doesn't live here any more. Probably because of the Pilgrimage. I love it! Love meeting people from other places, loved it when I received at Arlington (RIP) and Monmouth as a teen, still like seeing some of the homes when friends visit us. It's one of the things that makes Natchez the unique place it is!

Posted by rushinghjr (anonymous) on March 5, 2008 at 8:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Bravo Natchez Tourism! How can some Natchez people be against this industry?

Posted by triscuit (anonymous) on March 6, 2008 at 8:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Natchez is definitely a town worth visiting. The homeowners deserve our thanks for welcoming the tourists into their homes. We should take our cue from them and be as hospitable as we can to all the visitors. Treat these people like family! Make your mama proud.

Posted by csguidry (anonymous) on March 6, 2008 at 9:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Like it or not the pilgrimage is a part of Natchez history and is not going anywhere. It is also a large contributor to the economy of Natchez so these home owners deserve respect and gratitude for all their hard work and the fact that they let total stragers invade their homes and lives twice a year to help Natchez takes alot of patience.

This is a very good story and maybe it will open the eyes of the skeptics that seem to always down the pilgimage. I realize this is not everyone cup of tea and that is fine but do not undermine what so many have worked so hard to accomplish because without this pilgrimage I would hate to see what Natchez would become.

Posted by beammeupscotty (anonymous) on March 6, 2008 at 10:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)

My problem is not with the Pilgrimage but with the people that think this is the save all for Natchez.

Posted by reb1843 (anonymous) on March 6, 2008 at 11:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Several years ago, I (along with several others) planned and conducted a "Confederate Heritage and History Parade" during Pilgrimage. We had somewhere between 4-500 participants, several of whom came from as far away as Florida. We had country super-star Trace Adkins as the Grand Marshall of the parade, held on a Saturday morning. We set up 'living history' campsites on the bluff by the Ramada Inn. We asked several of the antebellum home owners if they would allow some of us in Confederate uniform (and, ladies in hoops) to 'walk around' their grounds while greeting visitors. Monteigne was the only one who welcomed us, and the tourists were SO EXCITED to have their pix taken with us to show their bridge club women back home in Illinois, Michigan, and Ohio. Other homeowners said they would not allow us to 'greet' the visitors, as they felt our presence would be OFFENSIVE to some (wink, wink) and they had succumbed to PC-itis. We even had several turned away at the 'Natchez Historical Pageant' (aka, Confederate Pageant) because we were wearing 'costumes.' Needless to say, we went on in and took our seats, but left our swords and pistols outside. The people in the auditorium LOVED us, in spite of the protestations of the ticket takers at the door. Shame on them. And, shame on anyone in Natchez who would deny their Confederate heritage. Amen and amen.

Posted by reb1843 (anonymous) on March 6, 2008 at 12:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)

And, our group spent well over $500,000 that weekend on rooms, meals, gas, hotels, 'antiques,' etc. We had no drive-bys, no litter, no drugs, no arrests, no loud noise (except for cannon and musket fire), and we were polite and thankful for those who supported us. Several businesses in downtown Natchez refused to allow us to put small posters in their windows to advertize the parade. We told our group who these businesses were and to boycott them.

Posted by rushinghjr (anonymous) on March 6, 2008 at 1:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Good job Reb1843! Tourism is a very intergral part of Natchez and Adams County and the citizens needs to support it! Thanks for being part of it! It is a very important industry of Natchez and AdamsCounty!

Posted by reb1843 (anonymous) on March 6, 2008 at 2:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Thanks, rushinghjr - folks need to remember who/what 'brung 'em to the dance,' and tourism (or, some aspect of that) seems to be the belle of the ball for Natchez, and has been since the days of the Great Depression. All citizens of the Miss-Lou benefit in some way from tourism, whether they admit it or not. Rest assured, I do not agree with the PC that pervades much of Natchez, but we have all allowed that to happen, even in the Pilgrimage.

Posted by beammeupscotty (anonymous) on March 6, 2008 at 2:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)

When I have friends and family visit from out of town we ride by the old homes and they are most impressed by the national cemetary. Best view in Natchez.

Posted by roberth33 (anonymous) on March 6, 2008 at 4:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I don;t think anyone believes Pilgrimage is the be all and end all of Natchez in terms of commerce. It isn't the great economic savior of the city. But it is and has been for a long time "the little engine that could" that kept a lot of roofs over a lot of heads in the lean days especially in the 30s and 40s. It is also helping to keep those magnificent old houses painted and roofed today. Without Pilgrimage most of those houses would have been torn down or cut up into flop houses. What the Union Army didn't destroy time and age would have, had it not been for Pilgrimage.

I say come out and spend a couple dollars taking some tours and keep the little engine going on into the 21st Century.

Posted by roberth33 (anonymous) on March 6, 2008 at 4:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I just had another thought.

You know all the people that knock Pilgrimage and the tours ought to think about Ashville NC and Newport RI. Asheville survived for an awful long time on tourism generated by just one house, Biltmore. Newport also survived after WWII on the tourism brought in by a bunch of old houses that NO ONE WANTED. Those gorgeous mansions in Newport were sold for pennies on the dollar because the owners didn't want them and couldn't afford to maintain them. But thanks to their preservation society Newport thrives as a huge tourist destination. Natchez has what no other city in America has, not Newport or Asheville or anywhere else--all these Antebellum houses--and it is a real honest to goodness jewel and national treasure. So next time you run down hoops and house tours, remember Natchez is up there with Newport and Ashville and is a historic vault of riches and the only place of its kind on the entire planet.

Think about it.

Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on March 6, 2008 at 6:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)

yeah reb1843 I remember that well. What I particuarly remember is Trace Adkins being an a$$ to my little tiny daughter who only wanted an autograph and was crudely snubed. Only reason I bring it up is the homeowners aren't the ONLY ones to snub.....watch where you point that finger.

Posted by csguidry (anonymous) on March 6, 2008 at 11:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)

reb, I didn't know anything about this but I would have supported your cause 100% . That sounds like a wonderful idea and speaking of this is there any kind of civil war renactments in this area? If so they should try and have them about the time the pilgrimage starts so that it will go with the whole theme of the pilrimage. I am shocked to say the least that no one supported this. What were they thinking?

I for one always support the pilgrimage and even though they have done alot of hard work and have contributed to the economy of Natchez I do not feel they have solely supported the town on what it brings in alone. They should really stop and think of new ways to promote and offer new programs into the pilgrimage this would help boost the whole town for everyone. I think it very appropriate to have a civil war renenactment there after all it is a big part of the history and there are many talented actors and those willing to participate in this kind of thing.

All of this could be improved on so much if only everyone could copme to terms and work together. Many people are big on the renactments and many people across the south and north participate in these events. They also travel to other areas to see what the differances are and talk with one another so this alone would bring in many tourist.

I have toured those houses so many times I can give the tours myself LOL but I love these old homes here and in all towns and cities. I like the B&B's over hotels because they are quaint and a part of history not to mention quite and very interesting.I do any and everything I possibly can to support their efforts because of the history and to keep the homes open and preserved. I know I am not doing it single handed but I feel it all helps in some small way.

Reb, maybe you could talk to the historc foundation about bringing this kind of thing back and see if it may start something new and exciting to the tour of homes. I have to say the pagents are nice and all but they need some new programming maybe offer some demonstrations of how everyday life really was back then. Maybe some hearth cooking, sewing, and mouring rituals. They do some of this in Alexandria at Kent House and it is very interesting and the people come to see it. Maybe have a plant sale of traditonal herbs if you group all this togther through out the pilrimage then it keeps everything fresh and active. Some of the homes do not show all the home just the lower floors which I feel should be half price since some homes you pay the same and see both floors.

Over the years I have seen both good and bad tour guides some of them can be down right hateful at times. They should learn the home and styles of furniture along with the history. Many times they have misspoke about furniture and its purpose. Some do not even mention it at all. Tourist ask these questions.... they should know the answer.