Daniels enjoys new State Street house, plans to research more of its history

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, May 5, 2004

NATCHEZ&045;&045; Deede Daniels has enjoyed the view from her front porch since moving to her hilltop home at the corner of State and Martin Luther King Streets three years ago.

&uot;I see everybody in town at least once a day from here. The front porch and the big windows are my favorite part,&uot; she said.

And motorists buzzing through the intersection below have grown accustomed to seeing Daniels’ pet Yorkie, Kujoe, peering through the porch rails and greeting folks with excited barks.

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A Natchez native, Daniels lived in Vidalia for 13 years before fire destroyed her home there. That’s when she and her two sons, Charlie and Christopher, moved back to Natchez.

Since then, Daniels has landscaped the front yard with a mix of fern, flowers and ivy, covering the hill to the sidewalk below.

&uot;When we first moved in, there was nothing growing here,&uot; she said.

Now, when she’s not working mornings at a local fitness center or chatting with friends over a cup of coffee at a nearby market, Daniels spends her time renovating the exterior of the wood-frame structure.

&uot;The inside was already finished. I’m just trying to get the outside painted now,&uot; Daniels said.

Taking a break Saturday from stripping and painting the front window shutters, Daniels marveled at how comfortable the house stays with the windows and doors open.

&uot;When it’s warm outside, it’s always cool in there. It’s amazing,&uot; she said.

And while the old house has become a home for Daniels and her family, Daniels still wants to learn more about the history of the property.

&uot;I don’t know enough about it. I’ve just started to research it,&uot; she said.