NATCHEZ — The 400 block of South Pearl Street, in just two years, went from barren to bountiful.

The renovation of one house and the building of two new ones by Marcia and John McCullough breathed new life into a portion of the downtown district that wasn’t necessarily the brightest.

“This whole block was just horrible,” Marcia said. “I’ve lived here for 27 years, and I always thought it was sad that this whole block was not used.

“That’s always been my dream — to fix this whole block.”

And when the Historic Natchez Foundation approached the McCulloughs with a falling-down house dated from approximately 1852 and asked for their renovation help, the couple snatched it up.

The dilapidated house was rotting away on North Canal Street behind Blankenstein’s Supplies and Equipment.

“It’s one of those buildings where there were efforts to tear it down,” HNF Executive Director Mimi Miller said. “Blankenstein’s bought it not intending to keep it. (The foundation) realized that it might be torn down, and we suggested it to John and Marcia.”

The McCulloughs already had a parcel on South Pearl Street, and they picked up the house and plopped it in the lot.

Between 2007 and 2008, the McCulloughs worked to renovate the house back to its original stature.

Shortly after the renovation, the McCulloughs built two new houses across the street in another lot they owned.

Marcia said the renovation was easier than the new construction.

“(Renovation) kind of defines your parameters right there, because it has to be restored,” she said.

But the construction of the two new houses across the street were just copies of a Victorian style.

“I looked at everything in downtown Natchez, and I wanted them to fit in, so it would look like they had been there,” Marcia said. “I think that’s important for the area.”

The 1852 house is now a bed and breakfast, as well as one of the new cottages.

The other cottage is used a corporate apartment.

The Historic Natchez Foundation wants to recognize Marcia’s efforts to revitalize South Pearl Street.

From 5 to 7 p.m., the McCullough’s three houses on South Pearl Street will be open to the public for a viewing.

Miller said all three cottages are a positive addition to the downtown district and should be recognized.

“We decided people would really like to get in them and look at them,” Miller said.

The event is $10 per person, with a cash bar, and all proceeds will go toward a Smithsonian exhibit at the foundation building, which will begin Sept. 5.

Miller said the foundation is going to build adjunct exhibits to go along with the Smithsonian exhibit.

The exhibit is called “Journey Stories,” which shows how the nation’s transportation caused its growth.