Mississippi Keeps Rising, Tornado in Vicksburg, Quiet Day on the Home Front 4/4/2008

We just heard reports that a tornado touched down in Vicksburg, MS which is our next planned stop and only about 70 miles north of where we are now. They said the whole city is without electricity and there are downed power lines and trees all over the city. We had some really dark skies and a little thunder and then some torrential rains but that was about all. Hope we have a place to stay next Monday as the storms went right through Clinton, MS where we are staying for a week starting Monday.
As we said yesterday the Mississippi keeps on rising and the forecast is for it to rise an extra 2' over what was originally predicted. The south end of the campgrounds is starting to flood as the levees aren't anywhere nearly as high as they are on the north end. It isn't to bad right now but you can see where it is starting to leak through the sand and dirt they placed there and small puddles along the road. We did drive down to the riverwalk in front of the campgrounds and got some pictures of a place where a road used to be and then we got pictures of the Isle of Capri Riverboat, which is now heavily sand bagged, and at the time we were there was closed and they had a crane there doing some work having to do with the flooding.
Seeing as there was rain predicted for today we didn't plan anything except taking a ride into downtown Natchez and seeing if there was anything we missed. There wasn't an awful lot that we hadn't already seen. We did find another small cemetery named Gloucester Cemetery where the families of Winthrop Sargent, the first Governor of the Mississippi Territory, and Seargent S. Prentiss, Congressman are buried. "Let no monumental marble deface with its mock dignity the patriot's grave".
We saw several more houses and shop such as the site where Fort Rosalie used to be which was established by the French in 1716. It became the nucleus of settlements from which the Mississippi Territory was founded. Near this marker stood the French tobacco warehouse that was a center of bloodshed during the Natchez Massacre in 1729. We also saw The Guest House Circa 1840, Biscuits and Blues Restaurant, Molasses Flats, Antiques and Gifts, Gloucester Circa 1795 and Greenlea Circa 1795. One other building we saw was The Commercial Bank Building built Circa 1836.This structure is a National Historic Landmark and is a fine example of te Greek Revival style. There was also a Banker's House attached to the rear which insured security and gave the structure and unusual and practical plan.
When we finished I dropped Mom off in downtown Natchez and she walked around for about a half an hour in and out of the shops. Then we drove back and we just made it ahead of the rain and we had lunch and Mom is reading and I am doing the blog. It's almost time for dinner so we will say good night and until tomorrow and we love you and miss you all.


Picture List:1-Mom @ Gloucester Cemetery, 2,3,4,5-Gloucester Cemetery, 6-Fort Rosalie Site, 7,8,9-Isle of Capri Riverboat sand bagging, 10-Guest House Circa 1840, 11-Commercial Bank Building Circa 1837, 12-Gloucester Circa 1795, 13-Molasses Flats, Antiques & Gifts, 14-Flooding at end of camprounds, 15,16-Flooded road down in Vidalia by the Riverwalk.