Aberdeen, MS

Aberdeen is a city in Monroe County in the U.S. state of Mississippi. The population was 6,415 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Monroe County[1].

Located on the banks of the Tombigbee River, Aberdeen was one of the busiest Mississippi ports of the nineteenth century. Cotton was heavily traded in town, and for a time Aberdeen was Mississippi's second largest city. Today Aberdeen retains many historic structures from this period, with over 200 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places. In the spring of each year, Aberdeen hosts pilgrimages to its historic antebellum homes. The most prominent of these antebellum homes is The Magnolias, which was built in 1850.

732 W. Commerce St. Aberdeen, Mississippi 39730

Imagine having your wedding, reception, party, reunion or other event in one of the finest examples of ante-bellum architecture in Mississippi . . . . . a stately mansion that survived the War Between the States in pristine condition . . . . nestled among massive magnolia trees that line the wide brick walk leading to a spacious portico . . . and surrounded by beautiful, well maintained grounds . . . . . with plenty of parking space, including areas designated for the handicapped. This is . . . . The Magnolias.



In 1850, Dr. and Mrs. William Alfred Sykes used
local materials and labor to build their home in the
classic Greek revival style. The spacious,
columned front portico has double doors, framed
by multi-colored stained glass side lights.
The Magnolias' exquisite mahogany stairway is
an architectural masterpiece. Leading in from
both the front and rear of the home, this tri-level
stairway meets and crosses in the hall and separates
again before ascending to the second floor,
where it allows equal access - street front and garden
front. Beneath the stairs is another doorway
that leads to the dining room and storage rooms in
the basement.

Magnolias Dinning Room

To the left of The Magnolias' entrance are double
parlors, once used for a tableau-style wedding.
The bride and groom and the wedding
party took their places in the rear parlor, while
the wedding guests were seated in the front parlor.
At the proper moment, the doors that separated the
two rooms were opened and the ceremony began.

Dr. and Mrs. J. M. Acker were the fifth
generation of the Sykes family to live in The Magnolias.
After the death of Mrs. Acker, who was the
great grand-daughter of the builder, the home
was purchased in October 1984 by Clarence Day of
Memphis.

Magnolias Dinning Room

In April 1986, following extensive renovations and
refurbishing, Mr. Day donated The Magnolias
to the city of Aberdeen, in memory of his parents,
Christine and Clarence Day.

Arbor With Lady Banks Roses

Individual & Group Tours

Monday through Friday

10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.

or by appointment

Tours are $5.00 per person

Group rates available

(662) 369-7956 or (800) 634-3538

E-Mail: sarahkwilemon@yahoo.com

Magnolias Staircase

Exchange vows
in one of The Magnolias'
beautiful parlors . . . . .

Magnolias Front Parlor

. . . . . or opt for an outdoor
wedding in the arbor.
The choice is yours.

Magnolias Arbor

The Magnolias' original kitchen has been completely renovated and is used for outdoor entertaining. The interior kitchen is fully equipped for use by caterers for events held inside the house.

Magnolias Kitchen

For more information about our town, visit the
Aberdeen Visitors Bureau web site:
www.aberdeenms.org

To visit the Aberdeen Pilgrimage website:
www.aberdeenms.org/pilgrimage_2007.html

Azaleas At Back Of House



Aberdeen Lock And Dam

Located just outside the city, Aberdeen Lock and Dam forms Aberdeen Lake, a popular recreational area. Aberdeen Lock and Dam is part of the Tennessee-Tombigbee waterway system.



Please join us during the 34th Aberdeen Southern Heritage Pilgrimage. A river port steeped in history, Aberdeen is one of the richest repositories of nineteenth century architecture in Mississippi. Magnificent Green Revival planters' town houses, Victorian and Colonial Revival homes and mansions, as well as historic churches, will be open to our Pilgrimage guests.

A Proper Afternoon Tea and elegant luncheons will be served at the venerable Victorian mansion, Greenleaves.

Take a Carriage Ride through History!

Join the members of First Missionary Baptist Church, an African-American congregation with ante-bellum roots, for their fabulous Taste of Mississippi and Gospel Concert.

The Elkin Theatre, Aberdeen vintage movie palace, will host a rollicking community theatre production which has become a local tradition.

Pioneer Hospital

Lies and Legends of Old Aberdeen Cemetery, a ghostly journey through our oldest cemetery, relates the amazing stories of Aberdeen's earliest residents.

Aberdeen is an antiques source well known to collectors, who will not want to miss the annual Pilgrimage Antiques Symposium.

Abernethy Federal Building

Other activities include The Boy Scout Pancake Breakfast, a Five K Run/Walk, and the annual Antique and Classic Car and Truck Show.

For more information about beautiful Aberdeen and its unforgettable Pilgrimage 2009, please contact:

The Aberdeen Visitors Bureau
1-800-634-3538
6-662-369-9440
pilgrimage@aberdeenms.org
P. O. Box 288
Aberdeen, MS 39730



Aberdeen was one of Mississippi's very first Certified Retirement Communities, so we've had lots of experience welcoming some great folks to their new hometown! Recent retirees have moved to Aberdeen from California, Minnesota, Florida, Illinois, Maine, New York, Washington and Louisiana, to name just a few states.

Newcomers find that houses in Aberdeen can be purchased for a fraction of what they would have had to pay in most other locations. For that matter, the same can be said of property taxes.


Failure of the Mississippi Highway 25 N/U.S. Route 45 S bridge over the Tombigbee River relief (Big Nichols Creek)/Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway in Aberdeen, Mississippi during the March 1955 floods.

Many retirees have moved here from large metropolitan areas, and they find that the slower, small town atmosphere is a welcome change of pace for their golden years.

But don't misunderstand the Aberdeen change of pace. You'll find activities and organizations that were created by and for new citizens, you'll be kept very busy!

Virtually every denomination is represented among the thirty-plus churches in Aberdeen ... those who are "into" genealogy utilize the excellent family records that are available at the Evans Memorial Library, known nationally as a genealogy research center ... golfers take advantage of the excellent nine-hole course at Aberdeen Golf and Country Club or the nearby Old Waverley Golf and Country Club, which has served as host for the LPGA tournament.

Bankruptcy Building

Fishing is abundant on the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway's Aberdeen Lake, site of several major bass tournaments annually.

Camping

Mississippi has the best highways in the South1 and our highway system is considered among the top four in the United States. In Aberdeen, you'll live just blocks from four-lane U.S. 45. New Interstate 22 is slated to open soon and will be accessible at Tupelo, 35 miles north.

Notable Residents

Stephen Adams, member of the United States House of Representatives and United States Senate,


Moses Hardy, formerly oldest living American man, one of the oldest veterans of World War I.

Booker T. Washington White, Bukka White was born in Aberdeen, Mississippi, in 1909.