Rolling Fork & Mont Helena – Mississippi Blues Trail

ROLLING FORK, MS
Where history and art collide!

Not only does Rolling Fork have a rich history of blues music,
there are also other noteworthy sights to see.
Did you know that it was a visit from President Teddy Roosevelt in 1902
that led to the creation of the beloved Teddy Bear?
Make sure to take a break from your drive and check out the
charming wooden carved bears, as well as stop by Lee’s Picker Art.
As you continue on, be sure to admire Mont Helena –
a beautiful mansion built on top of an ancient Indian Mound.
Keep in mind that it is private property, but it makes for a lovely scenic drive past.

• Moreover, take a break from your drive and explore this charming area, where you can spot wooden carved bears and check out Lee’s Picker Art.
  
• Besides the fascinating blues history, Rolling Fork also holds another unique attraction.
  
• In 1902, President Teddy Roosevelt himself graced Rolling Fork with his presence and even gave us the beloved Teddy Bear!
  
• Furthermore, Rolling Fork gets its name from the swift waters at the convergence of Deer Creek and Rolling Fork Creek making the fertile soil here an ideal spot for farming cotton, alfalfa, and soybeans.
• Interestingly, did you know that in 1840, Methodists held their religious services in a log schoolhouse on the Rolling Fork plantation? Shortly after, Baptists and Episcopalians also established societies here.
• On another note, the railway station, a junction station for the Louisville, New Orleans & Texas railways, that arrived in 1883 helped boost the town’s shipping trade.
  
• Also to note, enterprising Jewish merchants moved here and set up retail stores.
  
• Despite having just 400 residents, Rolling Fork is small but historical! Therefore, be sure to stop by and experience all that Rolling Fork has to offer.
  
• Additionally, if you continue down the road, you’ll come across Mont Helena, a magnificent mansion built on an ancient Indian Mound.
  
• However, just remember that it is private property, so it’s best enjoyed as a picturesque drive-by.
  

Unfortunately, March 24, 2023, a high-end EF4 tornado, with maximum windspeeds estimated at 195 mph
struck the communities of Rolling Fork and Silver City, Mississippi, killing 17 people and injuring at least 165 others.
Most of Rolling Fork was destroyed.

Rolling Fork: MUDDY WATERS BIRTHPLACE

• This is the “Blues Shack,” reminiscent of the iconic shotgun houses that Muddy Waters may have lived in with his grandmother during his early years living on Stovall Farms.
• Fun fact – Muddy Waters (McKinley Morganfield) was actually nicknamed “Muddy” by his grandmother because of his love for playing in the mud as a baby! His playmates tagged on “Waters”.
  
• His father was an entertainer at local blues affairs and worked as a sharecropper in the Rolling Fork area.
  
• Drawing musical inspiration from legends like Son House, Robert Johnson, and Robert Nighthawk, Muddy honed his skills playing harmonica and guitar alongside various musicians as he grew up.
• While working on Stovall Plantation driving a tractor, he even ran a juke joint out of his own home.
  
• However, it wasn’t until he made the move to Chicago in 1943 that he truly made history.

Murals throughout the downtown area feature images of the Blues man Muddy Waters whose relatives still live here.

STORY of the TEDDY BEAR

Have you ever wondered how the beloved Teddy Bear got its name? Well, let me tell you the story behind it. 

• It all started in 1902, when President Theodore Roosevelt went on a hunting trip in Rolling Fork. The town was eager to impress their distinguished guest and wanted to ensure he had a successful hunt.
• So, they went ahead and tied a bear to a tree for the president to shoot. However, things did not go as planned.
• When President Roosevelt saw the helpless bear, he couldn’t bring himself to take its life. Horrified, the president refused, saying it would be unseemly—unsporting!—for a man of honor to kill this vulnerable creature. He made the decision to have the old bear put to sleep, and surprisingly, this act of kindness spread like wildfire in the media.
• In the early 1900s, an editorial cartoonist named Clifford K. Berryman drew a series of illustrations for the Washington Post depicting President Theodore Roosevelt and a bear. One drawing showed a slim Roosevelt declining to hunt and kill the animal, while another portrayed a more realistically stout president with a smaller bear that had an innocent, baby-like expression on its face.

• These cartoons caught the eye of Morris Michtom, a candy store owner in Brooklyn. To him, the cute bear from the drawings seemed like a perfect marketing opportunity.
  
• Michtom asked his wife Rose to make a stuffed version of the bear, and it quickly sold out after they placed it in their store window.
  
• Seeing its popularity, Rose continued to make more bears by hand. However, demand soon surpassed their ability to keep up with handmade production, so they decided to start manufacturing them in a factory in 1903.
  
• Michtom gave these plush toys the name “Teddy’s bears,” in honor of President Roosevelt.

As word spread about these cuddly companions, people started referring to them as “teddy bears” instead.
By late 1906, this new nickname had become universally accepted for these beloved stuffed animals.

• Even today, if you visit Rolling Fork, you will find various bear carvings scattered throughout the town.
• And it’s no surprise that Mississippi declared the Teddy Bear as its official state toy.

Read more about the history of the Teddy Bear.

LEE’S COTTON PICKER ART

• While in Rolling Fork, make sure to stop by Lee’s place and check out his unique artwork.
  
• Lee is a talented welder creating art from cotton picker spindles, which are used to remove cotton from the boll. He creates eye-catching stick man figures of all different shapes and sizes.
  
• And now, with the recent rebuilding efforts in Rolling Fork after a devastating storm, Lee’s artwork has become even more meaningful. By purchasing a piece of his artwork, not only will you take home a one-of-a-kind souvenir, but you’ll also be helping to support both Lee and the town in their rebuilding process.
  

MOUNT HELENA (Indian Mound)

The Mound…

• Notably, Mont Helena is an ancient Indian mound located in Mississippi that is noted on the Mississippi Mound Trail. This site has a rich history and is a must-visit for anyone interested in Native American culture.
• According to archaeologists, this mound was built sometime after AD 1000 by the Native Americans using a unique technique of alternating layers of clay and sand to create this impressive structure.
• At one point in time, there may have been three mounds at this location, but now only one stands tall at 26 feet.
• Four artifacts have been recovered from this site so far, including pottery pieces and tools used by Native Americans.

The Home…

• But what makes Mont Helena even more special is its connection to the Johnstone family.
  
• In the mid-1800s, John and Margaret Johnstone along with their daughter Helen moved to Rolling Fork where they purchased land for a plantation called “The Helen Place.”
• In 1862, it was here that Helen met Reverend George Carrol Harris, an Episcopal clergyman. The two fell in love and got married, eventually having three children – two boys and a girl.
• In 1896, the Harris’ retired to “The Helen Place” in Rolling Fork building a home on the highest point and renaming the plantation “Mont Helena.”
• Sadly, George died in 1911 but Helen continued to live at Mont Helena until her death in 1917.
• They are both buried in Mound Cemetery in Rolling Fork. 

Visiting Mont Helena today gives us a glimpse into the lives of those who once inhabited this land.
As we explore Mont Helena and learn about its past inhabitants, let us remember to honor their legacy
and preserve this important piece of our history. So if you ever find yourself near Mississippi Mound Trail,
don’t forget to stop by Mont Helena – it’s worth the visit!

In addition, you can find more detailed information on the Mississippi Blues Markers here.

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HAPPY TRAILS!

This blog contains a lot of information for those that wish to explore above and beyond!
The Table of Contents below lists all posts.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

MISSISSIPPI BLUES TRAIL
Clarksdale Blues Markers
Clarksdale Points of Interest
Greenwood Blues Markers
Greenwood Points of Interest
Indianola Blues Markers & Points of Interest
Leland Blues Markers & City Info
Natchez Blues Markers
Natchez City Legacy
Natchez Points of Interest
Old Country Store – Windsor Ruins – Port Gibson Blues Markers 
Po Monkey’s – Cleveland – Greenville Blues Markers
Rolling Fork Blues Marker & Mont Helena Indian Mound
Stovall Plantation – Friar’s Point – Tunica Blues Markers
Tutwiler Blues Markers & Emmett Till Story
Vicksburg Blues Markers
Vicksburg City
Vicksburg Civil War Museum & Coca-Cola Museum
Vicksburg McRaven House
Vicksburg National Military Park
Woodville Blues Markers & City
Mississippi Delta History & Jewish History
Mississippi Indian Mounds
Mississippi Sky Lake Preserve
Mississippi Itineraries