The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1901-04-06
SOME HISTORIC FACTS.


the result of an interview with MI
Levin Lake, once OF Grenada, but now
living in Oxford. OF the list OF names
mentioned below, Mr.. Lake is the Only
one now living OF whom we have any
knowledge. This valuable and impor-
tant article will be read with great IN
terest by our people generally:
The present town of Grenada originally
embraced two rival towns. The western
town situated ON the Yalobnsha River was
founded by a company headed by rankin
+. Plummer. 1t was known as Pittsourg.
Adjoining il on the east was the town OF
Tulahoma, which was founded by a company
headed by Hiram G. Runnels. There was
an inveterate opposition between the two
towns similar to that existing between their
founders. who were Incorporating poll
teal enemies. This a%ntagonism greatly
impeded the progress of both towns, Pitts
burg having the ascendency.
Previous TO the union Of these towns, Pitts
burg contained the following business
houses: James Sims; r. T, Briarly; Prior
and Howard; John Gibbs; Thomas Flack;
and r. Coffman and Co.
Its original settlers were: John smith,
hotel keeper; James Sims. merchant; DIS
Allen Gillaspie and - Douthet, phy-
s~icians; G. D.. Mitchell, teacher; M. ii.
Mellon. blacksmith; Ralph Coffman, mer-
chant; C. IL. Grey. planter; and Jonathan
Carl, miller.
Among the first mercantile firms OF lula
huma were: Larkiu Cleveland; Clark
Dougan; Armour, Lake and Morton; II. 5.
and w. Lake and Co. Its original settlers
were; John Balfour, ferryman; Mai. Jack
Williams. hotel-keeper; Joseph Bullock
drayman; Larkin Cleveland, merchant;
Mrs. annie Parker, hotel-keeper; Mr.. Dae-
bage, baker; George X. Morton, merchant;
VIM. Marshall, s%ilversmith; Daniel Robert
son. town marshal: Mrs. - Smith, planter;
John b. Pass, planter, and Henry Lake, Will
liam Lake and Levin Lake, merchants.
Pittsburg being the larger place, had a
newspaper and a postoffice. giving 1t a de-
cided advantage over its rival. In the
course of time the editor Of the Pittsburg
paper became indebted to the citizens of
his town, who held a mortgage on his print
ing outfit. The Tulahomians loaned him
money TO raise the mortgage on the condi-
ton that he would move into their town
with his paper. This condition was com
piled with and Tulahoma gained the news
paper very much to the chagrin of the citi-
zens Of Pittsburg. The ambitious Tulahom-
ians afterwards secured the postofice, which
fact gave them still further advantage over
their rivals. Pittsburg finally got the post
office back, but failed in her efforts to get
the newspaper. In the final consolidation
of the two towns the postofice was placed on
the ~boundry line between them.
There were also two rival ferries across
the Yalobusha River at this place. Tula-
homa having control of the upper and Pitts
burg OF the lower. Pittsburg capital built
a bridge over the river and a levy across the
low lands. These contributed little to the
prosperity of the town, and the turnpike
and bridge company became financially en-
barrassed. The improvements were ulti-
mately sold to certain citizens OF Tulahoma
During the political campaign of 1885, in
which plummer concentrated his rugged
eloquence against Runnels, who was a can
didate for recollection to the office OF COVER
nor. these two little towns were In a state OF
constant turmoil. The inhabitants of each
shared the feelings and prejudices Of their
respective leaders and INDUCED in spirited
denunciations of those living in the other
On the occasion of a joint discussion be-
tween Plummer and Runnels, partisan feel
ing ran so high that bloodshed was narrowly
averted
In July. 1876, commissioners we're appoint
pointed from the two towns to endeavor tC
bring about a reconciliation with view to an
ultimate union. The reconciliation was eff
fected and the consolidation took place.
The original names of the two towns were
abandoned and the name of Grenada was
agreed upon. The unionawas consummated
at a barbecue held on July 4, 1886, the mar
riage ceremony Of the towns being perform
ed by the Rev. - Lucas, q Protestant
Methodist minister. At the conclusion OF
this unique ceremony, there was a great
Misunderstanding and a general reconciliation
The barbecue was held at a spring in the
eastern part Of Tulahoma.
There was at first some opposition on the
part of Pittsburg to the choice Of this place
as the scene of reconciliation. many Of its
citizens preferring any place on the line be-
tween the towns. But as there was nc
water convenient to any place on the line
they finally yielded the point and agreed to
enter the limits of Tulahoma.
The honeymoon hau hardly passed, now
ever, when the old spirit of rivalry was re-
vived. The west side finally broke up the
union and settled back upon its old name
'Pittsburg." The other side retained the
name of Grenada. The opposition was Sc
intense that the citizens of Pittsburg were
arranging to rave 1t incorporated with IL.
old limits, leaving out Grenada. The citi-
zens of Grenada were duly informed of thi'
scheme. without letting the other party
know Of their intention, they sent "A com
mittee TO Jackson, and secured the passage
of "A legislative act which Incorporated theil
town with certain limits, leaving out tn,
rival town. The success OF this schem,
caused the citizens of Pittsburg to abandon
the hope of securing a separate charter o
incorporation for their town, because of IL
proximity to Grenada. Realizing the greaI
disadvantage under which they were placed
they sued for peace. They presented a pc
ton to Grenada to extend her corporal,
limits so as to embrace Pittsburg, a~greein,
| to drop forever their old name and to b,
recognized forever as a part of Grenada
This action was followed by a harmoniou
adjustment of all factional differences
The business interests OF the enlarged tow
concentrated at a later date in the eastern
| part (old Tulahoma), the western part tolt