Because I’m Nosey As All Get-Out

I have been meaning to stop and photograph Hattiesburg’s old abandoned Waterworks building for at least 10 years. There must have been more nosey folks besides just me poking around the place because they put up a chain link face around it before I could get in there.

There is a circular cement structure in the center of the front lawn that I’m wondering about… was it a fountain at one point? Water testing area? There is very little information I can find about this building as it is not listed any where I’ve looked for historic properties. I know that there are photos of the “new” waterworks building on James St in USM’s archives from the 60’s so this building was built and used prior to that.

To the left of the building, there is a decorative concrete wall around… what? I don’t know. Perhaps a patio?

Part of the gutter has fallen from the flat roof and is laying, bent, on the white trim of the entrance.

I didn’t realize we were as close to the Bouie River as we were when we were taking photos of the building. See map below.

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I also finally found the Fillingame-Purvis Cemetery in Purvis where the founder of Purvis and his one of his sons are buried. I could see this cemetery from the overpass of Hwy 589 in Purvis and literally drove down 10 or 12 roads before I thought about coming to it from the opposite end of the road. I’ve been looking half-heartedly for two years since I did the Wikipedia page for Purvis. I wanted a photo of the tomb stone for the page that I took and could release the copy right on but could NEVER figure out how to get to the cemetery since they build the overpass. All of the roads were closed or dead ends. I finally found it this morning.

Hard to see the name up there in this lighting.

Thomas Melville Purves, which was changed to the Purvis spelling by the time he died since the railroad spelled all of the signs for the town this way. This is his grave site, along with his wife Dolly who was the “doctor” for the growing town and his oldest son who died on his way home in Jasper County with the measles.

Wording reads: Remember friends as you pass by, That all mankind are born to die, Then let your cares on Christ be cast, That you may dwell with him at last.