Articles by Rufus Ward
Ask Rufus: Lt. John Daves of Gen. ‘Mad’ Anthony Wayne’s Forlorn Hope
Last May in a column on celebrating “America 250,” I mentioned three Revolutionary veterans with ties to Columbus: William Cocke and Silas McBee, who lived in Columbus, and Capt. John Daves whose great-great-granddaughter, Mary Govan Billups, lived at Snowdoun and was a regent at George Washington’s Mt. Vernon for more than 40 years.
Ask Rufus: Ancient landscapes and an ancient cavern
Work to make the Dr. John “Jack” Kaye Cretaceous Fossil Park at Propst Park a reality has begun, and already it is making news.
Ask Rufus: The Dr. John M ‘Jack’ Kaye Cretaceous Fossil Park
At the Columbus City Council meeting last Tuesday, the Columbus fossil park being developed in Propst Park was officially named The Dr. John “Jack” Kaye Cretaceous Fossil Park.
Ask Rufus: The theft of the Steamboat Alice
One of the more interesting river stories out of Columbus was the theft in 1880 of the steamboat Alice from under the nose of the Lowndes County sheriff.
Ask Rufus: ‘Veritably a howling wilderness’
Lately there have been a lot of news reports of increasing bear sightings in Mississippi and occasionally someone still mentions black panthers too.
Ask Rufus: The Davis Clock Company of Columbus
I recently had several people ask me if I had ever heard of a company that made clocks in Columbus back in the 1800s.
Ask Rufus: Buccaneers of the Black Prairie
When you hear the term “buccaneers,” visions of swashbuckling pirates of the Caribbean come to mind. However, that term is rooted in barbecue. Few people realize how close history and barbecue are tied.
Ask Rufus: Columbus and the art of two impressionists
I enjoy art. I am not an artist but love paintings that capture the spirit and the feeling of places and people as viewed through another’s eyes.
Ask Rufus: Revisiting ‘The Sound of Distant Thunder’
Two years ago, I wrote a column, “The Sound of Distant Thunder,” about the extinct passenger pigeon. Last week, Carolyn Kaye was searching in old newspapers for articles on Columbus history and hit paydirt.
Ask Rufus: The Strikin’ Snakes of the 50th FTS
In an Inactivation Ceremony at Columbus Air Force Base last Wednesday, Lt. Col. Nicole Janson commander of the 50th Flying Training Squadron, passed the squadron’s guidon to Col James Blech, the commander of the 14th Flying Training Wing.
Ask Rufus: The Mayors of Columbus
On Thursday, I attended Mayor Keith Gaskin’s farewell address and reception at city hall.
Ask Rufus: The Statue of Liberty and her little sisters
Tuesday marked a nationally significant anniversary with a local tie. It was the 140th anniversary of the arrival in New York harbor of the French frigate Isere carrying the Statue of Liberty from France.
Ask Rufus: Experiencing the K-Pg boundary
Some places you just see things, and then there are a few special places where you experience an unsettling feeling about what you see.
Ask Rufus: An amazing day
Jessica Crawford, southeastern regional director of the Archaeological Conservancy, described Thursday as an amazing day.
Ask Rufus: Memorial Day is not just another holiday
Sometimes people forget the real meaning of Memorial Day. It isn’t about backyard barbecues, fun gatherings and cold beverages. Last Saturday, I discussed the role of Columbus in the history of Memorial Day. Thursday morning, I went to Columbus Air Force Base and experienced the real meaning of Memorial Day.
Letter: No further delay in naming fossil park
I was pleased to see Saturday’s paper give a rose to the city for developing the fossil park, but I beg to differ about your
Ask Rufus: The origins of Memorial Day
As we approach Memorial Day, it would be appropriate to review the holiday’s origins and meaning.
Ask Rufus: Celebrating Emancipation Day for 160 years
In the Columbus area, the “Eight O’May” has long been called “Emancipation Day.”
Ask Rufus: Columbus and America 250
The 250th anniversary of the battles of Lexington and Concord, which marked the beginning of the American Revolution, was April 19.
Ask Rufus: The drought of 1855
The drought began in the late fall of 1854 and extended through the summer of 1856. Before it was over, several Tombigbee steamboats sank and one caught fire and burned.
