Articles by Rufus Ward
Ask Rufus: African-American builders of early Columbus
Last week, I had an interesting conversation with Sam and Carolyn Kaye about Horace King. King, the subject of a previous column, was a black bridge builder who, in 1842, built the first bridge across the Tombigbee River at Columbus.
Ask Rufus: Every picture tells a story
My new book, “Columbus Chronicles, Tales of East Mississippi,” came out a little over a week ago and I have had a whole slew of people ask me about the cover picture.
Ask Rufus: Holiday libations
Thanksgiving has now passed and Christmas is fast approaching, which raises that perennial holiday beverage controversy: What is the favored Christmas libation, eggnog or milk punch?
Ask Rufus: Baskets hold story of early Choctaws
Most people think the Choctaws were, as a people, gone from Lowndes County after the Indian treaties of the 1820s and 1830s. That is not the case, and the long survival of Choctaw baskets in the area tells the story.
Rufus Ward: It’s just politics
As we near the end of the long slog of another presidential campaign, the mind drifts back to colorful politicians of eras past. The South
Ask Rufus: 1818, A Year of Changes
The first structure built in Columbus was a log house erected in the late fall of 1817, but it was not until December 1819 that the new settlement was officially recognized as a town. In the Tombigbee River Valley 1818, the year that was in between, was a transitional year.
Ask Rufus: Dances, propellers and perceptions
Often what we consider to be important really isn’t that significant, while at the same time events we overlook can be of historic note.
Ask Rufus: Undying character, friendship and history
I recently heard a person comment that the difference between thieves and politicians is that there is honor among thieves. Having spent more than 35 years in politics, I take exception to that comment but I can also understand why sometimes people might think so. It only takes one rotten apple to make a whole bushel basket of otherwise good apples look bad.
Rufus Ward: Grandma’s Old, Old Fairy Tales
Last week our daughter, Sarah, flew into Columbus with our granddaughter for a visit. One afternoon I found myself reading “The Glass Slipper” and “Sleeping Beauty” out of the book “Grandma’s Old, Old Fairy Tales” to my granddaughter. Karen, Sarah and cousin Ashley were there and commented that the stories were not exactly like the Disney movies.
Ask Rufus: Bear-hunting … with a knife?
By Friday night I still had not decided what would be the subject of my column today. So for inspiration Karen and I walked down to the Stella Shouting Contest. It was a lot of fun, but not particularly inspirational for a history column.
Ask Rufus: Columbus was booming in the 80s
The Civil War and its aftermath brought hard economic times to Columbus, but by the 1870s businesses were beginning to rebound. There were still economic setbacks, like the failed Memphis, Holly Springs, Okolona and Selma Railroad that was promoted by Nathan Bedford Forrest and attracted many Columbus investors.
Ask Rufus: Looking back at the city’s original town limits
Several people have asked why the south end of Market Street does a dog-leg at the Columbus Light and Water Department building. This question resulted in an interesting discussion with Sam Kaye about the development of the city’s street grid.
Ask Rufus: Our musical roots go ‘Over the Hills and Far Away’
We often hear about music that was popular during times of national crisis. There is the big band music of World War II, the hard times music of Woodie Guthrie during the Great Depression and the haunting melodies of the Civil War. The War of 1812 brought us the Star Spangled Banner and the Revolutionary War yielded Yankee Doodle.
Ask Rufus: Mississippi’s Lone Star Flag
The “Bonnie Blue Flag” which was once called the “Lone Star Flag” has been a symbol of Southern independence for more than two hundred years. The flag was first raised, to resounding cheers, on Sept. 23, in Baton Rouge, La. It had been designed by Melissa Johnson, who was the wife of dragoon Major Isaac Johnson. It was quickly accepted by the rebels as their symbol of independence.
Ask Rufus: From Cordials to Kool-Aid
As warm weather arrives people in the South turn their thoughts to their favorite beverages.
The Oldest Buildings in Columbus
I am often asked: “What is the oldest house in the Columbus area?” That of course is an easy question for it is the Cedars, the oldest part of which was probably built around 1818 or 1819.
95 years of Red Cross service
Recently, Mayors Robert Smith of Columbus and Scott Ross of West Point signed proclamations designating March as Red Cross Month. For 95 years, the Red Cross has played an important role in helping people in the Golden Triangle area. It was in 1917 that the local chapters were founded in response to the events of World War I.
Ask Rufus: The Tragic Story of the Eliza Battle
When warm wet weather in early March is suddenly followed by storms and rapidly dropping temperatures, I can not help but think of the ill-fated Eliza Battle.
Ask Rufus: The long history of Columbus air bases
This week Columbus Air Force Base will be celebrating its 70th anniversary. The base follows a 199 year tradition of military installations in the Columbus area.
Black History and the settlement of Columbus
When the topic of Antebellum Black History comes up, most people immediately think of the horrors of slavery. While those horrors cannot be diminished, there is a whole world of Black History that needs to be brought to the forefront. That is the roles of blacks, both free and slave, in the settlement and development of the Tombigbee River Valley.
Jelly Roll to perform at Jeffery Simmons Community Fun Day
July 3, 2025
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