The Oldest Building In Mississippi Has A Fascinating History
By Daniella DiRienzo|Published November 13, 2016
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Daniella DiRienzo
Author
Though Daniella was born in New York and has lived in a couple of other states, Mississippi has been her home for more than 30 years. After graduating from the University of Southern Mississippi, Daniella began to hone her writing skills through various internships. In the years since, she’s had the privilege of having her articles appear in several publications, such as the Mississippi-based Parents & Kids Magazine. She’s also had the honor of interviewing actress Sela Ward for The Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Experience.
There seems to be no shortage of historic buildings in Mississippi, but the LaPointe-Krebs house in Pascagoula is the only one that can take the title of the oldest. Predating the American Revolutionary War by two decades, the home is an architectural gem with a fascinating past.
Take a look:
The LaPointe-Krebs house was built in 1757, making it the oldest building in the state as well as the oldest confirmed building in the entire Mississippi Valley.
Prior to receiving its current name, the home was known as the Old Spanish Fort because it served as the fortified home of an army officer during Spanish control of the Mississippi territory.
The construction methods and materials used to build portions of the home can’t be found anywhere else on the Gulf Coast, making it extremely unique.
The framing walls were made with cypress and cedar and then filled with a concrete-like material called tabby, which is made with oyster shells. Flooring was also made with the oyster shell-concrete.
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Over the years, the LaPointe-Krebs house has been studied by archaeologists and architectural historians, revealing clues to its interesting past.
While Krebs owned the historic property, it was a working plantation, which produced rice and cotton. Interestingly enough, Krebs went on to invent a roller cotton gin two decades before Eli Whitney invented his cotton gin.
An article from 1775 details the property’s damage, stating, "…the hurricane left the houses uncovered and his smith’s shop almost all washed away. All his works and outhouses were blown down." By using dendrochronology dating, it has been found that only a few of the home’s timbers are from 1772, which proves the home was only damaged, not destroyed, during the hurricane.
The earliest known photograph of the LaPointe-Krebs house is from the 1890s (below).
By this time, the home had undergone several renovations. Because of the presence of artificial material, it’s been determined these renovations included installing a raised wooden floor and rebuilding the fireplaces. During the renovations, the doorways and windows were also altered, as was the roof.
Descendants of Hugo Krebs lived in the LaPointe-Krebs house until 1914, and by the 1940’s, it was no longer a residence.
The home was owned by the American Legion and served as a meeting hall. Several changes were made to the structure during this time period, including restoring the floor to its original lower level, installing electricity, adding windows, and demolishing additional buildings on the property.
By 1971, the property’s significance earned it a spot on the National Register of Historic Places.
In 1984, the building was designated a Mississippi Landmark. Today, the LaPointe-Krebs house serves as a museum for the City of Pascagoula.
Located at 4602 Fort Street in Pascagoula, the house is currently undergoing its biggest, most extensive renovation yet; however, the normal hours of operation are Tuesday – Friday, from 10 am – 5 pm, and Saturday, from 10 am – 3 pm. For more information on the LaPointe-Krebs House and Museum, click here.
