Walnut MS

History of Walnut, Mississippi

   Located in North Tippah, 3 miles south of  the Tennessee line near the intersection of Hwy 15 and Hwy 72,  Walnut continues to be a thriving town. The town was established on November 6, 1872, on land purchased by Henry Hopkins from the Chicakasaw Indian Cession in 1836. Originally the town was called Hopkins and changed to Walnut in 1876. Walnut originated as a stopping point for the railroad that ran from Middleton to Pontotoc.  The train needed both wood and water to run and would stop near Walnut for water on it's trips between the towns.  The name changed after a barrel of whiskey was accidently dropped at Hopkins, instead of Hopkinsville another village about a mile to the south.  The conductor had to back the train up one mile to Hopkinsville to deliver the Whiskey barrel to the store owned by Silas and John Hopkins.  After arriving back in Hopkins and hearing the complaint Mr. Bob Shannon suggested that Hopkins be called Walnut after a grove of Walnut trees located near the town to stop any confusion.  This was agreed upon and from that day forward the town was called Walnut.  A charter for the town was recorded in the office of the Secretary of State and State Library on July 10, 1936.

   Although Walnut has changed over the years and moved a little it still remains a thriving town with over 700 residents.  Currently, the town has all the modern conveniences; a bank, a library, city hall, a school k-12, a grocery store, a video store and tanning salon, a drug store, a hardware store, a public swimming pool, a park, a few restaurants, a couple dollar stores and an antique store. The furniture and elevator manufacturing industry provides jobs for it's residents and some even commute to Memphis to work.  The newly four-lane Hwy. 72, one of the few in the county, continues to add to it's growth.

Education in Walnut
from Andrew Brown's History of Tippah County, Mississippi

   Walnut school, currently the largest school in North Tippah, is located in the town of Walnut, 3 miles south of the Tennessee line.  The school originated before 1885, but the original location is not known, as no deeds have been found.  In 1888, land was purchased from the Smith family west of the railroad, north of Commerce Street in an area behind the Flake house.  This original school was probably small and only service elementary aged students.  By 1900, that building was replaced with a larger 2-story building that serviced grades through eleven.  This building had four large rooms, two uptairs and two downstairs.  Large windows were located on the north and the south side, and a belfry and bell were located on the roof.  Two large outside restrooms were to the north and east of the building; one for the boys and one for the girls.   In 1923, after consolidating with the smaller schools of Sand Hill, Mt. Vernon, Wright, Mt. Moriah, and Marlow, Walnut replaced the wood building with a new modern brick building.  This building consisted of four rooms to the north and four rooms on the south with a large study hall between them that could double as an auditorium if needed.   Many entertainments were held in this room, and plays were given each year by the older students.  This building burned on the night of March 13, 1932.  (If anyone has a picture of this building please send it in)

‍

Walnut's New School - 1930's
After the school burned seventeen acres of land was purchased from John N. Quinn and a new brick school was built  in 1933.  It contained 9 classrooms, library, studyhall, lunchroom, storage room, auditorium which seated 400, an office and toilets. This building is still in use, and over the years it has grown to include newer buildings for the elementary school, gym and cafeteria. Today, Walnut High School is a level 5 school with 290 students.

‍

‍

‍

Wright School  -circa 1912
Identified in the Picture are:  Luva Wright, Leroy Luker, Bryan Wright, Vonce Thornton, Clyde Thorton, Mary Paseur, and Lee Thorton. Mary Pasuer and Lee Thorton are standing next to the gentleman teacher.   If you can identify any others please contact me.

Wright School was founded in the fall of 1889, when G. W. Wright deed two acres of land to the community to build a school and continued to operate at that location until 1923 when it consolidated with schools in Tiplersville and Walnut.  It was located about 3 miles southwest of Walnut between Walnut and Tiplersville.