"In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." -- John Muir
Mississippi Blues Trail
August 5 - 11, 2010
| August 9th - Tallahatchie Flats |
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| In Greenwood, Mississippi, I rented an authentic "tenant house" for Sunday and Monday night at Tallahatchie Flats. These shacks were acquired from several local plantation owners to preserve the historical nature of these homes with each one bearing the name of its original location, or previous owner. The Flats are 5 miles north of Greenwood, surrounded by silent, endless fields of cotton, and located on the banks of the Tallahatchie River. They also come with air conditioning, plumbing, a television, and a full kitchen with microwave oven, so they have been improved for modern living. |
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| The grave of Robert Johnson |
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About a mile south of Tallahatchie Flats is the Little Zion Baptist Church where it is believed that Robert Johnson is burried. However, the actual location of his body remains a mystery, but recent statements from Rosie Eskridge, the wife of a supposed gravedigger, indicates that the actual grave site is under the big pecan tree in the cemetery of the Little Zion Church north of Greenwood along Money Road. Sony Music has placed a marker at this site. The other potential grave sites are Payne Chapel Baptist Church in Quito where a headstone was erected in 1991. The other possible location is Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church near Morgan City, which has a small headstone donated by Columbia Records. Johnson's death certificate says he was burried here, but bluesman David "Honeyboy" Edwards, who was with Johnson when he died, claims that Johnson's sister moved his remains to Payne Chapel Missionary Baptist Church in nearby Quito. Suposedly, Robert Johnson sold his soul to the devil at the crossroads in exchange for making him an immensely talented, guitar player and songwriter. He died at age 27 in 1938 after being poisoned. He had recorded 29 songs in 2 sessions. |
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