A sign and historical marker were erected on Wednesday in the oldest community in Starkville, Mississippi.
Residents of the Needmore community gathered around the new sign for the grand unveiling on Wednesday, March 8. The community spans from the railroad tracks down Highway 12, and around to the Mill.
"Needmore is the oldest community in Starkville, predominantly black, and it began with the GM and O railroad — the Gulf, Mobile, and Ohio Railroad," said Charles "Lala" Evans, a life-long resident of Needmore.
"When the railroad was being built, people migrated to Needmore, and they worked on the railroad," Evans said. "Mississippi State was called Mississippi A&M College. Some people worked for the college, and some worked on the railroad. That's how the Needmore community was started."
Aside from the railroad, one of the biggest industries in Needmore was the Borden Milk plant. Evans said he remembers everyone getting a cow in the community, and placing fresh milk outside their houses to be picked up by the Borden truck. The milk would be processed in Starkville, and those who gave milk to the company were paid for their product.
"We formed a roundtable to figure out which was established first — Needmore or Starkville," Evans said. "Starkville, when it was first funded, was named Boardtown. We found that Needmore actually predated Boardtown."
Evans has worked closely with other residents of the community and with Mayor Parker Wiseman to make sure Needmore is not forgotten.
"There was a three-step system," Evans said. "First, we renamed the Gillespie Center to the Needmore Center. Next, we renamed Russel Street to Needmore. Then, we placed a historical marker in the George Evans Park. We did this in the last three years for the development of Needmore."
Evans hopes to continue building on the work done in Needmore. George Evans Park, which is named after Evans' father, is a place frequently visited by people all across Starkville. Evans hopes to see the park and community grow more in years to come.