In June 1923, Eva Murch purchased the lot on the northeast corner of Drummond and, what was then called Kate Street, now called Forrest Street, for $2,000. Eva was a dressmaker who lived with her brother Robert in the family home at 1321 Main Street. Her father, Robert Sr., had died in 1915 and her brother, William, in 1919. She hired contractor J.D. Brazier to build a bungalow on her lot that would be used as a “Home Beautiful” exhibition. The Better Homes Movement was a nationwide campaign started in 1922 that encouraged home ownership, modernization, and beautification because of a critical shortage of homes in the years after World War I. It was initiated in Butterick Publishing Company’s household magazine, The Delineator. The campaign celebrated home ownership, home maintenance and improvement, and home decoration as a means of motivating responsible consumer behavior and it also expanded the market for consumer products. Annual local campaigns, called better homes demonstration weeks, encouraged people to own, build, remodel, and improve their homes and distributed advice on creating home furnishings and decorations.

President Warren G. Harding and Secretary of Commerce Herbert Hoover kicked off the first Better Homes Week in October 1922 for the National Better Homes Advisory Council. The campaign centered on the 100th anniversary of John Howard Payne’s song Home! Sweet Home! Vice President Calvin Coolidge served as honorary chairman of the Advisory Council of Better Homes of America and Secretary of Commerce Hoover was the president of the board.

On March 8, 1924, The Vicksburg Post reported that “one of the interesting events of the coming week will be the opening of the ‘Home Beautiful’ exhibition which will take place on next Friday evening at 7 o’clock at the pretty new model bungalow erected at Drummond and Kate streets. The Rice Furniture Company, Electric Supply Company and Miler Auto Company, co-operating with the national ‘Better Homes’ movement have arranged the novel display and will, personally and through their representatives, welcome visitors. Everybody in the city, particularly those contemplating building a new home or refurnishing their present one are cordially invited to the reception to be held on Friday evening. There will be no sales made as the exhibition is purely for the purpose of giving a practical illustration of how beautifully a home can be furnished and equipped in the modern style and at little cost.

“The furniture was personally selected at Grand Rapids by Harry E. Rice, Jr. of the Rice Furniture Co., on his last business visit to the furniture center, Cecil Owens, of the Electric Supply Co., secured special fixtures and electrical labor-saving appliances at the recent Chicago exhibition and George Miller, of the Miller Auto Co., has installed one of his finest radio sets. During the time of the exhibit, refreshments will be served and a fine radio concert enjoyed all prepared and presented at the model bungalow. Souvenirs will be presented to the guests.”  These souvenirs consisted of a broom holder, a feathered quill pen and toy “aeroplanes (sic) for the kiddos.”

The Post described the house as “a modern home, light, cheery and airy. It is stuccoed, has fire proof roofing, and the heating apparatus is located in a basement. Fire hazards are reduced to the very minimum. Coal for the furnace is dumped direct into the basement. This in itself saves much drudgery. The ‘Home Beautiful’ is modestly handsome in appearance. It is of the Southern bungalow type. It comprises living room, two bed rooms, dining room, kitchen, bath room, sleeping porch, basement with the heating plant and storage of coal, and an attic. Besides there is a neat little alcove in the front part of the house, connecting with the living room, and an ample front porch. (The alcove sufficiently large to be used for a table of bridge or a game of mah jongg (sic). Composition, fire-proof roofing is used. A Kalamazoo Vulcan furnace has been installed in the basement, and this heats the entire house. Several convenient built-in closets have been provided, there is a pantry in the kitchen, and two handsome built-in bookcases have been provided for in the living room. There is a large open fireplace at the left end of the living room. An open grate will always be one of the intricate parts of an American home. There is a low ceiling with beam effect. In this room is a Victrola which is of the new Italian Renaissance, made in walnut. The kitchen is neat, compact and well lighted. The floor is covered with Bird’s Eye Neponset linoleum. Close at hand is a Hoosier kitchen cabinet, well stocked with provisions from H.B. LaHatte and Company and a Cole’s hot blast gas range with the famous rust proof oven. White Frost sanitary refrigerator with water cooler attached. The kitchen is a perfect dream. The rugs and draperies used throughout the house are the product of Marshall Field’s of Chicago and are handled by Rice’s. The bath room is all tile with porcelain fixtures. In there is found a tub, wash stand, toilet, medicine cabinet, stool and rug. A special instantaneous water heater has been placed in the home. This electrical heater is in the bath room. By turning the faucet in one direction you get hot water, while turning it in the reverse way you have cold water.”

The Post also reported that the home was insured by the Hennessey Agency, a reproducing piano (player piano) had been furnished by G.W. Roberts of the music store, and china and kitchen equipment by the Racket Store, and Cassino and Crouch, manufacturers of American Lady Coffee, would be serving cups of coffee to every visitor. It also stated that “the walls in the ‘Home Beautiful’ are of Sheet Rock sold exclusively in Vicksburg by the Perry Lime and Cement Company. This is the first home, so far as is known in Vicksburg, in which Sheet Rock has been used on the walls. The Sheet Rock makes a most attractive appearance and will no doubt be the source of much comment by visitors to the home.”

The grand opening was set for March 14, but inclement weather delayed the event until the 17th, which saw several hundred guests that night. The attendants were treated to radio messages from “the huge radio set from the Miller Auto Company, operated by W. N. Rogers of Central Avenue, received messages from far and near. At 8:30 three songs dedicated to the ‘Home Beautiful’ opening were broadcast by the Commercial Appeal at Memphis, Tenn., station W.M.C. Hostess cakes to go with American Lady Coffee were supplied by Harry Hammett, local representative of the Hostess Company in Vicksburg. Flowers artistically placed about the home were furnished by the Capitol Floral Company.” The promoters of the exhibition stated after the opening event that “last night’s success shows plainly that Vicksburgers appreciated our efforts and we are all more than pleased. The co-operation was splendid and not only were all of our requests for assistance in making the event notable granted, but many volunteered to help. This came not only from the merchants but also individuals.” The house remained open for tours for a week.

Mississippi Governor Whitfield was invited to the grand opening, but was ill and his private secretary, Cecil E. Inman, sent a letter to Harry Rice stating the “the governor directs me to say to you and those associated with you in this most laudable enterprise, that he sincerely regrets on account of illness and illness in his family, his inability to be present on this occasion. He directs me to state to you and those associated with you, that he heartily endorses the Beautiful Home Movement and it is his hope that the movement will be successful.” Rice also received a letter of congratulations from the White House.

Eva Murch rented out the house after the event. She owned a number of rental houses and remained a dressmaker for most of her life. She never married and lived in the Main Street house, dying there on Nov. 21, 1967. The Drummond Street house continues to be an important part of the neighborhood.

This column was submitted by Nancy Bell, Vicksburg Foundation for Historic Preservation.