This house on the corner of Mulvihill and Drummond streets was rebuilt in 1925 following a damaging fire on February 27. The house had only recently been built on the lot by Charles and Ethel Willis Crook. Architect Michael Donovan designed the house and it was rebuilt by R. W. Boult Contractors for $12,000. 

The Vicksburg Post reported that “according to the firemen, (the fire) was caused by defective wiring. They believe the blaze had been eating its way between the walls of the house from basement to attic several hours before it was noticed.”  

Neighbors and firemen helped to save Mrs. Crook’s new grand piano, furniture, rugs, ornaments and clothing.

Charles Crook was born in Bolton and moved to Vicksburg as a young person. He attended Jefferson College and started work with his father in the grocery business. He founded Hill Oil Company and in 1901 married Ethel Willis, who was from a prominent Vicksburg family. 

The Crooks had no children but both volunteered extensively for the Boy Scouts and the Girl Scouts, with Charles being awarded the Silver Beaver, the highest volunteer award in the Boy Scouts. 

In 1941, Charles was named the postmaster for Vicksburg by President Roosevelt, a position that he still held when he died on July 18, 1955, at the age of 76. Crook was also very involved with the Vicksburg Hill Billies baseball team and attended a number of World Series games with Ethel. Ethel was a renowned mezzosoprano and sang in a number of churches and for special events. She was also involved with the Ladies Organization of the National Park Golf Club, the Matinee Musical Club and Holy Trinity Church. She died on June 17, 1970 at the age of 88.

In 1928, the Vicksburg Evening Post produced a movie called “A Day in Hollywood” and used the house and gardens for a number of scenes in the movie. 

The house was home to Sam and Blossie Simmons by 1959. Sam was president of Simmons Oldsmobile Co.

The house at 1211 Mulvihill  is most widely known as the home of Fannie Peeples, the president of Hill City Oil Company and an active woman in civic affairs of Vicksburg and Warren County. The house continues to be one of the most beautiful residences in what was called the National Park Addition when it was built.  

– Nancy Bell, Vicksburg Foundation for Historic Preservation