Article submitted by Nancy Bell, Vicksburg Foundation for Historic Preservation.

The three-bay galleried cottage at 1017 Harrison St. began its life as a twin to the house on the right of it in about 1880, and they were most likely built as a rental property.

In 1886, E. A. Hogan and his daughter lived here and then in 1894, the house was advertised for rent. In 1904, Mrs. Jane Moore (widow of Harry) and her son Harry Jr., a salesman with Hammond Packaging Company, lived in the house. Jane lived there until about 1920 when she moved to Vick Street.

Thereafter, Emma Wailes, the widow of Robert, and her three sons lived at 1017. Robert had died of pneumonia in 1917. He worked at the Vicksburg Steam Laundry and his death, according to the Vicksburg Evening Post, was “caused by exposure in the performance of his duties.”

Emma lived in the Harrison Street house until she died in 1959, and then her son Ernest continued to live there until he died in 1981.

The city directories for 1983 and 1985 list the house as vacant, but in 1990, it listed Ernest’s wife, Dorothy Klare as living in the house.

Eventually, the house was purchased by Jacob’s Ladder and lovingly used as their school until recently.

The house is now an Airbnb and will shortly be rehabbed to include a new commercial use as well.

At some point, perhaps during the 1930s or 1940s, the roof line was changed, as were the porch supports, to create a more modern Craftsman-style appearance.

The twin house next door was also remodeled by enclosing the front porch. The twin houses, therefore, no longer resemble each other.