The two-story brick commercial building on the southeast corner of Locust and Openwood streets (1200) was built in July 1883 for Charles Kette. His building on this location had burned earlier in the year and, according to the Vicksburg Herald, he replaced it with “a fireproof building” in which he would continue to sell groceries, boots, shoes, hats, clothing, hardware, and agricultural implements. He called the building “Oak Ridge Corner,” and he lived above the store.

Kette was born in Germany in 1837 and immigrated to the United States prior to the Civil War. During the war, he served in Company F 58th Ohio Infantry and Company B 1st Ohio Infantry and was in the First Battle of Bull Run. Following the war, he settled in Vicksburg and became an important member of the community, both as a merchant and as a volunteer. He was very active as a member of the Blue and Gray committee and in commemorating the Campaign and Siege of Vicksburg. He was also a member of the Odd Fellows and the Southrons Band.

In April 1887, Kette married Mary Hossley, whose husband, W. H., had died seven years before. The Kettes honeymooned in Europe. In August 1889, Kette bought the vacant lot to the east of his building. In 1891, Beck and Brothers built the new building, with an estimated 200,000 bricks, that is now on the corner of Main and Openwood streets. The Kettes moved into this building, living on the second floor and opening a cotton factorage business on the first floor. Kette had sold his stock in the Oak Ridge Corner to Jacob Dornbusch, who continued the operation in the corner building.

Charles Kette died April 13, 1900 and his funeral was in the Main-Openwood building. Mary continued to live in the building with her younger children. By 1911, Elias Zahlout operated his dry goods store in the building and he lived over the building at 1200, which housed a liquor store. Mary continued to live on the second floor. In 1918, John Base operated his grocery store in the 1200 building and the first floor of Mary’s building was vacant. By 1924, Piggly Wiggly called 1200 home and 1206 was vacant, Mary Kette having died on April 15, 1923.

The Vicksburg Post reported that when Mary died, she left six children, Louis Hossley, William Hossley, Dennis Hossley, Charles Kette, Helen Fells, and Katie Roesch, to mourn her passing. She also “left numerous grandchildren, who were devoted to her, many of whom were with their parents at the bedside at the last. Mrs. Kette was born in Vicksburg and spent all of her long and useful life here and was universally beloved for her many lovely womanly traits and her many deeds of kindness. She was a good wife, mother, neighbor and friend and there is universal regret at her death and much sympathy for the bereaved relatives.”

The two buildings have had a number of owners and tenants over the years and continue to be important elements of the Openwood streetscape.

Nancy Bell, Vicksburg Foundation for Historic Preservation.