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The Gold Coast of Rankin County
Posted on 7/20/15 at 12:24 pm
Posted on 7/20/15 at 12:24 pm
The Gold Coast of Rankin County has a storied history. The Gold Coast was the section of Rankin County where Casey Lane and Fanin Road traversed near the Pearl River. It is directly across the river from WLBT. Commonly referred to as "East Jackson", it was a hotspot of booze, gambling, nice restaurants, and good music for forty years. There was just one problem- Mississippi was a dry state (although beer was legal) and thus the bootleggers ran the Gold Coast. There were tides of trouble and tides of peace for the Gold Coast as do-gooders would get worked up about the Rankin County and pressure law enforcement and other government officials to shut down the Gold Coast. However, there was simply too much money flowing through the Gold Coast to keep it shut down forever. Governor White sent the militia in to raid the Gold Coast in 1939.
Here is a story from June 23, 1939 about the Governor's use of troops to bust up the playground of the bootleggers.
Artists such as billie Holliday, Duke Ellington, and Cab Calloway toured clubs at the Gold Coast. Stamps Brothers ran one club that had a 500 seat auditorium and a dance floor that was over a thousand square feet. Chamber got mad as it said over $50,000 (1936 dollars) was going to these places that could've been spentin Jackson.
It was funny because while the state banned the sale of liquor, it TAXED liquor. State was getting over four million a year in taxes on illegal booze. Mississippi finally gave counties the right to decide if they wanted to allow the sales of booze in 1966.
It was a rough place. One SHeriff was beaten to a pulp and spent a month in the hospital, part of it in a coma. A constable was shot to death.
Here is a story from June 23, 1939 about the Governor's use of troops to bust up the playground of the bootleggers.
Artists such as billie Holliday, Duke Ellington, and Cab Calloway toured clubs at the Gold Coast. Stamps Brothers ran one club that had a 500 seat auditorium and a dance floor that was over a thousand square feet. Chamber got mad as it said over $50,000 (1936 dollars) was going to these places that could've been spentin Jackson.
It was funny because while the state banned the sale of liquor, it TAXED liquor. State was getting over four million a year in taxes on illegal booze. Mississippi finally gave counties the right to decide if they wanted to allow the sales of booze in 1966.
It was a rough place. One SHeriff was beaten to a pulp and spent a month in the hospital, part of it in a coma. A constable was shot to death.
8
Posted on 7/20/15 at 12:43 pm to prplhze2000
Dude, I live in Rankin County and never knew that. Thank you. So interesting.
Posted on 7/20/15 at 12:45 pm to SabiDojo
quote:
Dude, I live in Rankin County and never knew that
same here
Posted on 7/20/15 at 12:45 pm to MasCervezas
I'm a transplant, but I'm pretty good at MS history. I love finding out new stuff.
Posted on 7/20/15 at 12:51 pm to MasCervezas
Posted on 7/20/15 at 1:06 pm to prplhze2000
I love hearing about the old days back when the country was strong.
Posted on 7/20/15 at 1:18 pm to prplhze2000
Red Hydrick
Lots of stories about this bootlegger
Read comments in thsi post
Gold Coast
He had a curb serve just across the river, White oyster shell parking lot and a road around back with a split door. you beeped your horn and the top half opened and you placed your order.
If you weren't 18 Red would run you off and refuse a sale to you.
I miss the Jack's Tamale place on the north side of Old Brandon Road there.
Lots of stories about this bootlegger
Read comments in thsi post
Gold Coast
He had a curb serve just across the river, White oyster shell parking lot and a road around back with a split door. you beeped your horn and the top half opened and you placed your order.
If you weren't 18 Red would run you off and refuse a sale to you.
I miss the Jack's Tamale place on the north side of Old Brandon Road there.
This post was edited on 7/20/15 at 1:25 pm
Posted on 7/20/15 at 1:26 pm to MeridianDog
1946
Posted on 7/20/15 at 8:25 pm to MeridianDog
Red is actually in the famous photo of the Woolworth sit in. Look at left. Old man with hat and glasses. That's him. He was there to egg the racisits on and harass the blacks.
Posted on 7/20/15 at 8:44 pm to MeridianDog
quote:Yep, fond memories of rolling across the Mighty Pearl with my dad to have the Cadillac's trunk filled with cases of happy-juice.
curb serve just across the river
At other times we would go to visit the Louisiana-side family in NOLA & BR, and even at nine years old I would think "why do we live in this strange State of MS?"
Posted on 7/20/15 at 8:53 pm to SabiDojo
Miss'ippi's first (legal) post-prohibition booze vendor merits a historical marker.
Posted on 7/20/15 at 9:27 pm to prplhze2000
Black market liquor tax was a big money maker for local towns, my gramps used to collect it for his police dept here on the Coast back in the Fifties. Even had to testify in front of a US Senate subcommittee about it. He was like shite, I just did what my Chief told me to do, what's the big deal? 
Posted on 7/20/15 at 9:28 pm to prplhze2000
Yeah, my sisters and I were practically raised by a black lady with light brown skin. I later learned that Lula worked as a "waitress" at the Gold Coast on weekends. I was reading about the Dixie Mafia and J.B. Torrence and J.D. McAdory and of course back in the 60's the sheriff ran things. My mom happened to work for Hinds county at the time. Well, not long after I read that articles regarding the Gold Coast and other corrupt activities I asked my mom about it one day over lunch, (about 3-4 years ago). I asked about Lula and McAdory and Torrence and Mom's mouth dropped. Ol Lula was a waitress allright.
Posted on 7/20/15 at 9:38 pm to prplhze2000
damn interesting stuff in this thread that I'd bet a lot of folks don't know about...thanks for posting it...
Posted on 7/20/15 at 11:16 pm to Spankum
Red is the old man on the left. Standing there, egging them on and totally enjoying it.
Posted on 7/20/15 at 11:35 pm to prplhze2000
It's what happens when you order a water in the Hot Donut Department.
Rules are rules.
EDIT: Obviously a staged photo, the woman seated nearest to the camera has a cell phone in her hand.
Rules are rules.
EDIT: Obviously a staged photo, the woman seated nearest to the camera has a cell phone in her hand.
This post was edited on 7/20/15 at 11:56 pm
Posted on 7/21/15 at 7:26 am to soccerfüt
Change purse dummy. Things did used to be that cheap.
Posted on 7/21/15 at 7:30 am to prplhze2000
quote:
The Gold Coast of Rankin County
I have always heard about rumors abour Jafrica's past. Apparently it used to be pretty happening place back in the day. It is ashame Jafrica and all of Ms is run by morons the area has such potential, but I guess if they developed it the hunting would suffer.
ETA: I have heard that the Johnny and June song Jackson was about coming down to the Gold Coast in Jackson. Any old timers know if that is true or not?
This post was edited on 7/21/15 at 7:58 am
Posted on 7/21/15 at 7:37 am to prplhze2000
Not to derail, but in the article i find it interesting the announcement of a rubber/cotton trade between england and the states in 1939. WWII was so facinating and horrific.
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