This is a shot of one of the abandoned buildings of the once proud Mississippi Industrial College located in Holly Springs, Mississippi. Founded in 1905 on the outskirts of the small Southern town, the Mississippi Industrial College trained young African-Americans for seventy-seven years under the sponsorship of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. Between 1906 and 1982, when the college closed, the school expanded from its two original buildings to include ten structures including dormitories, classroom buildings, teachers' houses, and a gymnasium. Today, four remaining historic buildings, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, stand unused and deteriorating badly. This photo is of a side entrance to one of the remaining buildings. The steps have somehow disappeared, but enough remains of the structure to reveal the elegance of the architecture. The main entrance was truly magnificent, but by the time we had gotten around to the front of the building the late afternoon light had left it in shadows. Interestingly enough, I couldn't find any info as to why in 1982 it ceased to exist. I suspect that it's famous competitor across the street, the even more historical and famous Rust College, may have had something to do with it. Rust College goes back to 1866, and if I'm not mistaken it was/is the first college for African-Americans. Some say that Rust College is where the American Civil Rights movement really began. I don't know, but perhaps they didn't like the competition right across the street. At any rate, Leah & I plan on getting back to the remains of the Mississippi Industrial College when the morning light will no doubt reveal the full beauty of these enchanted, ghostly ruins. Thanks for stopping by! Oh yea - Happy Valentine's Day!! marshall