Stuff on the shelves is for sale. Tables for the restaurant are in the middle. Mr D. (Arthur Davis) is in the background on the right talking and singing to customers of the restaurant. A waitress is in the background on the left.
The Old Country Store Restaurant is located in Lorman, Mississippi on US 61 between Port Gibson and Natchez. The Natchez Trace Parkway is close by. We reached the Old Country Store Restaurant by traveling on the Natchez Trace Parkway in southern Mississippi and then we picked up US 61 after we ate lunch at the Restaurant.
The Old Country Store is owned by Arthur Davis (Mr. D.) The building is 130 years old and used to be a general store where you could by such things as cotton and work clothes. Now Mr. D runs the place as a restaurant, gift shop and flea market. The restaurant is buffet-style. We had a wonderful meal here. The home-made southern fried chicken was outstanding. Other specialties (we had some) of Mr. D are: macaroni and cheese, mustard greens, field peas, dirty rice and blackberry and peach cobbler.
In Mississippi we were on US 61 and the Natchez Trace Parkway.
Highway 61 was a major escape route for Blacks in the rural South going to Memphis, Chicago and St Louis. The road has been called the "Blues Highway" because it passes through an important source of blues music, the Mississippi Delta. According to legend, at the crossroad of Highways 61 and 49 Robert Johnson's sold his soul to the devil in exchange for learning blues music. Bessie Smith died on US 61 in a car accident. Bob Dylan and many blues artists have written songs about Highway 61.
The Natchez Trace Parkway follows a route used by Native American tribes, such as the Natchez, and early explorers. It dates back to the precolonial era when it was a trail for travel by foot. No commercial traffic, commercial establishments or advertisements are allowed on the Natchez Trace Parkway. Because of these restrictions driving on it is pleasant and the surrounding landscape is attractive.
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