The new historical marker on the Square in front of City Hall. / (Dexavier Sturdevant)
BY CHARLOTTE MONA ROI
cmroi@go.olemiss.edu
A new historical marker has been installed in front of Oxford City Hall to replace the 1951 plaque.
The new marker details the history of Oxford since the city was chartered in 1836, mentioning well-known locals such as writer John Grisham.
According to Andy Mullins, chief of staff to the chancellor, the original plaque did not sufficiently detail the history of Oxford and was in bad shape.
Mullins made the suggestion to Oxford Mayor Pat Patterson’s office to replace the plaque. After Patterson approved the idea, a committee was created to decide what the new marker should include. The members of the committee represented a variety of Oxonians, including University of Mississippi history professor emeritus David Sansing, former UM chancellor Robert Khayat and Neilson’s Department Store owner Will Lewis.
Committee members admitted they struggled to find the best way to describe Oxford in limited words. The state archives department further prolonged the process after the committee sent the information to the department for approval.
“The state wanted to change too much of the wording,” Mullins said. “They always have changes they want to make.”
After nearly a year of discussion and drafting, altering the wording was not a desired option.
The information on the marker was approved by the department for historical accuracy, like any other historical marker or plaque.
The new marker does not have the magnolia flower on top of the sign, which indicates it is a state sign. Instead, the Oxford emblem appears, showing that the city funded and produced this sign.
“I am very satisfied with the quality of the information,” said Gerald Walton, local historian and retired UM provost. “It is extremely difficult to say in a very few number of words the history of Oxford, but we came to a compromise.”
