The Canton History Museum is just the latest addition to Canton’s celebration of its unique and colorful history. This museum boasts exhibits made to immerse its audience in Canton’s past. Jana Dear of the Canton Visitor’s Center says, “The space used to be a museum for our Christmas Festival, but we converted it to history. It contains vignettes of Canton’s history. The museum is also interactive in that you can buy bottles of Coke. We consider it a tribute to those who have contributed to our history. We have the Square because of these people and the businesses they started.”
Many of the exhibits are based upon said businesses and places that once existed within Canton. The Seale-Lily ice cream parlor replica is based on the parlor that was once housed on Peace Street. The Seale-Lily Ice Cream Company was founded in Jackson in 1912 and was the first ice cream company in Mississippi to use refrigerated cabinets, refrigerated delivery trucks, and dietetic ice milk.
The ice cream shop is closely followed by a replica of Dr. Ernest G. Spivey Jr.’s dental office. Having opened his practice in 1965, Dr. Spivey brought to Canton the experience he earned in the Navy as a dentist in Hawaii and Japan. Dr. Spivey’s office was also on Peace Street.
A Jewish immigrant by the name of Joseph Perlinsky opened a tailor shop in Canton Square in 1867. At 17 years old, he was serving Confederate soldiers. His reputation grew so much that Siamese twins Chang and Eng Bunker, joined at the sternum, came to Perlinsky looking for suits. The suits Perlinsky made for them fit perfectly.
Saab’s Dry Goods Store was a longtime successful business owned by Mr. and Mrs. Anton Saab, who came to the United States from Lebanon. Mrs. Saab became renowned for her fashionable additions to her husband’s dry goods store, providing a selection of ladies’ dresses and hats from New York. This replica’s original location can be found in Saab’s, now an antique store on the historic square.
An even more familiar immigrant success story is that of David Buttross and his family. Buttross arrived in New York at 16, having left Lebanon with five dollars to his name. He married Freada Saab and they moved to Canton to join her parents. Buttross opened his own business, the Buttross Department Store. His granddaughters run the store today.
The replica of City Bakery represents one of the first bakeries established on the square. The replica sports an old-fashioned churn and refrigerator box to show how products were made back when Catherine Sulm started City Bakery.
Another exhibit examines Allison’s Wells, a site where Matt Allison dug up wells originally for drinking water and turned them instead into a health spa. The water of Allison’s Wells became famous and many a celebrated writer, artist, and politician visited the area. The Allison’s Wells Arts and Crafts center takes its name from the now-defunct health spa.
There is, of course, an exhibit dedicated to the Canton Flea Market. The painting hanging in the exhibit was made by Inez Wallace, one of the original twelve artists who took part in the very first Canton Flea Market. These days, up to a thousand vendors participate in what is considered one of the biggest events in the Southeast.
The museum also contains a replica of an old-fashioned drug store, complete with mortar and pestle. The Mosby’s Drug Store in Canton is the oldest continuously-family-owned drug store in the United States. It was founded in 1843 and remains in the possession of Bill Mosby.
Another exhibit containing unique historical items is the bank exhibit. Back in the day, banks issued their own currency. The failure of Citizens Bank meant its currency was worthless; this currency is on display here. Another exhibit displays historical items that once belonged to Dr. John B. Howell, Jr., who served as a physician in the Army during World War II.
With all of these wonderful exhibits and replicas, Canton pays homage to its history with an immersive and interactive museum. “Come to the Canton Visitor’s Center and a tour guide will take you there,” says Dear. Visit the Canton History Museum Monday thru Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm and on Saturdays 8 am to 12 pm.
