On the Road to Learned

                                                                      How Green

                                                                       Downtown

                                                                       Side Street

                                                    Gibbes Store (my neighbor on the porch)

                                                             Side View of Store

                                                                Inside the Store

                                                               Across the Street

                                                        Learned Methodist Church

Learned, Mississippi
Population:  94.  That’s up from 50 in the year 2000. 

Deep in the back roads of nowhere Mississippi, lies a small, beautiful town called Learned (ler-ned). It’s a place I’d like to live. Downtown Learned consists of a general store, Methodist church, and two other old time buildings that are no longer in use. And yes, the store does have a gas pump.  But aside from that, not much has changed in 100 years. The general store is called "H. D. Gibbes & Sons. It opened in 1892. It is built of heart pine, just like my house. Everything that was there in 1892, is still there – even the Gibbs family. The patina on the top shelves of the store is just amazing. They also have a small restaurant inside, and from time to time, my neighbor and I stop by for a plate lunch, just to enjoy the atmosphere. It’s like stepping back in time, when there weren't so many people. Today we had field peas with snap beans, okra, macaroni and cheese, and ham.  I ate every bite.  Oh yes, and corn bread.  The real kind, without all that sugar. After lunch, I took pictures. Each time I visit Learned, I am glad I came.  It’s a beautiful place that I’ll visit again when it calls me.