Madison122web

Laurel, a small city nestled in South Mississippi, was once hailed as the
Yellow Pine Capital of the World. Lately though, her notoriety has shifted
from pine to preservation. Laurel now plays host to visitors from all over
the country flocking to visit “America’s Hometown.”
The story of Laurel really begins when the Eastman-Gardiner Lumber Company
opened their first lumber mill in 1893. Three more lumber companies eventually
followed and started the boom of this little town. As the lumber companies grew,
so did the downtown area.
Brick and concrete buildings were constructed, and the lumber companies encouraged the
development of businesses and family-owned shops. The owners of the companies wanted to signal
that they were here to build a community and not just cut down all the trees and leave. The lumber
barons began to build estates along 5th Avenue which were soon followed by large homes and
bungalows on the side streets and avenues. This created the Laurel Historic District, which is
the largest, finest, and most intact collection of early 20th century architecture in Mississippi.
Hometown MADISON • 17