A historic landmark will open its doors to the public on this “Country Day” weekend in Union, welcoming locals and visitors to a guided tour of the treasured relic that’s full of stories passed down through generations.
From 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 13, The Foundation for the Restoration of Boler’s Inn welcomes you to step back in time at Boler’s Inn, located on East Jackson Road in Downtown Union, to learn more about its history and see the restoration efforts that are currently underway. Admission is $5, with fund’s going towards future preservation projects that will help keep the inn’s history alive.
Designated a Mississippi landmark in 2000, the old inn that was built around 1856 has served various purposes throughout its lifetime, including as a Sunday School room, a saloon, a relay station, and a newspaper office. It is the only remaining stagecoach stop east of the Mississippi.
The most famous story involving Boler’s Inn was its role in the Civil War, where U.S. Army General William T. Sherman and his troops camped on the property in February of 1864, in between ransacking and burning both county seat Decatur and Meridian. Sherman himself spent the night in the house and ultimately spared Union, and the inn, from being burned down due to a misunderstanding.
Nancy Moore, a board member on the Boler Inn Foundation who holds a wealth of knowledge on Boler’s Inn, said she was looking forward to opening the doors to the historic museum and sharing her knowledge on the old “Carolina-I” that’s a cornerstone of local history and identity.
“While we don’t have the original furnishings, we do have furniture made during the Civil War. And we have many old artifacts, including quilts, beer bottles, doll furniture, rope beds, feather mattress. We’ve got a lot of stuff,” said Moore. “So come out and join us for a tour of the house and grounds for $5.”
Also, that day, the foundation will be selling bricks for the brick wall that features names of Union families and descendants. If interested in purchasing a brick, the foundation will be set up to share information and take orders that day. All funds go to future preservation projects, as well.
