The Home of Folk Art

Mississippi Folk Art Shrine to be Preserved by Local Church

- Margaret’s Grocery – The Home of the Double-Headed Eagle

Margaret's Grocery - Rev. H.D. Dennis - Photo by The Blind Wino

It all started approximately 25 years ago for Rev. H.D. Dennis with a marriage proposal and a vision of grandeur.  He proposed to his sweetheart Margaret, they were both at the age of 69 at the time, and promised to turn her grocery store into a castle.  She accepted and the transformation began.

As the years went on the grocery store looked less like a place to buy Wonder Bread and more a place of just plain wonder.  The Reverend was determined to keep good to his word.  The building and surrounding additions became a (folk art) castle as promised as well as a place of worship.

Margaret's Grocery - Bus Chapel - Photo by God's Architects

He turned an old bus located on the property into a chapel which gave him a place to preach to the visitors stopping by to see his folk art shrine.  This, combined with his reverend status, gave the store it’s nickname of “The Bible Castle”.

Margaret and the Reverend sold their beloved folk art home and shrine to their favorite church, Cool Springs M.B. Church, which is situated directly behind their property.  They asked the church to allow them to live there until neither one was able to do so anymore.  Then and only then  would the church be fully responsible for their “work of art”.

Margaret's Grocery - Margaret Dennis - Photo by Teladair

Unfortunately, the Reverend has lived in a convalescent home for some years now and Margaret recently passed away in October 2009. The time has come for the church to take over.  The next trip you take traveling down Old U.S. 61 near Vicksburg, Mississippi, stop on in and see the folk art Castle that Rev. H.D. Dennis built out of love for his wife and God.  We wish the Cool Springs M.B. Church luck in keeping this wonderful folk art monument alive.  As folk art lovers we are rooting for them, however, I’m not sure they need it.  I am fairly certain there is a higher power on their side!

See the video…

-Michelle Daniel