At this place: 1222 Washington Street reflects Vicksburg’s commercial legacy

VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) — Standing at the corner of Washington and Clay Streets, a two-story brick building quietly tells the story of Vicksburg’s post-Civil War recovery and commercial expansion. Located at 1222 Washington Street, this historic structure was built around 1870 and once housed the A. G. Cassell Druggist Company, a cornerstone of the city’s uptown business district.

Albert G. Cassell’s pharmacy served the community not only as a place for prescriptions and patent medicines but also as a general store. A closer look at the historic photograph reveals signage announcing the store’s move just one block down, to the corner of Washington and Crawford Streets.

Through the decades, the building adapted to the times, housing a wide variety of businesses. Among them were various drug companies, a beauty parlor, a barber shop, a law office, and for many years, United Cleaners, a long-standing local dry cleaning service.

Like many historic buildings, 1222 Washington has weathered change and adversity. A fire in 1910 damaged its storefront, prompting major repairs. In the 1960s, structural renovations further altered its appearance. Though the building’s facade has evolved significantly over time, a few original features have endured.

As time moves forward, buildings like 1222 Washington Street remain important markers of the city’s evolving story. More than just brick and mortar, they serve as living archives of Vicksburg’s resilience, reinvention, and rich commercial past.

The Old Courthouse Museum has an amazing collection of old photos taken in the Vicksburg and Warren county area. If you are ever interested in getting an old photo printed for your home or business, contact the staff at the Old Courthouse Museum and they can make it happen.

Starting in 2022, Chris Bolm began to take images from the Old Court House Museum‘s photo collections and pinpoint their current locations and replicate the shot. Bolm named the series “Then and Now.”