At this Place: Morrissey’s Storage Garage

VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) — The Morrissey’s Storage Garage building was constructed in 1931 by Tom Morrissey and his family at the corner of Walnut and China streets. According to an advertisement for the garage in 1939, the building “could hold up to 275 cars.”

Tom Morrissey, aka Captain Tom, built a name for himself through various businesses over his lifetime, the most prominent of which was that of a steamboat captain and later a commodore of an entire fleet of steamboats. When automobiles began to make a dent in the railroad and steamboat traffic, Captain Tom followed the trend and relegated his steamboats for other business ventures. Over time, he dealt in agriculture, livestock and levee-building outfits, and eventually, with the help of his family, the automobile, garage and tractor business.

The building itself has housed multiple businesses over the years. It started as Morrissey’s Storage Garage in 1931 and later became Morrissey’s Auto Parts until 1968, when it became the American Oil Company. From 1971 to 1972, it was Neely’s Tire and Battery. It served as Warnock’s Service Center from 1973 to 2006 and eventually Capt. Tom’s Shop and Design Studio and Vicksburg Wood Works.

The Old Court House 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 us at the Old Court House 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.”