By Ron Wynn
Musicians across the idiomatic spectrum are joining forces to rebuild a cultural shrine in Mississippi. That’s the 200-year-old former home of the great Mississippi John Hurt in Avalon. It had been restored and turned into a museum, but it was recently burned to the ground. While no culprit has yet been arrested, it has been widely seen as the work of racist vandals. The home contained rare recordings, guitars and more.
Immediately after the disaster struck, Mary Frances Hurt, the artist’s granddaughter who is director of the non-profit Mississippi John Hurt Foundation and the primary curator of the museum, set up a GoFundMe Campaign.
Its goal was and is a simple one: to re-establish a museum to honor her grandfather on the same site. Among those who’ve contributed are longtime Springsteen E Streeter Stevie Van Zandt and Allman Brothers alum Derek Trucks. “The authorities, the Fire Marshall and the County Sheriff, claim ‘No foul play,” Hurt told Variety. “In February, we were set to make it a national landmark. We had worked for years to get the landmark status, as this was the only known residence of one of the great blues musicians. We took pictures and were celebrating. Then on February 21, they burned it down, knowing it was about to become a national landmark.”
“By the grace of God almighty I’m whole,” says Hurt. “I learned there’s only one race: the human race. And it’s not politics and not religion that teaches the most. Music is the universal language that speaks to the hearts of people. I’m grateful to find what John found. Racism and hate and animosity don’t exist. People coming together is what’s real. Thanks to John’s music, I’ve been enriched.”
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