BEFORE, AFTER: Nellie’s has new look

By Roscoe Barnes III

The Natchez Democrat
Published 1:34 pm Tuesday, October 15, 2024

The Nellie Jackson house, once commonly known as Nellie's Place, located at 416 N. Rankin St., is currently owned by J.T. Robinson, who is restoring the building. He plans to open it as a museum. Left, the Nellie Jackson house as Robinson purchased it in 2019. (Submitted) Click on image to enlarge.

NATCHEZ, Miss. — After years of sitting in disrepair on the corner of North Rankin and Monroe streets, the Nellie Jackson house has a new makeover. The wood-frame building has a new roof, new porch, and its original screen door that features a metal cutout of a woman wearing a hoop skirt with a man in top hat bowing in front of her.

The house is painted white with a red door and red trimmings. Its renovation work is continuing inside with new floors and walls.

The house, which was commonly known as Nellie’s Place (or simply Nellie’s), was owned by Nellie Jackson (1902-1990). It is located at 416 N. Rankin and is currently owned by J. T. Robinson, who is restoring the building. Robinson said he purchased the house in 2019.

Caesar Cobb of Cobb Construction, Gloster, is doing the renovation. Completion date is set for November 30, according to Robinson. He plans to open the home as a museum.

Jackson was well known as a friendly madam who openly ran a brothel from her home for about 60 years.

Jackson’s house was built in the Queen Ann style between 1892 and 1897, according to the Historic Natchez Foundation. The house has three bedrooms and two baths. It has undergone a number of changes.

The house was one of the filming locations in the movie, “Get on Up” (2014).

Though mostly known for operating her brothel, Jackson also was known for her charity.

According to news reports, she fed the hungry and regularly provided money for people in need. She also provided transportation for nuns. During the mid-1960s, she served as an FBI informant and provided information on members of the Ku Klux Klan gleaned from her employees who serviced Klan members, according to local historians. She was also known to bail civil rights workers out of jail.

Jackson’s story is told in the documentary film, “Mississippi Madam: The Life of Nellie Jackson” (2017).

Jackson was born into poverty on August 3, 1902, in Possum Corner, an unincorporated community in Wilkinson County. She was the youngest of twins. While growing up, she attended Oak Grove Church in Wilkinson County, according to her obituary. She moved to the house on Rankin in 1921, and a few years later, she joined the Holy Family Catholic Church, the obituary noted.

Jackson died on July 12, 1990, from injuries received in a fire at her home on July 5, 1990. Police said the fire was caused by Daniel Eric Breazeale, 20, a former resident of Oxford. Newspapers reported he was a junior at the University of Mississippi majoring in business. He stayed in Natchez for the summer where he was working. He was living on North Rankin at the time of the fire.

Breazeale reportedly became angry when he was denied entrance into Jackson’s house in the early morning hours. Police said he was told to leave because he was drunk.

Breazeale left and returned with gasoline in an ice chest.

Police said he “poured gasoline on the front porch, entered the brothel and poured gasoline on Jackson. In the process, he also splashed gasoline on himself,” according to The Clarion Ledger (November 13, 2019). Former Mayor Tony Byrne told The Clarion Ledger, “”When he lit the fire at Nellie’s, it blew him almost across the street.”

A witness told The Natchez Democrat (July 6, 1990) that Breazeale resembled a “ball of fire shooting across the street.” The witness said, “He came flying across the road. It looked like a cartoon.”

The Natchez fire chief at the time said the fire destroyed the front porch and one bedroom. Jackson’s bedroom was near the porch. She was asleep at the time of the fire, The Natchez Democrat (July 6, 1990) reported. Two of her four dogs died in the fire.

Jackson suffered first-, second- and third-degree burns over 100 percent of her body, according to press reports. Breazeale suffered third-degree burns to 80 percent of his body.

Breazeale and Jackson died from their injuries. Jackson was 87. Her funeral was held on July 16, 1990, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Services were officiated by Father David O’Connor. Jackson was buried at Sunset View Memorial Park.

Read more at: https://www.natchezdemocrat.com/2024/10/15/before-after-nellies-has-new-look/