General Information of Houlka

�@ Where quiet, country living and major industry come together. (Rick Huffman) Introduction of Houlka Houlka is situated in Chickasaw County in the northeastern part of Mississippi. Highway 32 bisects both the old and new sections of town. Houlka is approximately 35 miles southwest of Tupelo. The city of Pontotoc is about 15 miles to the north, and Houston is about ten miles to the south. Today, though a small town with few businesses, the school and local churches continue to bind together the town and community. The school boasts a strong Parent Teacher Organization that supports the school with finances and volunteers. The community members always respond generously when a need arises, whether supporting a building project for a local church, organizing a fund-raiser for a youth group, or aiding a family in a crisis. Community spirit still thrives in this small town. The community has evolved from a small settlement into one that today is competing in the world market in manufacturing and education. With the community spirit alive and well, Houlka will continue its advancement well into the 21st century. History Houlka was established in 1812. The Chickasaw and Choctaw Indians occupied the land here. �gHoulka�h is the name that the Indians gave to a creek west of town. The meaning of this name is low water or low land which agrees with the topography of the area. This is how the town got its name. Through the 1800�fs the town thrived and flourished on small farms. Then, in 1903, the Gulf and Ship Island Railroad surveyed the land for a railroad site, and when the railroad came through, the tracks lay approximately four miles west of the settlement. The towns-people relocated near the railroad tracks, and used oxen to move existing buildings by pulling them atop logs from their original sites. The town became a busy stop for passenger trains. The train stopped daily at several locations in and near the town.   Education In 1907, the city built a high school building, which still stands today, and is registered as a Mississippi Landmark by the Mississippi Department of History and Archives. This building served as the educational training ground for the local young people and had an enrollment of approximately 300 students. This building, though presently unoccupied, is owned by the school district, and the district plans to restore the building and use it for administrative offices and a community technology center. Education has come a long way since the present school was built in 1934. Today, Houlka Attendance Center offers classes from pre-kindergarten through the twelfth grade. Currently, there are 550 students enrolled in the Houlka school system. Houlka has 38 teachers, and the school offers 52 classes to students in grades 9-12. This includes Vo-Tech classes in Houston and electives in the school�fs electronic classroom. The electronic classroom provides classroom participation with other students in other schools through the use of closed circuit broadcasting from ETV. Houlka is also proud to have opened a new TechPrep building in 1999. The current administrative officials are Kathy Davis, Superintendent and David Tutor, Principal. Industry By 1912, the town had twenty-six stores, a sawmill, and two cotton gins. The local economy flourished from the booming timber trade. In the late 50's and early 60's, other industries began to move into the town. The power to make a living shifted from small farms and the timber industry to manufacturing. As this change took place, the local stores began to close. Although employment increased due to the shift of the manufacturing economy, the local stores continued to close. Current major manufacturing industries located in Houlka and the surrounding area are Leggett and Platt, Astro-Lounger, Kensington Mfg., and Franklin Mfg.   Churches Houlka has a rich history of local church families. Several churches were established during the mid-1800�fs, while others were founded after the turn of the century. The following is a list of local churches and the dates they were established: The Church of God of Prophecy, 1969 Houlka Church of the Nazarene, 1942 Houlka First Baptist Church, 1844 Houlka United Methodist Church, 1884 Houlka Presbyterian Church, 1873 Houlka Second Baptist Church, 1937 Houlka Presbyterian Church Houlka United Methodist Church Houlka First Baptist Church Area Landmarks Not many landmarks have survived the passage of time. Many of the buildings and homes have either been destroyed by nature or torn down by landowners to build new homes or industries. However, some landmarks were saved.   The Mississippi Forestry and Wildlife Department has saved the Owl Creek Indian Mounds, located near the Davis Lake Recreational Area. They are the burial grounds for the Chickasaw Indians. Davis Lake is a part of the Tombigbee National Forest and is a tranquil recreational area. It offers fishing, camping, swimming, and water skiing. Another landmark close to home is Lochinvar, an old plantation home built in the 1830�fs and located on Highway 15 South in Pontotoc, MS. Legend says that the ghost of a slave caretaker still roams the grounds on stormy nights. Finally, Witch Dance, located on the Natchez Trace Parkway near VanVleet, is the location of what legend says is the place where witches once gathered. The following information can be found on the sign at the location: Witch Dance---the very name conjures visions of eerie midnights, swirling black capes, and brooms stacked against a nearby tree. The old folks say the witches once gathered here to dance and that wherever their feet touched the ground, the grass withered and died, never to grow again. Well, maybe so, but look around; look for a hidden spot where no grass grows. �@

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