Just East of the downtown section of Greenwood, MS and across the railroad
tracks is the area known as "Baptist Town". This area is
known mostly to the people living on this side of the tracks and to some
outsiders that are fans of Blues music due to the fact that Robert Johnson, King
of the Delta Country Blues, 
frequented this area and possibly died here on Young Street in 1938.
This poor African American neighborhood has suffered through most of it's
existence with hard times and a short drive
around this section today would indicate that hard times still exist for many of the
residents. Most of the buildings are shotgun houses of which only
one-third are owned by single families. Most of the housing is owned by
absentee landlords.
On July 14, 2009, a marker was erected in Baptist Town by the Mississippi Blues Trail.
One of the businesses at 214 Young Street was Hoover's
Grocery/Cafeteria. The current 
owners of the building are
Sylvester & Mary Hoover. The building was frequented by Robert Johnson in the
1930's and the Hoover's are active in keeping the history, myth, and legend
alive. Each year, Sylvester organizes several blues events on the street
corner where Johnson played. The Hoovers currently operate the "Back
in the Day Museum" which opened in February-2006.
An August 16, 2004 Blues Festival
included Honey Boy Edwards on the same street corner where
Johnson and Honey Boy played
in the 1930's. Honey Boy Edwards was a frequent traveling companion of Robert Johnson.
Honey Boy stated that he was with a gravely
ill, but alive, Johnson, in Baptist Town the night before Johnson died.
A Baptist Town Blues festival was held on May 7, 2005 to include Gospel Singing, Paul "Wine" Jones, Bill Abel, The Givens Brothers, David "Honeyboy" Edwards, and Howlin' Big Daddy & The Rockers.
These Blues events have included musicians such as Paul Wine Jones, Bill Abel, The Givens Brothers, Honeyboy Edwards, Big T, Corey Harris, Lee Williams, Michael Frank, Big Daddy, Ken Byest, Ricky Davis, Vincent Dunn, Hubert Sumlin, and Terry Bean. In addition, events have been attended by Morgan Freeman, Luther Brown, David Cunningham, Aubrey Whittington, Senator David Jordan, Claud Johnson-son of Robert, and Steve Johnson-grandson of Robert.
Back to "Joints-Baptist Town" page
Page added in 2004