She has always enjoyed listening to stories of local history. And those stories and those buildings lead to her fascination with architecture.
Belinda Stewart of Belinda Stewart Architecture will share her love of old buildings and historic places in Webster County at the October JOY Club potluck luncheon set for 11:30 a.m. Oct. 31 in the First Baptist Church of Eupora fellowship hall. After a few brief announcements, lunch will be served. There will be a brief devotion around noon, and then Stewart will share a powerpoint presentation about some of her favorite historic homes in the area.
Stewart said she is not sure which is the oldest building in Webster County, but there are several very early log cabins that are mostly in ruin, but still around. The oldest building still in use is the Shady Grove Presbyterian Church, originally built around 1820, with the current building constructed in the 1840’s or 1850’s.
“The Shady Grove Presbyterian Church, near Clarkson is certainly one of the oldest remaining buildings,” Stewart said. “It was once two-story with a masonic lodge on the upper floor.”
Stewart said she has been interested in local history as long as she can remember.
“I have always enjoyed listening to people’s stories, particularly when they are about places in this area,” Stewart said. “Ms. Ruth Sugg was an early inspiration to me. I loved visiting with her and seeing her research on this area (which the Eupora Library now has). My interest in architecture came from these stories – and from the area’s fascinating historic places.”
Also, her grandfather, Tom Gore, built houses throughout the county and she loved being on his job sites growing up.
Stewart’s favorite local building is the Hays Barn, near Walthall.
“It was constructed around the turn of the 19th-20th Century,” Stewart said. “It is incredible – with huge cantilevered ‘porches’ around it. The barn, and it’s remaining sister barn down the road, are very unique to this area.Come join the fun at 11:30 a.m. Oct. 31 at FBC Eupora. For more information about JOY Club, go to http://www.fbceupora.com/ministries/JOYClub.
A portion of this article was published in the October 26, 2017 edition of the FBC Eupora newsletter at fbc eupora 10-26-17
Gwen Sisson 
Do u just publish stories for webster co area or any area. Just curious
Hey Angela! I live in Webster County and write about a lot of the projects I am personally involved in, such as JOY Club at FBC Eupora. I work with The Winona Times and the The Conservative in Carrollton, so I publish a lot of stories from there, as well. I write a little for The Starkville Daily News, and the Starkville District of the United Methodist Church. If something else works out, I am always open to writing for other publications.