The Lincoln House is a beautifully restored antebellum home. Built in 1833, it pre-dates the Civil War by 30 years.
I discovered this cozy old home quite by accident. Riding through the area on my motorcycle late on Sunday, October 12, 2014, I stopped in Columbus, MS for fuel and lodging. I pulled over and consulted Yelp. First I looked for a Courtyard Marriott. But it occurred to me that there must be some attractive B & Bs in this quaint little town. But it was after 7:00 and I thought I would be out of luck.
I called the number for Lincoln House and left a brief message for "Brenda," inquiring about availability. Not knowing whether I would hear back, I set off for the Courtyard. I was at the lobby counter and about to pay for a room when Brenda returned my call. I'm sure glad she did. She said I could stay at the Lincoln House and suggested I have a little dinner at the Longhorn Steakhouse first. She gave me directions to her home, and when I arrived she was waiting at the curb with a lantern to help me see where exactly to pull over.
While the home is beautiful and filled with fine antiques, the best thing about this place is the hostess, Brenda Caradine. This was Sunday. The day before, the Mississippi State Bulldogs had secured their place as #1 in College Football for week eight. Every place within a hundred miles had been swarmed with visitors. But everyone had cleared out by the time I showed up. So I had the whole house to myself. (The Caradines live in Sid's ancestral home next door.) Brenda has that wonderful old South persona. And she must be the world's foremost raconteur on the person of Tennessee Williams, who hailed from Columbus. She's collected TW memorabilia from all around and is curator of his boyhood home, now the Visitor Center for Columbus. She hosts a TW festival here annually in September.
So be prepared for wonderful southern hospitality--an uplifting encounter with a gracious hostess, a restful night, and a hopeful outlook the first morning of your stay in Columbus. read more