In 1878 a yellow fever epidemic spread death northward from New Orleans through Mississippi and Tennessee. Holly Springs was brought to its knees and never regained its former economic stature. As a result, it retains much of its mid-19th century architecture. 

Among the heroes of the epidemic were Father Oberti, the parish priest of St. Joseph, and the teaching sisters from the local school, who elected to remain in the city to nurse the sick. The priest and six of the nuns died in the plague. A physician who survived the epidemic wrote a tribute to one of the nuns on the wall of a temporary hospital room in the courthouse, and the citizens of Holly Springs raised a monument to mark the graves of the fallen priest and nuns. 

The little church had been unused for over twenty years and had fallen into a state of serious deterioration. It has been restored as a museum by a non-profit corporation formed for the purpose. The restoration is complete but funding for continuing maintenance remains a primary concern of the corporation.

Contributions are sought from former parishioners, wherever they may be, and from anyone else who would like to help with our project.  Our address is: 

HISTORIC HERITAGE PRESERVATION CORP. 
165 S. Randolph Street 
HOLLY SPRINGS, MISSISSIPPI 38635