I lived in Oxford, my daddy still lives in Oxford which is 20 minutes away. Every time I go home to dad's I go to Water Valley. It is an artist haven, with amazing 100 year old homes and a cool small town perspective. Keep in mind it still has a very conservative population, certain folks supported #45, but many didn't and what I see missing in this video are the black folks who very much populate the town which is a miss they didn't capture here. It was an economically desolate place but has begun to rise up without losing the small townness. The old homes are AMAZING. Artists can live there and survive, they have a yearly art walk in August, where you go from one artist home to another viewing their work and admiring the fabulous referbished homes, it's really fun to go on. Bozarts is great they host the talented local artist and have fun parties, very welcoming. More folks are moving to Water Valley, I would look into it if I moved back, the University of Mississippi faculty and staff are moving to Water Valley because they can't afford Oxford. It really is a great small town with nice people.
In 1990 I immigrated out of the USA to escape the all the usual issues US cities have. Seeing Water Valley makes me want to return again to a community like that of my childhood in the '50's. I have a lot to contribute to a town like this. When the time is right I'm paying Water Valley a visit. When I do, I might not leave.
@@larrye.carpenter7794 Memphis... I was just thinking of Memphis when she mentioned how *hot* it was in 2005. I spent three different tours at NAS Memphis over my Marine Corps career. The first summer there I thought I was going to melt like a candle in the Attic! I've since moved to Barstow California in the Mojave Desert. My first summer here *in 2005 it got up to 125°.* But there's no humidity. I still think *Memphis feels hotter!*
Water Valley is becoming a "bedroom community" for the nearby university town of Oxford (Ole Miss). It's also not very far from Starkville, another major university town, and an easy drive to Memphis, TN. In many ways it is an impoverished community with a fresh coat of paint but the influx of "outside" money and drive is making a difference in a renewed sense of community pride and cohesion. I'm jealous of the fresh local produce (something of which you don't see a great deal here in southwestern MS due to the very short growing season before the summer heat hits) and the sandwiches at the cafe are ASTONISHING, making it nearly worth the 3.5 hour drive to Water Valley!
What is life? working 9-5? 8-6? collecting income to cover your rent and keep up everyday expenses? After watching what is going on in Water Valley, it really woke me up, and realize there is life and dreams. I am so happy to see that everybody cares in this town.
Love the fact that she can detail the source of every produce and item in her store. Really shows how this entire town/area sprung back to life. Great job! Very inspiring indeed.
I was a municipal employee for 25 years in my hometown. I watched it slowly die as businesses closed after Wal-Mart came to the area. The local businesses got organized and started a main street association to help local businesses thrive and start new ones. This is a federal and state program that helps small towns save local businesses and jobs. And it is a great use of tax money. I volunteered many weekends to help clean up the downtown area, along with my fellow public employees. I am a huge supporter of these types of programs. A healthy downtown is 100% better than a Wal-Mart at the edge of town. Well done, people. My hat is tipped to you all!!
Lv2 Fish It’s always a struggle, right ? But we gotta think who gets the money : the farmer living nearby with his family and the shopkeeper, participating to local economy, or the shareholders of WalMart and huge robotized factory-farms. This is basic money exodus
Lv2 Fish I will buy my eggs from the farmers. We have some in my area that are 2$ a dozen with 1/2 dozen duck eggs going for 3$. Local fruits and veg are no more expensive than what is shipped in, but taste sooooooo much better. You find you don’t need to eat as much because you aren’t buying food stuffed with filler.
@@lv2fish501 Those were organic farm eggs which cost more in Walmart, I do know where you're coming from but Walmart in my area did the same thing, got the town to shell out tax dollars to pay for their road ways and infrastructure only to switch to self check out and then raise prices, if we can reclaim what corporations have taken with monopolies, everyone will benefit, it's being able to afford to stay afloat until that happens that is hard but it is a vicious cycle we need to break from.
@@lv2fish501 wanted to add, I do see your point and it's hard but again if we let the Walmart's/corporations take over then your paycheck will continue to shrink, they buy the land, the water rights, change laws to suit them and help keep money in their pockets, this has played out in our history before, they make it impossible for a family run or small business to compete, each of us makes a difference, don't let anyone discourage you, please vote in 2020.
Very uplifting. These are the kind of inspirational people I enjoy listening to, because they speak from experience of actually creating something with their own ideas and hands. Thus they are genuine and believable.
Water Valley is my family home. My family has been in that area since 1832 on my grandmothers side and 1850 on my grandfather’s side. I am so glad to see how things are coming back. I love this. Thank you to everyone who had the vision to rebuild WV.
Thanks for posting this! Lovely story of people pulling together and rebuilding a town. Some of our Midwest rust-belt towns are doing this or have been doing this to some extent (attracting small businesses, preventing big box stores, hosting events downtown), but this story is really inspiring. And yes, a key to reviving an urban space is to have a grocery store!
There are many, many forgotten main streets all over America. Hopefully they can all be restored and reimagined. They are affordable and offer a character you can't find anywhere else. I'll bet this is a trend that picks up and continues a while.
I had a job travelling though the midwest to visit various local grain elevators. The decimation of small towns was sad, 4 out 5 buildings empty everywhere I went. So nice to see a revival of community 20 years later, at least in one place.
Love to see my small hometown get so much attention in a positive, restorative manner! Before BTC took it over - right before the Grinch showing in the building - my dad (Mike Irwin) and I installed the light fixtures on the ceiling over my Christmas break. To my knowledge, those light fixtures are still there today. Very fond memories that holiday season of working with my dad doing what he does/did best! He's retired now, but damn did he do great work for that town while we were there.
Very inspiring and a really good thing to celebrate and glorify what is already there, because so much has passed away. Once it's gone you can't replace the history, textures and ambiance with something new, no matter how much money you spend. These structures have a meaning beyond their practical purpose that is priceless. It's obvious that it's very appreciated by the townsfolk to have them restored, kept alive and still serving practical functions as an integral part of the town life.
Loved it, just love it. When I used to travel though old towns I would see all these old store fronts closed and looking like they needed something done with them. I would just wish I had the cash to fix them all up and put businesses in them. It's nice to see folks and a town come together and revitalize these places. Thanks for sharing their cool stories and accomplishments. Best Wishes n Blessings. Keith Noneya
Agreed...looking at those old small town brick buildings reminds me of the roaring 20s and 30s LOVE that era The late 1800s the early 1900s. Before 1940.
This is so inspiring! I am energized to be a part of and contribute to this type of renaissance. It is happening in so many small towns across America and is becoming a real movement. These folks are my heroes.
I stay in Mississippi and I never knew Water Valley had that much development going on. I am in Memphis Tennessee and I have been there water Valley several times in my life but I'm glad to see the community is developing.
An admirer of old architecture and charming towns, I applaud you for your mighty determination, profound tenacity, and colossal hard work. Perhaps one day I will make my way from The Netherlands to visit your town. :-)
Kirsten- I've been following your videos for several years now. So happy you are finally featuring my home state and such a special town so close to Oxford!
josetres333 I almost agree.. but my town has one super wal mart and the next town or area over has a newer and bigger one...but yet the small mom and pop local shops are holding their own and new stores are opening all the time .. There are some things i will get at wal mart. .and others that i go to the small local store or farmers stand for .. like produce... It all should work out
josetres333 Turns out he was absolutely correct in his thinking that eventually the advent of jobs would decrease, as now most Walmarts have gone the way of self checkout.
We need to return to our small towns and communities in order to be self sustaining. I love the mom and pop businesses, the local farmers and crafts people who all buy from and sell to one another, it's also about being personal, knowing the people you live around, belonging to a place you can call home.
What an amazing "new old town"!!! Thank you 4 your vision & putting things into place. We need more people like you. Your sacrifice & hard work will pay off for not only you, but for future generations!! Well done. Thank you so much!!
During the video, the art gallery owner mentioned being there for 8 years, and the grocery/cafe/junk-antique store for 5 years. The bank gave the grocery owner a loan to buy and renovate the 5-building block based upon that successful track record. So viability and sustainability, at least for those two businesses, is evident at the time of the video's production.
These small towns with their classic ‘town squares’ are dotted throughout the south, my wife is from Ashland Al and it has charm just like this. And close to major city if you need big from time to time. Love to see these old buildings get a second chance.
Water Valley is where my Dad’s family is from. My grandmothers people were there in that country when the treaty was signed with the Choctaw, I used to walk down those streets.
The south has never been my vibe culturally, but that town does look great. Local businesses, keeping commerce local and individualized. Department stores, shopping malls, and now Amazon have largely destroyed this more, organic commerce. Heartening to see it coming back a little. Shop local!
I'm from the northeast and lived in cities there and New Orleans before moving here. I enjoy living here...People are kind for the most part...and the cost of living is good..We live in an old house that we wouldn't be able to afford in the northeast. The South is changing...You learn a lot by moving around.Found we have more in common than not.
Really love this one Kirsten. How inspirational. I'm curious, your stories are all so varied and from all over the world. How do you go about finding and choosing what it is that you are going to film. You have become one of my favorite channels.
My mother's parents were born and raised in water Valley Mississippi... Moved to Memphis in the 40s and have now passed away... we used to go to Water Valley to see my great-grandparents when I was a kid and would go to the old Pharmacy and go to the soda fountain it was very interesting as a little kid glad to see it refurbished
Two hours plus from me. Really beautiful down town would be a great place to go on a day trip. I wish they were closer I would love some milk and pork. Thank you for the great vid ms dirksen.
Hats off to you and the people who support these businesses. They re-established a community where life is worth living. Instead of chasing $$$$ they chose to live a meaningful life.
The comment section in this video confuses me. Not quite sure what they're talking about. Anyway, this is such a great story. Communities are so important and it's great to see this one being revived. And the buildings are beautiful. Thanks for sharing. Makes me want to go and live there too 😊
Mulan 121 half of the things here have already been in business and the ones that have been opened by these people aren’t even used by the public people here don’t wanna see art or gay book stores
Mulan 121 Yes , I agree. Sometimes when people try to do good they are chastised for it, and if they just let rot the same applies. Anyone that is positive is good in my book 👍
Now I really understand the phrase " haters gonna hate " But what a great story about hard-working people getting together and trying to bring back a small town.
I LOVE THIS. I really hope and pray they can keep this all going and growing. I support local family owned business They have really taken this away. Big business took control over small family business is what they do to make us dependent on Big Government and big business . We must demand and support family owned business . GOOD FOR THEM ON TAKING A STAND ON NOT HAVING WALMART COME IN. In my town we have a great family owned pharmacy that has been here for many ears. And big business has tried so hard to run them out. They built a cvs on the corner to the right of family owned business and then a walgreens right across the street and I refuse to shop at either I will wait if my pharmacy does not have it and cant get it in for a day I refuse to shop at either one of them and many people see what big biz and big gov is doing and taking a stand and not giving any biz to these big companies and giving it all to family owned its been very hard on them but they are still in biz because of faithful customers supporting family owned and not big biz.
Since I went to Biloxi for a Y-Teen camp in high school, I've never had any desire since to visit Mississippi again. This video changed my mind! Thank you!
19:07 the man with the fishing hat left the gallery guy hanging hahaha, I love the vibe of this little town I wish I lived in a place like this but in PR there's nothing like it (that I know of)
Wow I love seeing the air stream round house . I had heard about them awhile back. The main Street people keeping beautiful 100 year old buildings alive is very important.. the space, The energy, I could see Hollywood making movies there? & You have great style at documenting creative DYI people . Love it thank you
Another truly interesting story from Kirsten -- excellent job! Not least: to experience this somewhere in 2017-USA brings back perspectives. Would love to go and see for myself...
I love in an area of North Carolina that is Infested with "Older Rich Folks" who only contribute to the hardships of the poor and working class. The Greed Based "Developers" and Real Estate Parasites get to play bigshot and live an ostentatious life thanks to being Bribe Bought by "Wealthy Older People" whos money (like the Welfare Breeders) is soarced from outside of the area. Hopefully the pretentious posers in their "Gated Communities" will be picked clean by the Crimminal Elements that are an easy drive away. I find humor in those who live an ostentatious life style (The "Look at me " sort.) when they receive Far More Attention than they can bear.
It is nice to see thinking outside the box. Bringing business in that the town needs, like local farm products, a brewery where people can come enjoy the music also, and other local businesses that locals need so they don't have to leave town for things.
I really love what you guys have accomplished here. I am so ready to invest and move to a small town and contribute the way you have in Mississippi in Colorado.
Bravo! I applaud you all for your determination, tenacity, and hard work. You have recreated the town centre with joy and imagination. Keep up the excellent work! I send you greetings from Middelburg, The Netherlands.
Should open up a William Faulkner Cafe in town and bring in the literary crowd. Mississippi contributed a unique version of the American story with authors like Faulkner, Eudora Welty, Shelby Foote, John Grisham, Richard Wright, Willie Morris, etc....
I believe that if we ever experience a severe economic recession, many people will leave the big cities and settle in towns, including dead or dying towns, and form autonomous, thriving communities.
"if we ever"??? it's happening now. i live in a big city and people are going back to local small towns in droves. especially the people who grew up in the big city, they are the largest population of the exodus
That is the way it was before these big corporations drew people to cities, you had your community, farmers, furniture,cabinet makers, shoe and boot makers, lots of diverse and different trades, average people were more independent also, they owned a home with a little land so they could grow a garden and can food for winter, have chickens for eggs or cooking, they had their own wells and septic systems so no water and sewage bills, with solar we could be even more independent, if someone got sick or lost income the community would help out, bottom line is the 1% do not care about anyone else, it's just pure greed at this point, they want us to be dependent on them for everything, so basically slaves that work for what they want to pay and then take it from you for what you need to just get by.
Bayby Dilly Well, I’m writing this comment in April 2020 in the midst of the novel coronavirus outbreak and I’m really keen to see what is happening now and what will happen from here on end
@@Musique61414 There have always been people leaving it all behind and choosing the simple life at a slower pace and there always will be. And by the same token, there have always been people fleeing the asphyxiating environment of a small town to thrive in the hustle and bustle of a lively city and there always will be. One woman's poison is another woman's medicine.
This is art and a pioneer that knew what he wanted and did it his way... Not impeding on the community...creating life and giving space change and music a chance to survive for the next renaissanse
I miss towns with side walks and locally owned businesses. Coffee shop, diner. Wow I love this. Roll up your sleeves work to restore. That old fashioned market, fresh fruit and vegetables grown by locals. I love that they built the hotel with efficiency rooms for contract workers that travel. As an IT contract worker that travels I'd love to be able to live in town and have a nice affordable place to stay. This place has more character than any of the cookie cutter renovations that toss in a bunch of micro breweries and expensive small condos. Unique and special.
Kirsten, your channel is the shit! Thanks for making it for us. Many channels phone it in, yours requires a lot of honest hard work to make. Again thanks for sharing.
Thank you. You comment made my day (am feeling like all I do is edit and spent he evening re-evaluating. I do enjoy it, but not much balance I suppose.).
In Europe people have been thinking like that forever. An eight-hour job with a one-hour commute each way has to pay ten hours plus the car, gas and insurance, or you'll just take a lower-paying job within walking distance and still make more money and/or live better.
Awesome! Any of us can be people like these, we just have to choose to do it. Small towns everywhere can bounce back like this if the people care and (ahem) the local Government actually supports the renaissance of the community. Pretty straightforward stuff, just requires some vision and lots of work!
I agee. It's a pity that such stories never get any traction at the beginning. This video lingered for months with a very limited impact and a low bar visits-wise. Unfortunately, nuanced journalism doesn't sell as much as clickbait in this and any other platform. I'd say that, at least, YT does a better job overall allowing creators to publish long-form, etc. But if you don't see this type of content more often, well, you only have to study where the visits go. Sad but true.
@@nicolasboullosa it was mentioned via comment on someone else’s video - and then you had to look it up. So it never came across my feed, but well worth the look up. I bet if the title was changed to something more dramatic- it may get new traction.
@@TheAdventureMachine Thanks for the tip. I think we'll share it with the community this week so people can take a chance. It's been already 7 years since we posted.
Lawrence Siegfried how can you make jobs when there's no customer base or underlying factory or mill? Jobs and service sectors respond to large employers. the factories that sustained the city went away 30 years ago or more. most of these people just live there - they work in Oxford or off Interstate 55
Drew Economic . ..Build it they will come. ..if people live there tgey need materials, services, entertainment, food, restaurants. .. How do whole retirement towns survive.. People open businesses to serve the people and... create jobs.. i didn't say it was an easy task...but its doable...if you have multiple skills
Lawrence Siegfried Mr Siegfried sir, retirement communities are sustained via Social Security transfer payments, pensions, 401ks and the proceeds from a lifetime of investments being liquidated to finance retirements. If enrollment at Oxford drops the way it has in Hattiesburg at Southern Water Valley will suffer the same. I.haven't Bern to Water Valley in 20 yrs but this summer I went back thru the Delta and the Desoto County area for the 1st time in probably 12-14 yrs and nothing much has changed. Most people who watch this video are not familiar with Mississippi geography. Water Valley isn't a stand alone town. It's kind of like a neighborhood of Oxford. Calling it or portraying it as something it is not is a bit disi genuous.
You need to come to my town Bath, Michigan. Our downtown is falling apart and there are a bunch of vacant houses that need some love and a little elbow grease put into them.
Great video. Thanks for sharing. I was born in Oxford Mississippi in 1971. I spent a lot of time in WV deer hunting. You should go back for the Watermelon Festival. Billy Ray Brown and his family are awesome folks. You should go visit their farm. You won't be disappointed.
What a wonderful story of good people doing a great thing. This is the wave of future rising out of an attitude that is worthy of true success. It ain't about the money, folks.. but life itself
I lived in Oxford, my daddy still lives in Oxford which is 20 minutes away. Every time I go home to dad's I go to Water Valley. It is an artist haven, with amazing 100 year old homes and a cool small town perspective. Keep in mind it still has a very conservative population, certain folks supported #45, but many didn't and what I see missing in this video are the black folks who very much populate the town which is a miss they didn't capture here. It was an economically desolate place but has begun to rise up without losing the small townness. The old homes are AMAZING. Artists can live there and survive, they have a yearly art walk in August, where you go from one artist home to another viewing their work and admiring the fabulous referbished homes, it's really fun to go on. Bozarts is great they host the talented local artist and have fun parties, very welcoming. More folks are moving to Water Valley, I would look into it if I moved back, the University of Mississippi faculty and staff are moving to Water Valley because they can't afford Oxford. It really is a great small town with nice people.
Thank God for people like these, who are willing to put their heart and soul into renovation these pieces of history.
The great white liberal Yankees have no god to thank.
Small-town USA is great. Taking an abandoned place & revitalizing it to today's standards is amazing. This guy has a vision, & is real.
In 1990 I immigrated out of the USA to escape the all the usual issues US cities have. Seeing Water Valley makes me want to return again to a community like that of my childhood in the '50's. I have a lot to contribute to a town like this. When the time is right I'm paying Water Valley a visit. When I do, I might not leave.
This town put a smile on my face. I love this small town.
J. P. Nicholas I used to work in Memphis with some guys from Water Valley. Very unique and colorful personalities
@@larrye.carpenter7794
Memphis... I was just thinking of Memphis when she mentioned how *hot* it was in 2005. I spent three different tours at NAS Memphis over my Marine Corps career.
The first summer there I thought I was going to melt like a candle in the Attic!
I've since moved to Barstow California in the Mojave Desert. My first summer here *in 2005 it got up to 125°.* But there's no humidity. I still think *Memphis feels hotter!*
Water Valley is becoming a "bedroom community" for the nearby university town of Oxford (Ole Miss). It's also not very far from Starkville, another major university town, and an easy drive to Memphis, TN. In many ways it is an impoverished community with a fresh coat of paint but the influx of "outside" money and drive is making a difference in a renewed sense of community pride and cohesion. I'm jealous of the fresh local produce (something of which you don't see a great deal here in southwestern MS due to the very short growing season before the summer heat hits) and the sandwiches at the cafe are ASTONISHING, making it nearly worth the 3.5 hour drive to Water Valley!
What is life? working 9-5? 8-6? collecting income to cover your rent and keep up everyday expenses? After watching what is going on in Water Valley, it really woke me up, and realize there is life and dreams. I am so happy to see that everybody cares in this town.
Love the fact that she can detail the source of every produce and item in her store. Really shows how this entire town/area sprung back to life. Great job! Very inspiring indeed.
I was a municipal employee for 25 years in my hometown. I watched it slowly die as businesses closed after Wal-Mart came to the area. The local businesses got organized and started a main street association to help local businesses thrive and start new ones. This is a federal and state program that helps small towns save local businesses and jobs. And it is a great use of tax money. I volunteered many weekends to help clean up the downtown area, along with my fellow public employees. I am a huge supporter of these types of programs. A healthy downtown is 100% better than a Wal-Mart at the edge of town. Well done, people. My hat is tipped to you all!!
Lv2 Fish It’s always a struggle, right ? But we gotta think who gets the money : the farmer living nearby with his family and the shopkeeper, participating to local economy, or the shareholders of WalMart and huge robotized factory-farms. This is basic money exodus
Walmart is the vulture of retail.
Lv2 Fish I will buy my eggs from the farmers. We have some in my area that are 2$ a dozen with 1/2 dozen duck eggs going for 3$. Local fruits and veg are no more expensive than what is shipped in, but taste sooooooo much better. You find you don’t need to eat as much because you aren’t buying food stuffed with filler.
@@lv2fish501 Those were organic farm eggs which cost more in Walmart, I do know where you're coming from but Walmart in my area did the same thing, got the town to shell out tax dollars to pay for their road ways and infrastructure only to switch to self check out and then raise prices, if we can reclaim what corporations have taken with monopolies, everyone will benefit, it's being able to afford to stay afloat until that happens that is hard but it is a vicious cycle we need to break from.
@@lv2fish501 wanted to add, I do see your point and it's hard but again if we let the Walmart's/corporations take over then your paycheck will continue to shrink, they buy the land, the water rights, change laws to suit them and help keep money in their pockets, this has played out in our history before, they make it impossible for a family run or small business to compete, each of us makes a difference, don't let anyone discourage you, please vote in 2020.
So inspiring! Thank you for sharing this lifestyle and town.
Very uplifting. These are the kind of inspirational people I enjoy listening to, because they speak from experience of actually creating something with their own ideas and hands. Thus they are genuine and believable.
Thank you for this video!!! My Hometown is beautiful because locals care!!!
Water Valley is my family home. My family has been in that area since 1832 on my grandmothers side and 1850 on my grandfather’s side. I am so glad to see how things are coming back. I love this. Thank you to everyone who had the vision to rebuild WV.
Thanks for posting this! Lovely story of people pulling together and rebuilding a town. Some of our Midwest rust-belt towns are doing this or have been doing this to some extent (attracting small businesses, preventing big box stores, hosting events downtown), but this story is really inspiring. And yes, a key to reviving an urban space is to have a grocery store!
Woah! My mom lives in this town!
I have seen and love nearly every video you have ever made, watch them religiously.
ibebrodey we do too, what’s her name?!
There are many, many forgotten main streets all over America. Hopefully they can all be restored and reimagined. They are affordable and offer a character you can't find anywhere else. I'll bet this is a trend that picks up and continues a while.
I had a job travelling though the midwest to visit various local grain elevators. The decimation of small towns was sad, 4 out 5 buildings empty everywhere I went. So nice to see a revival of community 20 years later, at least in one place.
Love to see my small hometown get so much attention in a positive, restorative manner! Before BTC took it over - right before the Grinch showing in the building - my dad (Mike Irwin) and I installed the light fixtures on the ceiling over my Christmas break. To my knowledge, those light fixtures are still there today. Very fond memories that holiday season of working with my dad doing what he does/did best! He's retired now, but damn did he do great work for that town while we were there.
Love how they took this town and brought it back alive!!!! We need more of this.
Love the story of this town. Would love to see this place revisit.
Very inspiring and a really good thing to celebrate and glorify what is already there, because so much has passed away. Once it's gone you can't replace the history, textures and ambiance with something new, no matter how much money you spend. These structures have a meaning beyond their practical purpose that is priceless. It's obvious that it's very appreciated by the townsfolk to have them restored, kept alive and still serving practical functions as an integral part of the town life.
Loved it, just love it. When I used to travel though old towns I would see all these old store fronts closed and looking like they needed something done with them. I would just wish I had the cash to fix them all up and put businesses in them. It's nice to see folks and a town come together and revitalize these places. Thanks for sharing their cool stories and accomplishments. Best Wishes n Blessings. Keith Noneya
The early 1800s-1930s building style is one of my favorites.
IndigoAurora “Victorian” is even say this town is New Orleans Or Charleston style
Agreed...looking at those old small town brick buildings reminds me of the roaring 20s and 30s LOVE that era The late 1800s the early 1900s. Before 1940.
So great to see the beauty of older buildings restored AND see a town revived!
This is so inspiring! I am energized to be a part of and contribute to this type of renaissance. It is happening in so many small towns across America and is becoming a real movement. These folks are my heroes.
THANK YO!!!! I WANT TO DRIVE FROM MICHIGAN TO SEE THIS PLACE.🙂🙂🙂🙂💯❤️
I stay in Mississippi and I never knew Water Valley had that much development going on. I am in Memphis Tennessee and I have been there water Valley several times in my life but I'm glad to see the community is developing.
An admirer of old architecture and charming towns, I applaud you for your mighty determination, profound tenacity, and colossal hard work. Perhaps one day I will make my way from The Netherlands to visit your town. :-)
Kirsten- I've been following your videos for several years now. So happy you are finally featuring my home state and such a special town so close to Oxford!
The secret to this town was keeping Wal-Mart as far away as possible.
josetres333 I almost agree.. but my town has one super wal mart and the next town or area over has a newer and bigger one...but yet the small mom and pop local shops are holding their own and new stores are opening all the time .. There are some things i will get at wal mart. .and others that i go to the small local store or farmers stand for .. like produce... It all should work out
We have a dollar general and a Fred’s and half our community are drunks and unemployed
@@josephwashington2961 lol
Intel too.
josetres333 Turns out he was absolutely correct in his thinking that eventually the advent of jobs would decrease, as now most Walmarts have gone the way of self checkout.
We need to return to our small towns and communities in order to be self sustaining. I love the mom and pop businesses, the local farmers and crafts people who all buy from and sell to one another, it's also about being personal, knowing the people you live around, belonging to a place you can call home.
What an amazing "new old town"!!! Thank you 4 your vision & putting things into place. We need more people like you. Your sacrifice & hard work will pay off for not only you, but for future generations!! Well done. Thank you so much!!
Interesting. Please follow up with these guys in 1-2 years and see how their idea turned out.
During the video, the art gallery owner mentioned being there for 8 years, and the grocery/cafe/junk-antique store for 5 years. The bank gave the grocery owner a loan to buy and renovate the 5-building block based upon that successful track record. So viability and sustainability, at least for those two businesses, is evident at the time of the video's production.
That's only because they have a sufficient capital base to start with. Import enough welfare types and it'll go New Orleans dystopia in 5 minutes.
I just went through there. I live near by. It's still as quaint, cute, and things going on.
@@dreweconomic3174 he is renting out hotel rooms to people who come to town on business. Seems like a pretty good business to me.
neptronix misanthropist?
I always love seeing local businesses thriving and giving life back to the community.
These small towns with their classic ‘town squares’ are dotted throughout the south, my wife is from Ashland Al and it has charm just like this. And close to major city if you need big from time to time. Love to see these old buildings get a second chance.
It's nice seeing people building good lives for themselves.
Water Valley is where my Dad’s family is from. My grandmothers people were there in that country when the treaty was signed with the Choctaw, I used to walk down those streets.
The south has never been my vibe culturally, but that town does look great. Local businesses, keeping commerce local and individualized. Department stores, shopping malls, and now Amazon have largely destroyed this more, organic commerce. Heartening to see it coming back a little. Shop local!
I'm from the northeast and lived in cities there and New Orleans before moving here. I enjoy living here...People are kind for the most part...and the cost of living is good..We live in an old house that we wouldn't be able to afford in the northeast. The South is changing...You learn a lot by moving around.Found we have more in common than not.
@@zorkwork3841 This last election and runnoff in GA seems to be a sign of the to the south changing as well.
One of my favorites so far. You continually surprise me with your creativity in content. Thank you for sharing!
Thanks Kirsten for always bringing us all this amazing places!! I wish I was able to live in a town like that!!. Hugs from Argentina!
25:23 And just like that, he is out of the iron cage.
Greetings from Germany. I have no idea how and why I ended up here but that was a nice watch.
I ended up outside the US too, and can finally appreciate its beauty by being so far away. Homesick
That grocery store is my favorite. I'd love to work in a place like that! :)
Another fabulous video. Thanks so much for putting this out there!
I Love this. What America needs are more wonderful creative types like you.
Really love this one Kirsten. How inspirational. I'm curious, your stories are all so varied and from all over the world. How do you go about finding and choosing what it is that you are going to film. You have become one of my favorite channels.
My mother's parents were born and raised in water Valley Mississippi... Moved to Memphis in the 40s and have now passed away... we used to go to Water Valley to see my great-grandparents when I was a kid and would go to the old Pharmacy and go to the soda fountain it was very interesting as a little kid glad to see it refurbished
What an awesome story and blessings to those willing to work hard to renew and save a town!!
Reminds me of my hometown Louisville, Mississippi. Great place to grow up. Going back to visit family this May.
Two hours plus from me. Really beautiful down town would be a great place to go on a day trip. I wish they were closer I would love some milk and pork. Thank you for the great vid ms dirksen.
I have the same dream for a much smaller town; my dream is impossible. Glad that guy was able to make his dream come true, I hope it lasts.
I absolutely loved watching this episode. What a wonderful restoration project!
There is some sensible people in Water Valey, nice video thanks.
Hats off to you and the people who support these businesses. They re-established a community where life is worth living. Instead of chasing $$$$ they chose to live a meaningful life.
Love your channel Kirsten and these types of videos are a nice contrast to profiling houses
I love seeing these smaller towns brought back to life and restoring the buildings is phenomenal!!
The comment section in this video confuses me. Not quite sure what they're talking about.
Anyway, this is such a great story. Communities are so important and it's great to see this one being revived. And the buildings are beautiful. Thanks for sharing. Makes me want to go and live there too 😊
The creative quality is more interesting than finance.
Mulan 121 half of the things here have already been in business and the ones that have been opened by these people aren’t even used by the public people here don’t wanna see art or gay book stores
@@josephwashington2961 there were lots of photos of events at the art gallery that seemed to be well attended.
Mulan 121
Yes , I agree. Sometimes when people try to do good they are chastised for it, and if they just let rot the same applies.
Anyone that is positive is good in my book 👍
Now I really understand the phrase " haters gonna hate " But what a great story about hard-working people getting together and trying to bring back a small town.
With all the vision of all these people and hard work, they have a wonderful community! It's a lovely town.
Never fails. My fav youtube channel to watch for many years. thank you! this town is wonderful!
Inspiring... these are real entrepreneurs... I have deep respect for their hard work and willingness to take risks...
Thank you for another Great video! I love this story of rejuvenation and the people connected with it were great !
It is so heartening to see all the regeneration in little forgotten towns. I’d love to be a part of something like this😍
I LOVE THIS. I really hope and pray they can keep this all going and growing. I support local family owned business They have really taken this away. Big business took control over small family business is what they do to make us dependent on Big Government and big business . We must demand and support family owned business . GOOD FOR THEM ON TAKING A STAND ON NOT HAVING WALMART COME IN. In my town we have a great family owned pharmacy that has been here for many ears. And big business has tried so hard to run them out. They built a cvs on the corner to the right of family owned business and then a walgreens right across the street and I refuse to shop at either I will wait if my pharmacy does not have it and cant get it in for a day I refuse to shop at either one of them and many people see what big biz and big gov is doing and taking a stand and not giving any biz to these big companies and giving it all to family owned its been very hard on them but they are still in biz because of faithful customers supporting family owned and not big biz.
Since I went to Biloxi for a Y-Teen camp in high school, I've never had any desire since to visit Mississippi again. This video changed my mind! Thank you!
i love this lil town....thank you😍
19:07 the man with the fishing hat left the gallery guy hanging hahaha, I love the vibe of this little town I wish I lived in a place like this but in PR there's nothing like it (that I know of)
Janiel Martell Haha...I missed that
Janiel Martell on the Mississippi Coast Puerto Ricans are now about 5-10pc of the population
Wow I love seeing the air stream round house . I had heard about them awhile back.
The main Street people keeping beautiful 100 year old buildings alive is very important.. the space,
The energy, I could see Hollywood making movies there?
& You have great style at documenting creative DYI people .
Love it thank you
Another truly interesting story from Kirsten -- excellent job! Not least: to experience this somewhere in 2017-USA brings back perspectives. Would love to go and see for myself...
I love in an area of North Carolina that is Infested with "Older Rich Folks" who only contribute to the hardships of the poor and working class. The Greed Based "Developers" and Real Estate Parasites get to play bigshot and live an ostentatious life thanks to being Bribe Bought by "Wealthy Older People" whos money (like the Welfare Breeders) is soarced from outside of the area. Hopefully the pretentious posers in their "Gated Communities" will be picked clean by the Crimminal Elements that are an easy drive away. I find humor in those who live an ostentatious life style (The "Look at me " sort.) when they receive Far More Attention than they can bear.
Wow.....what a wonderful uplifting story of hard work and determination. Good on them.
It is nice to see thinking outside the box. Bringing business in that the town needs, like local farm products, a brewery where people can come enjoy the music also, and other local businesses that locals need so they don't have to leave town for things.
I really love what you guys have accomplished here. I am so ready to invest and move to a small town and contribute the way you have in Mississippi in Colorado.
Small towns are a really great place for families, this town is very lucky somebody cared.
Love this video and what people with vision, risk tolerance and a commitment to community can do.
Bravo! I applaud you all for your determination, tenacity, and hard work. You have recreated the town centre with joy and imagination. Keep up the excellent work! I send you greetings from Middelburg, The Netherlands.
Should open up a William Faulkner Cafe in town and bring in the literary crowd. Mississippi contributed a unique version of the American story with authors like Faulkner, Eudora Welty, Shelby Foote, John Grisham, Richard Wright, Willie Morris, etc....
Agreed. Bring the kids in to listen to some great stories. I hear libraries' story time is not what it used to be
I believe that if we ever experience a severe economic recession, many people will leave the big cities and settle in towns, including dead or dying towns, and form autonomous, thriving communities.
Especially if they are wired.
"if we ever"??? it's happening now. i live in a big city and people are going back to local small towns in droves. especially the people who grew up in the big city, they are the largest population of the exodus
That is the way it was before these big corporations drew people to cities, you had your community, farmers, furniture,cabinet makers, shoe and boot makers, lots of diverse and different trades, average people were more independent also, they owned a home with a little land so they could grow a garden and can food for winter, have chickens for eggs or cooking, they had their own wells and septic systems so no water and sewage bills, with solar we could be even more independent, if someone got sick or lost income the community would help out, bottom line is the 1% do not care about anyone else, it's just pure greed at this point, they want us to be dependent on them for everything, so basically slaves that work for what they want to pay and then take it from you for what you need to just get by.
Bayby Dilly Well, I’m writing this comment in April 2020 in the midst of the novel coronavirus outbreak and I’m really keen to see what is happening now and what will happen from here on end
@@Musique61414 There have always been people leaving it all behind and choosing the simple life at a slower pace and there always will be.
And by the same token, there have always been people fleeing the asphyxiating environment of a small town to thrive in the hustle and bustle of a lively city and there always will be.
One woman's poison is another woman's medicine.
What a great idea . You fulfill your neighbors needs , and it brings your family goodness .
this is great work, shoring up small town America.
This is art and a pioneer that knew what he wanted and did it his way... Not impeding on the community...creating life and giving space change and music a chance to survive for the next renaissanse
I miss towns with side walks and locally owned businesses. Coffee shop, diner. Wow I love this. Roll up your sleeves work to restore. That old fashioned market, fresh fruit and vegetables grown by locals. I love that they built the hotel with efficiency rooms for contract workers that travel. As an IT contract worker that travels I'd love to be able to live in town and have a nice affordable place to stay. This place has more character than any of the cookie cutter renovations that toss in a bunch of micro breweries and expensive small condos. Unique and special.
Kirsten, your channel is the shit! Thanks for making it for us. Many channels phone it in, yours requires a lot of honest hard work to make. Again thanks for sharing.
Thank you. You comment made my day (am feeling like all I do is edit and spent he evening re-evaluating. I do enjoy it, but not much balance I suppose.).
Kirsten Dirksen You're building a town here too. Much more than the sum of your uploaded "bricks".
200 years from now, architects will not remember the name "Dirksen,"but will follow the tradition Dirksen started.
Very nice live band, good food, dancing hall, Art environment with a touch of colorful flowers. 👍🌻🌷
this is one of the best video I have seen. Loved this couple investing long term in a community
Inspiring!
Love the "small loop" idea: 25:09 - (don't) get a job just to afford the credit for the car to commute to that job :)
In Europe people have been thinking like that forever. An eight-hour job with a one-hour commute each way has to pay ten hours plus the car, gas and insurance, or you'll just take a lower-paying job within walking distance and still make more money and/or live better.
Awesome! Any of us can be people like these, we just have to choose to do it. Small towns everywhere can bounce back like this if the people care and (ahem) the local Government actually supports the renaissance of the community. Pretty straightforward stuff, just requires some vision and lots of work!
Love this. Would love to find an update.
I agee. It's a pity that such stories never get any traction at the beginning. This video lingered for months with a very limited impact and a low bar visits-wise. Unfortunately, nuanced journalism doesn't sell as much as clickbait in this and any other platform. I'd say that, at least, YT does a better job overall allowing creators to publish long-form, etc. But if you don't see this type of content more often, well, you only have to study where the visits go. Sad but true.
@@nicolasboullosa it was mentioned via comment on someone else’s video - and then you had to look it up. So it never came across my feed, but well worth the look up. I bet if the title was changed to something more dramatic- it may get new traction.
@@TheAdventureMachine Thanks for the tip. I think we'll share it with the community this week so people can take a chance. It's been already 7 years since we posted.
@@nicolasboullosa it’s well worth a new look because times have drastically changed and maybe it will give people hope and new goals
7 years, wow….i am always late to the party
Amazing ...I love it ..Wish I was 20 years younger ...I would of jumped into this in a heartbeat...God Bless this project ...
Lawrence Siegfried there are no jobs there
non yobussiness I would of made the jobs ...opened businesses .. that's what I do
Lawrence Siegfried how can you make jobs when there's no customer base or underlying factory or mill?
Jobs and service sectors respond to large employers.
the factories that sustained the city went away 30 years ago or more.
most of these people just live there - they work in Oxford or off Interstate 55
Drew Economic . ..Build it they will come. ..if people live there tgey need materials, services, entertainment, food, restaurants. .. How do whole retirement towns survive.. People open businesses to serve the people and... create jobs.. i didn't say it was an easy task...but its doable...if you have multiple skills
Lawrence Siegfried Mr Siegfried sir, retirement communities are sustained via Social Security transfer payments, pensions, 401ks and the proceeds from a lifetime of investments being liquidated to finance retirements.
If enrollment at Oxford drops the way it has in Hattiesburg at Southern Water Valley will suffer the same.
I.haven't Bern to Water Valley in 20 yrs but this summer I went back thru the Delta and the Desoto County area for the 1st time in probably 12-14 yrs and nothing much has changed.
Most people who watch this video are not familiar with Mississippi geography.
Water Valley isn't a stand alone town.
It's kind of like a neighborhood of Oxford. Calling it or portraying it as something it is not is a bit disi genuous.
You need to come to my town Bath, Michigan. Our downtown is falling apart and there are a bunch of vacant houses that need some love and a little elbow grease put into them.
Great one. I love the content of this channel. Thank you for sharing!
this is really cool American Dream love your work Kirsten
Wow that was very interesting- well done and thank you!
Great job. Nice to see young people with a plan and a creative imagination.
Love this!
A great upload: interesting, and truly inspiring! Thanks.
so inspiring! I simply love every time I see there's a new video on the channel ! thank you for sharing
Lovely story and reno!!!!
VERY INSPIRATIONAL!!! VERY INSPIRITING!!! VERY MUCH SO.... HE FOUND HIS PASSION, AND HIS WIFE SAID YES.... WOW!!!
Truly inspirational. Thank you Kirsten.
Great video. Thanks for sharing. I was born in Oxford Mississippi in 1971. I spent a lot of time in WV deer hunting. You should go back for the Watermelon Festival. Billy Ray Brown and his family are awesome folks. You should go visit their farm. You won't be disappointed.
I love love love this video and the person who made it huge props to you . You did such an amazing job on this video
What a wonderful story of good people doing a great thing. This is the wave of future rising out of an attitude that is worthy of true success. It ain't about the money, folks.. but life itself