A fire in 1924 destroyed much of the greater downtown area, including the original Rankin County Courthouse; which was then rebuilt by famous architect Noah Webster Overstreet, and was later added to the National Register of Historic Places.

[2][3] See the Wikipedia article for the Rankin County Courthouse See the Wikipedia article for Rankin County Confederate Monument The Purvis House is a two-story mixed residential/commercial building located on North College Street.

The house was constructed in 1946 and has served many purposes with its last occupants prior to renovation being Beginning Again in Christ, a home that helped others get on their feet again in life after incarceration.

The account includes the following description: "This two-storied building of hand-hewn rock was built at the tremendous cost of $6,000.

"The building was one of few that survived a large fire in 1924, and is currently believed to be the oldest structure in the downtown district area.