Courtesy McCarty’s Pottery
Once insulated only by cardboard, this old mule barn was turned into an artist’s haven and home in 1954 when the nearby Mississippi clay was found to be the perfect recipe for pottery. “Uncle Lee [McCarty] started the trade, and today, at 90 years of age, he still works and greets our guests,” said Steven Smith, business manager.
McCarty’s simplistic pottery, with the signature glazes of brown, blue and jade, is for sale. But visitors are also awestruck by the swimming pool and gardens tucked behind the barn.
“Uncle Lee started the gardens as a hobby, and in 1969, the pool was installed,” said Smith. “In 2012, this hidden gem was inducted into the Archives of American Gardens, a Smithsonian institution.”
While you’re in the neighborhood, don’t miss a meal at McCartys Gallery Restaurant, just a few blocks away. A one-time grocery store, the restaurant oozes simple and elegant Delta ambiance with plank walls, antiques, McCartys sculptures and some of the best homemade meatloaf and corn muffins on earth.
