As most of you know, I live in an old house. Almost 150 years old to be exact. I live in the historic “downtown” area of Vicksburg, most famous for the 47-day siege of 1863. If you’re not familiar with this epic historical event, shame on you, but here’s what you need to know: Ulysses S. Grant and his northern armies converged on Vicksburg, entrapping a Confederate army, lead by Lt. General John Pemberton, and hundreds of citizens for 47 days.
Why is that important to today’s blog post? I’ll tell you. Part of my house is actually older than 150 years. A little less than half of my house was actually here prior to the commencement of the American Civil War. During the siege, that house suffered major damage from almost constant bombardment from cannon fire from the river. Following General Pemberton’s surrender on July 4, 1863, the gentleman who owned this original house, fled to Colorado. A quick side note, just a couple of years after the Civil War ended, Mr. and Mrs. Baer purchased the lot and what remained of that house and built the house that I now live in. I tell people I live in an 1870’s remodel. So I have a half-antebellum house. Below is a picture of where the 2 houses meet. On the left is the “old” brick, on the right is the “new” brick.
Photo by P. Rickrode, March 2019
Anyway, back to the original owner of my house: His name was Maximillian Kuner. Mr. Kuner was born in Bavaria in 1824. He immigrated to the United States, eventually settling in Vicksburg in the late 1850’s. He was a watch maker and jeweler and he built the original house at my location around 1859. In 1860 he built a single-story Greek Revival “house” on the lot next door to use as a workshop and store. As a side note, that house is still there, currently occupied by my neighbor, Will. Below is a photo of Will’s house, formerly Mr. Kuner’s workshop.
Photo by P Rickrode, March 2019
Around 1859, Mr. Kuner was commissioned by the City of Vicksburg to construct a clock for what was at that time, the new courthouse. This courthouse was built atop one of the highest hills in the City limits and had a four-faced clock tower directly under a domed roof housing a belfry. When Mr. Kuner’s clock struck the top of every hour, the massive cast iron bell would ring.
That courthouse is still standing today, although it currently houses the best museum in town, full of rare antiques and artifacts dating all the way back to the indigenous people who lived here. Additionally, salvaged components of Kuner’s original clock are on display within the museum’s Americana Room. Mr. Kuner’s original clock was fully restored in 2013 by Cincinnati’s Verdin Company and it still operates the bell that chimes every hour.
So, there you have it, my connection to one of the most loved and popular attractions in Vicksburg. Every hour I hear the bell and I can see Mr. Kuner’s clock from my house, just a block and a half away. In the photo above of my neighbor’s house, you can see the clock tower in the distance.
And, in case you’re interested, and why wouldn’t you be, he lost everything he owned during the war, but he survived and began to rebuild, just not in Vicksburg. As I mentioned above, he moved to Colorado where he started making – of all things – pickles. That’s right, you heard me correctly, he started making pickles. From there he built a canning empire that is still in operation today. For many years, the back of their can labels had this statement printed on them:
“Max Kuner, a Bavarian watchmaker who fought in the Civil War, moved to Colorado to found the Kuner Pickle Co. By 1901 he had built a mustard mill, bean kitchen, and vinegar factory. His natural, old world flavors and seasonings continue to this day.”
How cool is that? Mr. Kuner, the original occupant of my house, was one of the early founders of what is today Van Kamp’s foods. The picture below is of a plaque that was placed between Will’s house and mine honoring some of Vicksburg’s most prominent business men, including Mr. Maximilian Kuner.
Photo by P. Rickrode, March 2019
Do you have a cool connection to an epic historic event or building? Any especially neat attractions in your hometown with some historic significance? Have you seen Mr. Kuner’s clock?
Word of the day: Eagre
Fun fact about me: I enjoy learning about my new hometown.
Original post by Jansen Schmidt, March 2019. Images by P. Rickrode and Google Images.
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jansenschmidt 
Patricia, you had me at Mr. Kuner’s Clock. Blogs with historical reference are by far my favorite kind. This is a fascinating presentation of old Vicksburg. I only passed though one time on a tight schedule but I ached to stop and bathe in its historical drippings. As a history buff and well read on the Civil War, I was well aware of the significance of the Battle of Vicksburg coming as it did on the heels of an equally significant northern victory at Gettysburg.
However, your virtual tour of the old buildings of downtown Vicksburg was icing on the cake. Especially the description of your current abode. If ever we are near there again I assure you it will be a stopover, perhaps even a night or two at “The Inn.”
As for our town, I wrote a blog on the history of our area, I believe before we became blog chums. Here is the link: https://thecvillean.org/2016/03/07/virginia-beachs-most-notorious-tourist/.
Again, great post!
P.S. Also love that historical sketch of the ships bombarding the town. Would not have cared to be a resident then.
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I did not know you are a history buff, Al. I’m glad I had a post hand-picked just for you. The history here in Vicksburg is amazing. I learn something new almost every day. Little oddball facts that I find super interesting. I surely hope that you will visit one day and I’ll show you around some of the favorite places in historical lore. (That was a weird sentence but I don’t know how to fix it.)
Anyway, I loved your pirate post. How cool is that? I’ve been to Virginia Beach but only very briefly. I was with my aunt who wanted to stop in and see some old friends. I didn’t know them and we just stayed at their house and visited so I didn’t really get to see much of the town. Maybe one day I’ll be back.
As always, thanks or stopping by and for your cyber friendship.
Patricia
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All the history tied together is so fascinating! And that Mr. Kuner was quite the skilled entrepreneur. It’s interesting that he chose to go the pickle route once he was in Colorado instead of sticking with clocks and jewelry. Not that I object since Iove dill pickles, but now I’m curious as to why he gave up one career for another. Thanks for sharing some history!
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I wondered about that as well. From what I’ve heard, Mr. Kuner had a brother who was “experimenting” with different types of vinegar and had finally found a “secret” recipe. So, Max and his brother (I don’t remember his name) went into business together using the brother’s vinegar recipe. They also made sauerkraut and eventually other pickled and canned foods. Weird facts.
I also love dill pickles. In fact I’m eating pickles right now with my tuna sandwich.
Have a great rest of the week. Thanks for visiting.
Patricia
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Like the vast majority of other Southerners at the time, Mr Kuner probably never owned a slave. Slavery was the excuse the aggressors used for destroying half of our nation, but it was never the real reason for the war. Regardless of that, however, countless “Mr Kuners” had their property destroyed over something they never participated in.
Thanks for enlightening us about eagre, but I doubt there’s much danger of one here in Fort Worth, some 300 miles inland.
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Well, I hate to burst your bubble David, but Mr. Kuner did don a uniform and fight for the Confederacy. Whether or not he owned a slave is unknown to me. I’m not sure why his jeweler’s tools would have been confiscated but they were and rather than rebuild here in Vicksburg (I’m sure he was disheartened by the devastation of his homeland) he decided to start over in the west.
And, I must concur with you on the danger of encountering an eagre in Ft. Worth. I’m pretty sure you’ve very, very safe.
Thanks for stopping by. Have a great week.
Patricia
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What a cool bit of history about your house! I love local history, though I’m not personally connected to any of it. Here in Dayton we have the Wright Flyer III (first powered airplane that could take off and fly in variable winds) and the barn where Charles Kettering invented the electric starter. Tons more, but those are at the top of the list. One thing I’m looking forward to with our move is a whole new city’s history to learn! Fortunately, no eagres in either place, just standard river floods (and not much of that, thanks to dams).
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I’m excited about you delving into the history of your new home. We learned so much the first year we were here. I still hear some strange and wonderful facts about my house and the neighborhood quite often, usually when I least expect it.
Thanks for sharing your stories. Everyone has something cool to share about their home towns.
Patricia
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I love local history stories. They are the best. There are stories all around us, all one really needs to do is stop, look, and listen or read. Being curious and full of wonder about where you are is the key and I love how you’ve embraced your new hometown. Have a wonderful Friday.
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Thanks Clay. There’s certainly a ton of history here in Vicksburg. And, it’s not all just Civil War stuff either. Lots of very interesting stuff.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend. Make the days count! Good to see you.
Patricia
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