P. J. Krouse Explained

Penn Jeffries Krouse (September 23, 1877^[1] –April 1944^[2]), usually known as P. J. Krouse was a prolific architect in the state of Mississippi. Many of his buildings were located in the Meridian area.

Personal life

Penn Jeffries Krouse was born on September 23, 1877, to parents Adrian Zick Krouse and Ann Ruben Jeffries. Krouse had three children with his wife, Martha Rebecca Dillehay: Adrian Alonzo, Charles Dabbs, and Emily Bonner.^[1] Emily was born in Meridian on August 29, 1909, and died in Atlanta, Georgia on September 7, 2003.^{[1] [3]} Her funeral services were held at First Presbyterian Church of Meridian, a church which her father designed.^[1] Charles would later become an architect himself.^[4] P.J. and Martha later divorced, and P.J. married Katherine Barham.^[1]

Krouse was a member of the Scottish Rite subgroup of Freemasonry.^[5] He was also appointed as the chairman of the War Price and Rationing Administration during World War II.^[4] His health deteriorated during his time as chairman, forcing him to resign. He died in April 1944.^{[2] [4]}

Projects

Buildings designed by Krouse span a wide range of architectural styles including Greek Revival, Gothic Revival, Egyptian Revival, Beaux Arts, and Art Deco. Krouse designed buildings in Meridian and Laurel, Mississippi, as well as courthouses in Clarke, Jones, Yalobusha, Lauderdale, and Pearl River County.^[1]

Many buildings Krouse designed or helped to design are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Works

• Bobo Senior High School Building – 131 School St., Clarksdale, NRHP-listed
• Clarke County Courthouse and Confederate Monument – Archusa St. at head of Main St., Quitman, NRHP-listed
• First Presbyterian Church of Meridian – 911 23rd Ave., Meridian, NRHP-listed
• Jones County Courthouse – Ellisville, NRHP-listed
• Alex Loeb Building – 2115 5th St., Meridian, NRHP-listed
• Masonic Temple – 1220 26th Ave., Meridian, NRHP-listed
• Meridian City Hall – 601 24th Ave., Meridian, NRHP-listed as Municipal Building^[6]
• Stevenson Primary School – 1015 25th Ave., Meridian, NRHP-listed
• U.S. Post Office and Courthouse – 2100 9th St., Meridian, NRHP-listed
• Scottish Rite Cathedral (1914), which was listed on the National Register until it was destroyed by fire in 1985.^[7]
• Former Beth Israel synagogue (1906) of the Congregation Beth Israel of Meridian. This was a Greek Revival octagonal synagogue built in 1906. It was used until 1964 and subsequently demolished.^[8]
• One or more buildings in NRHP-listed Laurel Central Historic District, roughly bounded by Tenth and Thirteenth Sts., First Ave., Seventh and Fifth Sts., and Eighth Ave., Laurel
• One or more buildings in NRHP-listed Meridian Downtown Historic District, roughly bounded by Twenty-Sixth Ave., Eighteenth Ave., Sixth St., and Front St., Meridian
• Margaret Martin High School^[9]
• Newton County Courthouse (1912) (5th) in Decatur, Mississippi^[10]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Architects of Mississippi: Penn Jeffries Krouse. August 10, 2011. Mark Clinton Davis. 2012-02-11.
2. Web site: National Register of Historic Places Nomination: Jones County Courthouse and Confederate Monument at Ellisville. Todd Sanders. June 23, 1994 . Mississippi Department of Archives and History.
3. News: Obituaries for Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2003. September 10, 2003. Franklin County Times. 2012-02-11.
4. Web site: Penn Jeffries Krouse in Pearl River. August 11, 2011. Mark Clinton Davis. 2012-02-11.
5. Jody Cook. February 1979. "State of Mississippi Historic Sites Survey: Scottish Rite Cathedral"
6. Web site: An Alabama–Mississippi Architectural Partnership. Preservation in Mississippi. W. White. May 27, 2010. 2010-07-04.
7. "Letter from Kenneth H. P'Pool, Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer, to Carol D. Shull, Chief of Registration for the National Register". May 11, 1987. "The properties listed below no longer exist and have been recommended by the Mississippi State Professional Review Board for delisting from the National Register of Historic Places: [...] Scottish Rite Cathedral. 1101 23rd Avenue, Meridian, Lauderdale County. Listed 12/18/1979. Destroyed by fire 3/20/1985". Attached is the original National Register of Historic Places nomination form for Scottish Rite Cathedral (#79003404), including one image (January 1979).
8. Encyclopedia: History of Congregations Beth Israel & Ohel Jacob, Meridian, Mississippi. Encyclopedia of Southern Jewish Communities. Institute of Southern Jewish Life. 2010-05-26. https://web.archive.org/web/20071005093325/http://www.isjl.org/history/archive/ms/HistoryofMeridianCongregations.htm. 2007-10-05.
9. https://www.loc.gov/item/ms0343/
10. http://www.courthouses.co/us-states/m/mississippi/newton-county/