Skip to main content

The Crossroads - Clarksdale, Mississippi

Image
By
Crossroads - generally understood as an intersection of two or more roads.  Or in the Mississippi Delta and Blues music legend, the location where Robert Johnson exchanged his soul to the Devil in return for becoming a talented musician.

Johnson, born in 1911, was an aspiring blues musician who, in his early years, was not as good at playing guitar.  In the early 1930s, he disappeared from the local juke joint music scene.  Johnson returned to the scene in 1932 with a unique style and ability. His transformation in his abilities led to the legend that he sold his soul to the Devil.

I went to the crossroads, fell down on my knees  / I went to the crossroads, fell down on my knees / Asked the Lord above, have mercy now, save poor Bob if you please.  ---Robert Johnson

The mystery isn't limited to how Johnson came to excel at the Blues, where the alleged meeting with the Devil is also a question.  There are four possible locations: the first at the intersection of Mississippi Highways 1 & 8 in Rosedale. The intersection of Old US Highway 49 and Old US Highway 61 in Clarksdale - Clarksdale has erected a roadside monument, calling it the home of the crossroads.  The dirt road intersection of Lusk and Walker Roads at Dockery Plantation is another possibility.  Finally, another dirt road intersection (Mound City and Frazier Roads) near Beulah may have been the site.



Clarksdale's crossroads - the intersection of Old US 49 and 61 - is also home to Abe's BBQ.  In business since 1924, Abe's BBQ - then known as the Bungalow Inn - would have been standing that Mississippi night.  

Mural at Abe's BBQ in Clarksdale that depicts Robert Johnson at the Crossroads.

Johnson passed away in 1938 at age 27.  His death, the cause, and the reason for it remains a mystery.

All photos taken by post author - July 2023.

Sources & Links:

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

North Carolina Continues to Move Forward with Rail

By
2023 and the first half of 2024 have seen continued growth in North Carolina's passenger rail system.  From increased daily trains from Raleigh to Charlotte, federal funds for studying additional corridors, and receiving a historic grant to begin the construction of high-speed rail between Raleigh and Richmond, the last 18 months have been a flurry of activity at NCDOT's Rail Division.  And that's just the tip of the iceberg. As ridership and routes increase - the engine of North Carolina passenger rail trains will become a more common sight. (Adam Prince) Increased Passenger Train Service: On July 10, 2023, a fourth Piedmont round-trip rail service between Raleigh and Charlotte commenced.  The four Piedmont trains plus the daily Carolinian (to Washington, DC, and New York) bring the total of trains serving the two cities daily to five. The current daily Piedmont and Carolinian schedule between Charlotte and Raleigh (NCDOT) The result was over 641,000 passengers utilized pa
Post a Comment
Read more

US Route 101 in Benbow, Garberville and Redway

By
The communities of Benbow, Garberville and Redway can all be found along US Route 101 within southern Humboldt County.  The former surface alignment of US Route 101 in Garberville and Redway once crossed the Garberville Bluffs along what is now Redwood Drive via a corridor constructed as part of the Redwood Highway during the 1910s.  US Route 101 through Benbow, Garberville and Redway was modernized by 1935.  US Route 101 would eventually be upgraded to freeway standards in Benbow, Garberville and Redway by extension of the Redwood Freeway during 1966-68.  As the cover photo the original grade of US Route 101 and the Redwood Highway can be seen at the Garberville Bluffs during 1934.  US Route 101 can be seen in the communities of Benbow, Garberville and Redway on the 1935 Division of Highways Map of Humboldt County .   The history of US Route 101 in Benbow, Garberville and Redway Benbow, Garberville and Redway lie on the banks of the South Fork Eel River of southern Humboldt County.  D
Post a Comment
Read more

The Midway Palm and Pine of US Route 99

By
Along modern day California State Route 99 south of Avenue 11 just outside the City limits of Madera one can find the Midway Palm and Pine in the center median of the freeway.  The Midway Palm and Pine denotes the halfway point between the Mexican Border and Oregon State Line on what was US Route 99.  The Midway Palm is intended to represent Southern California whereas the Midway Pine is intended to represent Northern California.  Pictured above the Midway Palm and Pine can be seen from the northbound lanes of the California State Route 99 Freeway.   This blog is part of the larger Gribblenation US Route 99 Page.  For more information pertaining to the other various segments of US Route 99 and it's three-digit child routes check out the link the below. Gribblenation US Route 99 Page The history of the Midway Palm and Pine The true timeframe for when the Midway Palm and Pine (originally a Deadora Cedar Tree) were planted is unknown.  In fact, the origin of the Midway Palm and Pine w
Post a Comment
Read more