JOE POPE BOULEVARD

Rosedale Mayor Carey Estes stands next to Joe Pope, Jr. at the Joe Pope
Boulevard dedication ceremony. Photo courtesy of Sara Coleman, The
Bolivar Commercial.


Sara Coleman
Boliver Commercial Staff Writer
Published August 20, 2007 3:27 PM CDT

Family members and friends of legendary hot tamale-maker Joe Pope gathered Saturday to dedicate Rosedale's Main Street, Miss. Highway 1, as Joe Pope Boulevard. "I want to say how proud I am for all of you to come out and participate in this event ... I want to thank each one of you. You know what this means to me to be able to be a part of this dedication," said Rosedale Mayor Carey Estes....

The renaming of Main Street to Joe Pope Boulevard stems from a desire of Rosedale's citizens, first voiced in July 2005, to honor Joe for his achievements and contributions to the community.

Pope, who passed away in 2004 at the age of 80, owned and operated the popular White Front Cafe -- Joe's Hot Tamale Place -- on Rosedale's Main Street for approximately 35 years prior to his death.

Click here to read the rest of the article.

THE LATE JOE POPE HONORED IN ROSEDALE

The town of Rosedale, Mississippi, is honoring the late Joe Pope by naming part of Highway 1 in his honor. This Saturday, August 18th, at 4 o'clock, a short ceremony will be held oalong the new Joe Pope Road. Joe Pope's mother, who will be celebrating her 100th birthday on Saturday, will be in attendance, as will Joe's sister, Barbara Pope. Barbara has been making the tamales for Joe's Hot Tamale Place/White Front Cafe, since her brother passed away in December 2004.

Go here to read the interview with Barbara Pope.

FEASTING ON TAMALES

Catch the Mississippi Delta Hot Tamale Trail on Alton Brown's Food Network show Feasting on Asphalt. The Tamale Trail is featured in Episode 3, "Soul Food Survivor," and premiers on Saturday, August 18, at 9 p.m. EST. Check local listings. And check the Food Network site for the rebroadcast schedule.

Thanks again, Alton, for hittin' the Tamale Trail!