Friends of Rosedale

Friends of Rosedale Our mission is to improve our community by raising funds, awareness and volunteers for needed projects, creating a positive impact on the city.

Update on building progress.
03/28/2026

Update on building progress.

This is the future home of Friends of Rosedale. Our long awaited dream of opening the Highway 1 Museum and Welcome Cente...
03/06/2026

This is the future home of Friends of Rosedale. Our long awaited dream of opening the Highway 1 Museum and Welcome Center is near! We are so excited to have a "home!" 807 Main Street.

Attention if you're in need!
01/18/2026

Attention if you're in need!

To all the Friends of Friends of Rosedale, we wish for you the best year in 2026!
01/01/2026

To all the Friends of Friends of Rosedale, we wish for you the best year in 2026!

12/15/2025

in 1879, Blanche Kelso Bruce became the first Black American to preside over the U.S. Senate. He was also the first Black American to serve a full term in the Senate and later the first Black American to win any votes at a major party’s nominating convention.

After escaping from slavery during the Civil War, he attempted to enlist in the Union Army. When he was turned down, he began teaching, eventually organizing Missouri’s first school for Black children in Hannibal.

After making his way down the Mississippi River, he decided to enter politics, rising through the ranks of Republican leaders, elected sheriff of Bolivar County, then the county superintendent of education. He turned the Bolivar County school system into one of the best in the state, becoming a well-known figure across the state.

In 1874, the Mississippi Legislature chose Bruce to fill a vacant seat in the U.S. Senate.

After Mississippi’s violent 1875 election, Bruce championed a bill to investigate the political conditions there. The bill passed the Senate, but the House, controlled by Democrats, did nothing. He pushed for the desegregation of the U.S. Army, citing what had already happened in the U.S. Navy. In 1880, he railed against the mistreatment of Native Americans.

“Our Indian policy and administration seem to me to have been inspired and controlled by stern selfishness,” he said.

He introduced legislation to assist destitute Black farmers in Kansas. Although the bill died in committee, it led to the distribution of duty–free British cotton clothing to impoverished Kansas communities.

When the Mississippi Legislature, now controlled by Democrats, gathered to select a new senator in January 1880, Bruce didn’t bother. Lawmakers selected one of Mississippi’s “Redeemers” of Reconstruction, white Democrat James Z. George, to replace him.

Bruce went on to serve as register of the U.S. Treasury and died of diabetes complications in 1898. In 2001, the Senate wing of the Capitol unveiled a portrait of Bruce, based on a Matthew Brady photograph.

The statue of George, however, continues to represent the state of Mississippi at the U.S. Capitol, along with Confederate President Jefferson Davis.
https://mississippitoday.org/2024/02/14/on-this-day-in-1879-blanche-kelso-bruce-first-black-american-to-preside-over-us-senate/

Our wonderful Grand Marshal, Gladys Barnes!!!!! And a BIG thanks to Audrey & Joe Saia for driving our Grand marshal in t...
12/14/2025

Our wonderful Grand Marshal, Gladys Barnes!!!!! And a BIG thanks to Audrey & Joe Saia for driving our Grand marshal in their fabulous convertible!!!!!❤️❤️❤️

A few photos from Christmas on the Riverside!!!!
12/14/2025

A few photos from Christmas on the Riverside!!!!

12/13/2025

We want to thank everyone who participated in tonight's Christmas on the Riverside parade! Thank you all for being such a big part of the success! Hope to see you all again next year!

Christmas on the Riverside rolls TODAY in downtown Rosedale at 5 PM! See you there! 
12/12/2025

Christmas on the Riverside rolls TODAY in downtown Rosedale at 5 PM! See you there! 

We are already planning this year's big parade! Save the Date and join us in the parade!!!! More details coming later!
04/23/2025

We are already planning this year's big parade! Save the Date and join us in the parade!!!! More details coming later!

Celebrating our 7th year on Facebook. Thank you for your continuing support. We could never have made it without you all...
03/19/2025

Celebrating our 7th year on Facebook. Thank you for your continuing support. We could never have made it without you all. 💕😄💐🤗🎉

03/06/2025

Hello, Friends! We're still here and working to announce some fabulous news! Stay tuned!

Address

P. O. Box 310
Rosedale, MS
38769

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