Bike Around Mississippi

HISTORIC HEDGE HILL HOUSE IN MAGNOLIA--- Pictured above, from left to right, Nick Barraghan, and Ed Abdella, standing in front of Hedge Hill. A historic home in Magnolia, owned by Lucius Lampton, MD, and Magnolia Gazette Editor-in-Chief. Ed Abdella, a history teacher, from Meridian, Mississippi, has been known to bike for several causes. (Gazette Photo by Clint Blackwell)

Ed Abdella arrived at 8am on July 7, 2023, on bicycle in front of Hedge Hill, owned by Dr. Lampton, in Magnolia, Mississippi.

Abdella is a history teacher in Meridian, Mississippi and has been known to bicycle for several causes. This cause is to raise money for Merrehope, located in Meridian, one of the last neo-classical homes in the city. It is Ed Abdella’s hope to raise his goal of $25,000 to go towards maintenance, “Raise the Roof for Merrehope,” of this historical home.

He has completed 1,165 miles in 4 days and 3.5 hours. He began his journey in Meridian on July 4th and had four stages during his trip. Aside from small intermittent breaks, he only would stop for four hours to sleep and have a substantial meal. These stages are Southaven, Natchez, Biloxi, and finishing in Meridian where he has stopped at several points of historical interest. Abdella’s “Bike Around Mississippi: From Merrehope and Back” campaign was completed on Saturday July 8. This will make Abdella the first person to bike the entire state of Mississippi. He was followed by his team of three members Clint Blackwell, Nick Barraghan, and Kevin Brooker.

Abdella and his team made his stop in front of one of our town’s very own landmarks “Hedge Hill”. This house was built by local merchant William Atkinson in 1887. He purchased the Sinnott Place to build this Queen Anne style home and was the first to use a professional architect in the area. The property was then sold to the Lampton family in 1893 to Lucius Lampton, who added several rooms to the house. This house sits high on a hill facing the railroad and has greeted railroad travelers for well over a century with its impressive tower overlooking downtown Magnolia.

Abdella has plans to bicycle across the United States in 2024 and we are proud to have had him travel through our town of historical interest.

You can still make pledges to the Merrehope cause by visiting merrehope.com and by clicking the “Donate to Bike Around Mississippi” link. Merrehope’s construction was begun in 1859 and is currently voted the top holiday attraction in the state of Mississippi for their “Trees of Christmas”. This is a six week event being held on the grounds of the home for the Christmas holidays.

BIKE AROUND MISSISSIPPI--- Pictured above Ed Abdella rides his bike past Merrehope, located in Meridian, Mississippi, Abdella was raising funds for the organization that helps take care of the Merrehope house.