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]
Scottish Rite Cathedral (1914), which was listed on the National Register until it was destroyed by fire in 1985.[8]
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.[9]
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[6]
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[6]
^"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).