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John Cofield's Oxford And Ole Miss: Oxford Creamery Co.
Today, across Jackson from the Visit Oxford building is Funky’s. Before Funky’s there may have been some business ventures that didn’t make it, but really the name the building goes back to next is Parks Barber Shop. Ah, millions of memories spread out over several generations there. Stepping on back, in the early 1930s, Albert Fenger, first generation immigrant from Denmark, brought his family to Oxford and opened the Oxford Creamery Co. There on Jackson, at the other end of the block where about the same time J. R. Cofield was setting up his new location, his second in Oxford and the one he would retired from in 1973.
My old granddaddy knew old Albert. Today, with Facebook and skipping ahead two generations and 80 years, I very much appreciate the online contacts and correspondence with Don and Al Fenger. Don has all the pictures and history. It is a cool part of Oxford to be recorded, remembered and published.
A bit I learned that made me appreciate the Bill of Rights, and Oxford, even more. The Fengers brought Denmark with them and founded the Lutheran Church of Oxford. Holding the services in their living room. Mrs. Fenger played the piano. That’s good Oxford there.
John Cofield is a HottyToddy.com writer and one of Oxford’s leading folk historians. He is the son of renowned university photographer, Jack Cofield. His grandfather, J.R. “Colonel” Cofield, was William Faulkner’s personal photographer and for decades was the Ole Miss yearbook photographer. Cofield attended Ole Miss as well.
Stay tuned for more information on Cofield’s forthcoming book: Oxford, Mississippi ~ The Cofield Collection — a pictorial history book with John’s writing on the history to go along with the photos.
Contact John at Johnbcofield@gmail.com.
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