Christmas celebrated at the Olive Branch Wesson House

Dec 11, 2024- One of the most historic and notable homes in DeSoto County has decked itself for the holidays. 

The Wesson House, home of Olive Branch’s first mayor Ben Wesson, is a historic landmark built in 1875 by Ben Wesson, the town’s first mayor. The house was constructed on land purchased in 8136 by Milton Blocker and Stephen Flinn from Chickasaw Chief Lush-Pun-Tubby. It was initially part of a larger site that included a mercantile store, which remained in operation until the mid-20th century. Settlers didn’t start celebrating Christmas until 1855, when the Mississippi state Legislature made it an official state holiday.  

The property passed through generations of the Wesson family and was eventually donated to the city in 1991 by Forrest “Red” Langston, fulfilling the wishes of his late wife, Martha Pearl Wesson Langston. 

Although modifications to the house prevented its inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places, it has been recognized as a Dedicated Mississippi Landmark due to its historical significance. It is one of only three such landmarks in DeSoto County.

Today, the Wesson House serves as a cultural and historical site, hosting events like concerts and movie nights on its lawn during the summer and fall. It symbolizes Olive Branch’s heritage and connection to its early development as a town.

The 2024 Christmas holiday season marks the 149th year of holiday celebrations for the Wesson House.