Photo by Tim Isbell

Bobby Pell of the Vicksburg Fire Department surveys the damage on Market Street in Port Gibson, where two buildings were destroyed and another damaged by fire early Monday morning. The buildings were built in 1840, one year after the worst fire in Port Gibson’s history destroyed much of Market Street. Legend has it that Gen. U.S. Grant called Port Gibson &uot;too beautiful to burn,&uot; and the motto has stuck with the town ever since.