This text was obtained via automated optical character recognition.
It has not been edited and may therefore contain several errors.

---

Page Ten
SOUVENIR CENTENNIAL EDITION, HANCOCK COUNTY EAGLE
August, 1958
as
M
PUBLISHED BY THE EAGLE PUBLISHING COMPANY INC. John Damboriao, Editor
Member Mississippi Press Association
Official Publication For Hancock County
Subscription Price, $2.00 per Year, in Advance
LARGEST PAID CIRCULATION IN HANCOCK COUNTY
Entered as Second Class Matter in the Postoffice at Bav St. Louis, Act of March 3, 1879.
Purpose Of This Edition
In publishing this Souvenir Centennial Edition, on the occasion of the celebration of the Hundredth anniversary of the Incorporation of the City of Bay St. Louis, it will be our intention to dwell on THREE subjects—PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE of Bay St. Louis.
In writing of the past we want to give our readers an idea of the way of life at the beginning of and during the past century, in our community. In reading through this edition you will find stories of Saint Stanislaus College and St. Joseph Academy, actually the only two organizations, still active in our community, which had their beginning even more than a hundred years ago. You will find stories of many of the more worthwhile projects instrumental in the transformation of Bay St. Louis from a lazy, sprawling, undeveloped Indian village of a hundred or more years ago, into the city it is today. You will find stories of the first railroad to operate in Bay St. Louis, sketches of the better-known and progressive citizens of the past, who had a hand in the molding of the pattern pf what our town is now. You will find stories of past wars of the century, at which time our brave lads of those days, answered the call of duty, just as our boys are doing today, and how many of them gave their lives in answer to this call. You will find stories of how our ancestors made entertainment for themselves during the “horse and buggy days,” before the advent of automobiles, airplanes, electrical appliances, etc. All these things and more of the “grand and glorious” past you will find in this edition. A past of which we are intensely proud. Proud of the achievements accomplished by our fathers and grandfathers—achievements we feel sure were made against, at times, seemingly insurmountable odds. We salute the memory of these deeds.
As for the present, we wish to take this opportunity to commend our active City Commission Council for the improvements they have made and we are sure, will continue to make in our city of today. Our city now operates its municipally owned water system, natural gas distribution system, has excellent street lighting program, paved streets, with more to come, hospital, library, educational facilities second to none, etc. Our stores—grocery, mercantile, hardware, etc., are as fine as you will find in cities many times the size of our own. Our churches, of every denomination, are as fine as can be found anywhere, each with full, complete and faithful congregations, who contribute liberally enough to keep their churches looking trim and neat at all times. Transportation facilities are more than adequate—paved highways lead in all directions, the L. & N. Railroad operates trains daily, the Greyhound Bus line has several buses going in both directions daily and travel by plane is available both in New Orleans and Gulfport, short distances from here.
For the Future—well, as the saying goes, we can dream, can’t we? Yes, we have often dreamed of what we would like to see done in our town. We might even, perhaps, have a few suggestions, nothing impossible, mind you, but, we think, practical and simple. For one thing, we would abolish personal taxes on private businesses. WHY?—Well it is our contention that this would encourage the creation of more small businesses, would encourage those already in business to spend this money they are now paying in unfair personal taxes, in other business establishments in town or turn it back into their own business for improvements. Then there are streets in the outlying sections of town which are in need of immediate repair, with holes that are hard on auto-
The Advent Of The Railroad
Railroads, too, just as they have done in other parts of these United States, played an important part in the development of this area. THie first railroad to operate in Hancock County put an end to the bringing of freight by barge frota New Orleans and other nearby points. This first railroad was known as the New Orleans, Mobile & Chattanooga Railroad, and was built and opened for operation in the year 1872. The construction of this Railroad, as with others throughout our vast country, met with great difficulties, not only in the bridging of the marshes and the two-mile wide Bay of St. Louis, but in the extremely costly upkeep. Worms and other sea insects would attack the piling
*3* v'
Bay St. Louis' Beautiful Beach
and soon make them useless so that constant replacements were required. This difficulty was finally overcome, however, by treating the piling with creosote. To Mr. Charles Chadwick, of Waveland, went the honor of driving the golden spike at the Rigolets, marking the completion
mobiles and detrimental to life and limb. These people pay taxes as well as those in other sections of town and are entitled to have their streets kept in good condition at all times. Also we could use another fire station—one at either end of town, to provide quicker and better fire protection at all times. Then what about a more adequate drainage system to be able to carry off excessive water during and after heavy rains. This excess water, remaining in the streets for days after a rain, is not only a nuisance but causes damage to the streets, necessitating costly repairs. Then there is the “sidewalk peddler” as we call them (we hope there are none in operation at this time), they are allowed by officials in charge, to operate in opposition to permanently established businesses, a practice which we think is grossly unfair to the legitimate merchant, who spends his hard-earned money to construct a building which he hopes will be a credit to his town, hires well-paid personnel, and in general, contributes to the advancement of the community, and his business is encroached upon by these “sidewalk peddlers” who contribute nothing but an eyesore to the town. Oh, we could go on and on, but the above are our main gripes and we would be more than pleased to see our city officials give some consideration to the above suggestions, now that they have the Centennial out of their hair—and their beards.
Drive of More Than 50 Years Ago.
of that part of the railroad running threugh this section.
This division was purchased in 1878 by the Louisville and Nashville Railroad, by which name it is still known. A Bay St. Louis man, the late John Green, served the L. & iN. railroad as local agent and various other capacities, for more than fifty years, having been first employed by the company in 1874 and holding the position of agent from 1880, until his retirement in 1932.
Many of the citizens of today still remember the Sunday and Wednesday dollar excursion trains running between New Orleans and Ocean Springs, and always filled to . capacity with happy crowds out for a day of fun, rest and relaxation. Here at Bay St. Louis, it was always a thrill to meet the excursion trains in the morning and afternoon, and mingle with the crowds, watching the vendors running up and down outside the train, selling fried fish and oyster sandwiches, figs, magnolias, and various other commodities to the passengers through the train windows.
Later, to meet the problem of increasing motor traffic, a two-mile long wooden highway bridge, spanning the Bay of St. Louis, was built and opened to traffic in 1928, and thus ended the inadequate ferryboat service to Henderson Point. This bridge, becoming amtiquated, with the passage of time, was replaced in 1954, by the. magnificent, $9 million dollar,, f o u r-lane concrete automobile bridge, which now spans the Bay of St. Louis, ranking with some-of the greatest in the country.
Delphi Department Store
“WE GREW WITH BAY ST. LOUIS”
Established in 1865, for nearly a century this business has expanded through courteous service and handling of fine merchandise, assuring customers of complete satisfaction and wisely invested dollars when purchasing from us.
108 S. Beach Blvd.
Phone HO-7-5583