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seventeen
The Porter Story, Interesting
Tais story began August 3, UC4 when Paul E.. (Pete) Porter tt*pped off a train in Bay S't. Lews He is a native of Pennsylvania and came to Bay St. Louis wnh the American Bridge Co. to kelp construct the Rigolets Railroad Bridge. Due to no living accommodations at the Rigolets, Pete and the other “men on the )ob" were forced to board in Bay St. Louis, thus paving the way for this story. Lucille Osoi-naeh spent her summers keeping books for her father who owned and ooerated the Bay Mercantile Co. one of the oldest business booses in Bay St. Louis. It so hap-that young Porter needed a shirt and came into the store as you might have guessed * was a case of love at first sight, blossomed into a true ro-*j-cce and culminated in marriage Hse 17th, 1925.
As the Rigolets bridge was rccpleted and the next job was a* Pittsburg, Pa., the young cou-9*e spent the first eight months :t :he:T married life in that city. Is April. 1926, they returned to Bj? S: Louis to await the arrival rf their first and only child, P. F Por.er, Jr., who was bom on Wj« 37!h, 1926. While in Bay St. Pete worked for his father-* at the Bay Mercantile Co.
S- ri’ember, 1927, Mr. Osoinach f'r'.irvrf from active business, selling ti* business to his son, H. W. >■*.: ir.ach of Memphis, Tenn., and tv Osoinachs and the Porters itxrted on a motor trip to California which in those days of poor and “primitive” autos was an undertaking. The Porters decided to stay in California and V*izht a large garage in Sacra-aroto that catered to storage for tie hotels. After about a year :2&ey decided that California was the “end of the rainbow” so tier returned to Bay St. Louis = December 1928 for a visit and »er.t back East with the American Bridge Co., where they lived in towns and cities of Ohio and Pennsylvania where the work of •Jae Bridge Co. took them. When P E. Porter, Jr. approached school axe. they decided to settle down so th*> returned to Bay St. Louis, tSe place they loved best.
At that time there was a garage and filling station on the beach across from the Osoinach residence the present S. J. A. student home) asd after looking into the situation :hey decided to buy it, so on Feb-r_sry 1st, 1931, Porter’s Garage had its inception. Though the jrir was one of our “depression tears" the business was a success from its very beginning and the
Porters were able to get a foot hold and began to pay back the money that they borrowed for their venture as their own. “capital” at the time they went into business was the “huge” sum of $70.00. They sold Lion Oil Products and did repair work and many of the loyal customers of those days are still the valued customers of today.
In 1935 Gulf Oil Co. approached the Porters. We say, “The Porters because Lucille has always been active in the business and was really one of the first women anywhere to be associated in such work, though of course today, every filling station and garage has the feminine touch. At any rate, the Gulf Oil Co. had bought the property on Ulman Avenue where Porters Pontiac Service now stands and expected to build a service station for lease and approached the Porters with a proposition for operating it. After much earnest consideration, because it entailed going into debt again, they decided to make the change. So on February 1st., 1936, exactly five years after the first venture Porter’s “Gulf” service had its inception. The Gulf Oil Co. (according to the Porters) has been a wonderful Company to be associated with and after a few years they agreed to sell the property to the Porters without making any profit on the deal.
In 1947 Pontiac’s Motor Division of General Motors approached the Porters about taking on a contract for the “Sale and Service” of Pontiac cars and again after much deliberation they decided to expand and have had a most successful and happy ten years association with Pontiac and General Motors.
The Porter organization has been sort of a “family affair” as their son, P. E Porter, Jr. has been associated with them in the business since his return from, Uncle Sam’s Navy. He is now married and the father of four fine children. At present he is service manager and parts manager and is an important “cog in the wheel.” Another employee is Lathan Garri-ga, who has been with the Porters since 1932 and is really part of the family. He is a valued and trusted employee and has given service to many of our patrons who break down or get in "trouble “after hours.” He is truly a fami-
In the 80’s and 90’s the business section of Town was located at the head of Washington Street and the beach as well as the Main Street Section. One of the land marks of that section was the August Keller General Store, shown above, which was located on the comer of Washington and Beach, where the Star Theatre is today. Fire destroyed this original building, which was rebuilt with a brick structure, which changed hands several times during the past fifty years.
liar figure in “his wrecker.” The other employees all have years of service and are trusted and appreciated by the Porters and are ready to be of service to the patrons at all times.
Of course, employees mean much to an organization, but so too, do the customers and the Porters feel that they have been blessed with the most loyal and patient customers in the world and want to express their sincere appreciation for all past business and friendships and hope that “Porter’s Pontiac Service” will continue to be a part of the business of Bay St. Louis for many years to come, selling good products and giving good service!
WOOL INDUSTRY IN WAVELAND—BAY ST. LOUIS
Waveland’s biggest and outstanding industry was the Ulman Woolen mills, constructed and financed by the late Alfred Ulman in the 80’s.
Sheep raising and wool grow-growing was quite a combined industry in that and adjoining sections. Sheep hereabouts need no other attention than the natural land affords.
Located on Nicholson Avenue immediately west of the railroad tracks the mills were frame bldgs. Principal product was wool blankets; secondly shawls, large black and white plaided shawls in block pattern Were popular. Manufactured of pure wool as far as possi-
ble to make the fabric hold, the shawl and blankets were comfortable and everlasting.
- BE CAREFUL WITH
ANY FIRE!
Another Reminder of the Past
VOTE FOR:
«**!»
The Klock Hotel, at the corner of Ballentine and North Beach still stands although a few minor changes have been made over a number of years and is now the property of the Geo. Stevensons.
This hotel was conducted by the late Mrs. Remy Klock, which was one of the noted hostelries, catering to winter and summer trade on the Gulf Coast, it is a three story building, built on modern up-to-date lines for the comfort and convenience of its guests, equipped with electric lights and
fans in the dining rooms, hot and cold running water, steam heated, with accommodations for one hundred guests.
At the Klock Hotel no effort was spared for the entertainment of guests, an occasional vaudeville entertainment, with weekly hops on the Klock Dancing Pavilion, which was situated right on the Bay directly in front of the hotel. Other attractions offered by the Klock Hotel management included facilities for fishing, hunting, boating and bathing parties.
WILLIAM G. HEWES
Acting Chancellor
Candidate For
CHANCERY JUDGE 8th JUDICIAL DISTRICT
(Harrison, Hancock and Stone Counties)
Your Vote and Support Will Be Appreciated
#	Now serving as Chancery Judge
#	Life Long Resident of Mississippi Coast
#	Lawyer and Counsellor Since 1931
#	Graduate of University of Virginia Law School
#	Commissioner of Mississippi State Bar For Six Years
#	Chancery Court Judge Since June 11,1956
THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR EXPERIENCE Election Date — August 26th, 1958


BSL Centennial 1958 Hancock County Eagle Bay St Louis Souvenir Centennial Edition 1958 (19)
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