Alphabet File page 134

1923, November 1 - "at an early hour and from unknown cause" destroyed the A & G Theater, a value conservatively estimated at the time of $2,700.00. (SCE    4/16/1927).

 

Firment, Mrs. Mercedes. dau of Louis Spotorno. (SCEJUB42p28).

 

First Baptist Church, 141 Main St. Bay St. Louis (Ph 48 thru 50,55)

 

The First Baptist Church in BSL was started by Elder Benjamin Whitfield in Feb, 1846.  Elder Bowen served from 1848 to 1855.  In 1858 the church was again organized with 14 members equally divided between white and black. "Elim" Was the name chosen. Elder W,. H. Varnado of Hancock County became the first pastor.  The Civil War put an end to all church work by separating the membership.  In 1866 Elder W. W. Stoval served for 3 months.  After that there were no reports for several years.  In 1875 Elder R.  R. Breland served for 6 months baptizing two persons.  Elder M. A. Mason baptized four persons in the Bay in front of the residence of Deacon W. A. Whitfield.  In 1896 the Baptist Church at Bay St. Louis had 102 members. In 1936 the First Baptist Church at BSL had 120 members Little Zion Church At Waveland had 30 members.   First Baptist Church at Kiln had 53 members

 

First Baptist Church at Gainesville had 75 members First Baptist Church at Pearlington had 120 members First Baptist Mission at Logtown had 50 members. (From WPA 1936)

 

First Baptist Church. 141 Main St.  Organized 1896.  Present building dedicated Jan 1950.  (BSL 100 Yrs pg 39).

 

First Presbyterian Church. 138 DeMontluzin St. Organized

 

  31 March 1957.  (BSL 100 Years pg 39.)

 

Fischer, F. H. r 1312 N. Bch (Ph 55)

 

Fisher, Miss Rose, and Miss Maggie Stulth, of New Orleans, arrived at the Bay Wednesday to spend part of the summer. (SCE 7/15/1893)

 

Fisk, Mrs. , and Miss Mamie Edwards, of New Orleans, were guests of Misses O'Brian, of Union street, last week. (SCE 8/12/1893)

 

Fitch, Rev. Mr. of New Orleans was here Sunday and conducted services at Christ Church.  (SCE 9/24/1892)

 

Fitzmaurice, Edmond H. 1401 N. Beach.  (1968 phone).

 

Fitzpatrick, Hon. Juo. - The lovely Miss Kate Hurley, of New Orleans and a niece of the Hon. Juo. Fitzpatrick, mayor of that city is visiting Mrs.  Peter Callery and gracious daughters at their home on the Jordan banks.  (SCE 8/6/1892)

 

Fitzsimmons, Bob, a Bay favorite, played the Heroic Blacksmith to a crowded house in Biloxi Monday night. (SCE/10/22/1892)

 

  Mr. and Mrs. Bob Fitzsimmons arrived in the Bay on Thursday evening. (SCE 11/26/1892)

 

Fitzsimmons, Bob, will train in Bay St. Louis for his coming mill (?).  The Bay seems to be Fitz's mascot and he will always stick to it.  (SCE 12/17/1892)

 

Fitzsimmons, Mr. Bob and family, have rented Mrs. Gragnon's "Bellevue" for the winter months.  (SCE, 12/31/1892)

 

Bosworth, Mr. Frank, and Mr. Martin Julian, of Chicago, are at the Bay.  Mr. Julian is Bob Fitzsimmons' manager and Mr. Bosworth is Fitzs' sparring partner.  (SCE 02/04/1893)

 

Fitzsimmons, Bob, the big ring champion, arrived here from the North on Wednesday.  He is occupying the Avondale villa.  Fitz has a host of admirers at the Bay and is warmly welcomed.  (SCE 02/04/1893)

 

Fitzsimmons, Mr. and Mrs. R., and son, Charley, left for the North on Tuesday night.  (SCE 3/25/1893)

 

  Fitzsimmons, the boxer, is giving exhibitions in the East. (SCE 04/01/1893)

 

Five Point Grocery, 228 Union (Ph 48-49)

 

Flags, Eight of Gulf Coast

 

Fleur-de-lis of France 1699-1763.  In 1699 the glorious Fleur-de-lis of France was unfurled over Fort Maurepas at the settlement of Biloxi by Pierre Le Moyne D'Iberville. D'Iberville was sent by King Louis XIV of France to gain control over the mouth of Ms. River and stem Spanish and English expansion. The site chosen for the fort was on the eastern shore of the Biloxi Bay which had been named for the Biloxi Indians who had welcomed the settlers in a warm and friendly manner.  The fort was later moved to a permanent site on the front beach of the present city of Biloxi and named Fort Louis, under the leadership of Jean Baptiste Lemoyne Bienville.

 

  British Red Ensign 1766-1810

 

England’s defeat of France in the Seven Years War brought an end to the French rule in North America.  As a result of the peace treaty signed by George III  and France our Gulf Coast became part of the newly created province of British

 

  West Florida.  The Fleur-de-lis was lowered and was replaced  by the flag of the British Empire.  The first governor by royal appointment was John Johnston.

 

Spanish Bars of Aragon 1780-1810

 

The year 1780 brought yet another flag to the Gulf Coast as Spain declared war against England and won.  As a result the Gulf Coast became Spanish West Florida under Don Bernado De Galvez.  Galvez drove the British out practically single-handedly and took over as civil and military governor. Galvez came to be acknowledged as one of the ablest soldiers and administrators of his time.

 

Lone Star Flag Sept. 23, 1810-Dec. 7, 1810

 

This period may well be the most exciting part of our history as our Gulf Coast took part in a daring rebellion against the Spanish Dons in power at that time.  When Napoleon sold the vast Louisiana territory to the United States, the people of Spanish West Florida considered themselves part of that purchase. Spain refused to give up the territory yet neglected to give the province protection and enforce law and order. As a result the country became a place of refuge for outlaws, fugitives, pirates and was open to foreign invasion. In Sept. 1810 a successful and daring rebellion was staged and the Spanish were run out of the province.  The people declared themselves the independent nation of the Republic of West Florida.  A constitution was drawn up, a president was elected and the Lone Star Flag was adopted.  Application was made to the United States for admission as a new state but President Madison refused their request and declared that West Florida was a part of the Louisiana Purchase. So after an existence of only 74 days, the stout little Republic of West Florida had ceased to be one of the nations of the world.

 

The Star Spangled Banner 1811-1861

 

The Star Spangled Banner, a flag of 15 stars and 15 stripes was the flag hoisted over the Gulf Coast when it became American territory. This was the first time the coast was under an American flag.  This was a unique flag because it had a stripe for each of the original thirteen colonies plus one for Vermont and Kentucky. The plan had been to add a          stripe for each new state as it joined the Union but as the Nation expanded this plan had to be dropped and in 1818 the return made to the original design of 13 stripes.  It was this flag of 15 stripes that we were under when we were attached to the Mississippi territory and in 1817 when Mississippi became the Nation's 20th state honoring David Holmes as it's first governor.

 

Magnolia State Flag and Mississippi State Flag 1861-1894-Present - War was in the air in 1861 when Mississippi passed the ordinance of secession, severing its connection with the United States.  Being the second state to secede from the Union, Mississippi  thus became the Sovereign Republic of Mississippi. Down came the American flag and in its stead the Magnolia State flag was raised.  Here on our Gulf Coast at that time the tiny city of Biloxi was flourishing and the first Aldermen were elected. According to the City of Biloxi records, Francis Meaut was elected Alderman for a one year term but served until 1866. The Magnolia flag was retained as official state flag until 1894 when the present day Mississippi State flag was adopted.