Fun Fact: Stone County in the Mississippi Code

Map_of_Mississippi_highlighting_Stone_County

While it was the will of the people to create a new county from Harrison County, this officially occurred by act of the Mississippi Legislature in 1916.

Miss. Code Ann. § 19-1-131. Stone County.

Stone County is bounded by beginning at the northwest corner of section six, township two, south, range thirteen, west; thence running south along the eastern boundary line of Pearl River County to the southwest corner of section thirty-one, township four, south, range thirteen, west; thence running east to the southeast corner of section thirty-six, township four, south, range thirteen, west; thence running north to the northeast corner of section twenty-five, township four, south, range thirteen, west; thence running east to the southeast corner of section twenty-one, township four, south, range nine, west; thence running north along the eastern boundary line of Jackson and George Counties to the northeast corner of section four, township two, south, range nine, west; thence running west to the point of beginning. The county site is Wiggins.

HISTORY: SOURCES: Codes, Hemingway’s 1917, § 3892; 1930, § 3953; 1942, § 3088; Laws, 1916, ch. 527.

Fun Fact: Stone County 2030 Comprehensive Plan

Did you know that Stone County has a comprehensive plan for economic development that takes into account our history? The plan includes many interesting details about us.

Cover - Stone County 2030 Comprehensive Plan
Cover – Stone County 2030 Comprehensive Plan

 

Fun Fact: Flint Creek Waterpark

Flint Creek Waterpark
Flint Creek Waterpark

Flint Creek Water Park opened for business on May 13, 1969.

Flint Creek Water Park is part of the Pat Harrison Waterway District (PHWD). PHWD is a Mississippi State Agency that provides camping, cabins and recreational facilities in Mississippi and is responsible for managing the rivers and their tributaries along the Pascagoula River Basin in Southeastern and East Central Mississippi. In order to effectively accomplish this mission, PHWD focuses on three specific areas; flood control, water management, and recreation. PHWD operates a total of 9 water parks with recreational facilities including cabins, R.V. Camping sites, water slides, boat launches, shelters and lodge halls, nature trails, etc. These water parks are located adjacent to reservoirs and rivers.

 

Sources: Photo (Brax Batson); http://www.phwd.net/default.asp; http://www.phwd.net/parks/flint%20creek/

Fun Fact: Beta Club 1984

Did you know Nick Walters was the National President of the Beta Club in 1984? This post shows the SHS chapter on their way to the national convention in 1984. According to Mike Cain, the National Beta Club President came from Stone High for two years straight!

SHS Beta Club 1984
SHS Beta Club 1984

Fun Fact: Wiggins School 1905

Wiggins High School 1905
Wiggins High School 1905

Did you realize the original Wiggins High School was a boarding school? Built in 1905 on the location where Blaylock Park now exists, this school was for boys and girls. Note this was still while Wiggins was a part of Harrison County!

Fun Fact: Stone County Health Department

Old Stone County Health Department
Old Stone County Health Department

 

Did you this used to be the Stone County Health Department? Located across Critz Street from the old hospital, this building now houses the Stone County Coroner’s office.

Fun Fact: Old Stone County Hospital

Old Stone County Hospital
Old Stone County Hospital

How many of you were born here?  We bet a lot of you were!

The old Stone County Hospital sits on North Critz Street in Wiggins.  This facility now houses the Old Hospital Voting Precinct, MSU Extension Service Office, and the offices of the Stone County Superintendent of Education.

Fun Fact: Pine Hill Bricks

Pine Hill Bricks
Pine Hill Bricks

In case you are wondering when Pine Hill was first bricked, all you have to do is look back at the Thursday, December 15, 1927 edition of The Stone County Enterprise. According to this article, the bricks were stacked and ready for installation!

 

Fun Fact: Needham Jones

Dr. Needham Jones
Dr. Needham Jones

Did you know our own Dr. Needham Jones belonged to the famous Tuskegee Airmen? While a student at Alcorn A&M College, Jones was called up in the draft just six weeks after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in December 1941.   He was allowed to complete the spring semester as a member of the reserves and reported to the Air Corps at Camp Shelby, Mississippi on September 7, 1942.  After eight days of testing, he was sent with the 30 highest scoring to Maxwell Air Force Base in Tuskegee, Alabama, and became a member of the 99th Pursuit Squadron. At discharge he had the rank of Corporal.

Dr. Jones spent many years in education in Stone County serving as Principal at Locker High School and then as Assistant Principal at Stone High. Through Dr. Jones efforts, many young people stayed in school to complete their high school education.

Congressman Steven Palazzo (R-MS), on March 1, 2013, hosted a ceremony officially recognizing Tuskegee Airman and current Hattiesburg resident, Corporal Needham Jones, Sr., at the Lake Terrace Convention Center in Hattiesburg.

Sources: http://palazzo.house.gov/press-release/palazzo-honors-local-tuskegee-airman-congressional-gold-medal; http://mscivilrightsproject.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=266:needham-jones&catid=788:person&Itemid=74; http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/article/20130301/NEWS01/130301032/Member-Tuskegee-Airmen-honored-Congressional-Gold-Medal

 

Fun Fact: McHenry Methodist Church

McHenry Methodist Church
McHenry Methodist Church

The McHenry Methodist Church stood for many years on the corner of McHenry Avenue and East McHenry Road.  This beautiful old church suffered significant damage in Hurricane Camille and was not restored. Some church furnishings today are held in family collections of the members at the time the building was destroyed. Beautifully white on the outside, the interior was dark stained wood with high ceilings. It was a beautiful and worshipful place.

Source: Photo – McHenry Family Archives