Author: Old Firehouse Museum Wiggins

This is the public website for the Old Firehouse Museum, the official museum for Wiggins and Stone County, Mississippi,

Fun Fact: Points of Interest in Perkinston – 1939

W.P.A. RESEARCH PROJECT   1939

By Mrs. C.E. Wells

One page of the project report describes  Points of Interest  in Perkinston.

“The farm owned by the Agricultural College is of outstanding interest, noted for the manner in which it is operated and the number of dairy cattle maintained.

A short distant west of town there are numbers of acres being developed in the Tung Oil Industry, the tung nuts being crushed for the oil which is used in making paint.

A brick factory is located in the environs of the town to the south.  Very fine clay is found in this section, suitable for the making of brick, tile, pottery and for moulding clays of all sorts.

The outstanding feature of Perkinston is the Harrison-Jackson-Stone Agricultural High School and Junior College.  Perkinston has an excellent public school, featuring the grammar grades, which has long been a feeder for the Agricultural High School.

West of town stands the “Little Brown Church” , Baptist, a wooden structure.”

Fun Fact: Bethlehem Baptist Church

Fun Fact: The following article was printed in April 1, 2004 edition of the Stone County Enterprise as an an insert Celebrating 100 Years of Progress.

 

BETHLEHEM BAPTIST CHURCH

Bethlehem Baptist Church of Wiggins was organized around 1896  by Brother John Moore and Sister Mary Moore and a few other individuals.  The first preacher was Reverend Ford from Alabama.  The first church was built above the Pickle Canning Factory,  (became the Pickle Factory).  Some time after its constructions, the building burned.  The church members then held church services in the Methodist Church (located between  what is now Danzey Tire Service and First National Bank.  )

In 1903 the church called Rev. R.G. Gray as pastor.  He served until April, 1947.  During that time he and the congregation built three churches.  Today the church  building and family life center is located on Magnolia Drive in Wiggins.

“     Through the years, Bethlehem Baptist Church has remained a steady beacon to Wiggins and the surrounding communities.”

Fun Fact: The M.H. Breland Family

Among the first families of Stone County are the Brelands.   Mona Breland Eastep provided this historic photo of members of her family.

M. H. Breland Family - 1914
M. H. Breland Family – 1914

M.H. and Eliza Breland Family 1914 - Details

Fun Fact: Finkbine Double Line Skidder

Finkbine Double Line Skidder
Finkbine Double Line Skidder

Finkbine was known for being innovative in the use of technology to improve production.  Skidders were huge winches with long cables. These cables were attached to logs, and the winches dragged them to the railhead. Innovations like these cut logging costs and allowed for year-round operations.

 

Photo: Personal archives of Brax H. Batson

Other information: http://mshistorynow.mdah.state.ms.us/articles/171/growth-of-the-lumber-industry-1840-to-1930

Fun Fact: Tank Unloaded in Wiggins

This photo was provided by Glenn Husted, Arms and Vehicle Conservator at the Mississippi Armed Forces Museum at Camp Shelby.  In the background, you see a jeep and a military truck.

As we celebrate America today, let’s be sure to remember all those who have served since American Revolution to preserve the freedoms we enjoy today.

Tank unloaded in Wiggins at Pine Street Crossing
Tank unloaded in Wiggins at Pine Street Crossing

July 4th!

Just a reminder that the Old Firehouse Museum will be closed on Thursday, July 4th, 2013, so that Museum staff can celebrate the holiday with their families.Independence Day

Have a safe and happy July 4th!

Fun Fact: Bill Sawyer

From the W.P.A. Research Project

Subject:  Local Press and Other Publications

During the year of 1919, a person known to the readers of  the Stone County Enterprise only as Bill Sawyer  wrote some very interesting and entertaining letters to the paper. Mr. Sawyer ‘s true  identity was never established except , perhaps by the editor of the paper.

Below is an excerpt of Bill Sawyer’s entertaining letters to the paper.  Date: June 21, 1919

Bill  wrote that a reader had asked him why he didn’t get into politics and he gave his reply. He said he had “throwed his hat in the ring “several years ago and made a race for a county office.  At the beginning of the race, he decided to keep a close tab on everything he did and what it cost him.  He wrote it all down in little black book.  Here are some of the items he listed:

Lost 4 months, 23 days canvassing

Lost 1,1013 hours of sleep thinking about the election

Lost 23 acres of corn and my entire potato crop

Donated $11.00 to church and other charities

Gave away 2 pair of suspenders, 4 calico dresses, and 13 baby rattlers

Kissed 123 babies

Kindled 100 kitchen stoves

Cut eleven cords of wood,

Walked 920 miles

Shook hands 986 times

Told 10,101 lies and talked enough to make, in print, 1,000 volumes the size of a patent office report

Got baptised 4 different times by “emersion” and sprinkled twice

Gave $50.00 to foreign mission

Got dog bit 39 times

And then got defeated.

Fun Fact: Young Men’s Business Club

From W.P.A. Research Project

Subject: Stone County

(This was written around 1937.)

Young Men’s Business Club

The Young Men’s Business Club was formed in 1935 by some young business and professional men of Wiggins and Stone County for the purpose of developing a civic and industrial improvement program (similar to a Chamber of Commerce).

“The Business Club is a local organization and is not affiliated with any national organization.  Small monthly dues are paid by each member.  Applicants are carefully selected and investigated before being voted into membership.  It was mainly through efforts of the club members, that the W.P.A.S. Gymnasium Building was built in Wiggins, as they sponsored the project for the erection of same.  The building was completed several months ago and has been of great benefit to entire county, for athletic events, exhibits of different kinds, etc.”

Fun Fact: Stone County Circuit Clerks

From W.P.A. Research Project — Subject : County History

(This was written around 1937.)

“Stone County holds the record of having more men serve as Circuit Clerk in one month than any other county in the state. The records of that office  show four different men held the office during the month of June, 1918:

W.L. Curry served 6 days

W.R Hatten , under appointment, served until the 16th when he resigned to enter the race for Circuit Clerk

W.F. Danley, appointed by the Governor, served to the 28th

J.N. Dale was elected on the 28th in a special election held for that purpose.

Fun Fact: Mike Cain

Mike Annis Cain
Mike Annis Cain

Not sure the year of this photograph, but know it is a photo of a very young Mike Annis (now Cain) wearing her ballcap much like her much loved Dad, “Mutt” Annis, would do. Mike’s dream, with her friend Ruth Ellen Campbell (now Ford) was to have a museum in Wiggins. After many years of teaching Stone County’s children, and with the support of many others, that dream came true with the opening of the Old Firehouse Museum.