Category: Communities

City of Wiggins and towns and communities of Stone County Mississippi

Fun Fact: “Moon Pines”

Bill Mauldin and his Moon Pine
Bill Mauldin and his Moon Pine

Perhaps these trees do talk back! In January 1971, Astronaut Stuart Roosa selected seeds from five different trees to take to the moon on Apollo 14. Upon their return to earth, some of the seeds were sent to Bill at the Harrison Experimental Forestry Station in Gulfport, Mississippi. The seeds were planted, celebrated and continue to share their story; “moon trees” and their direct descendents (baby moons) are planted across the world. Some trees were planted in 1976 to celebrate our Bicentennial. Another moon pine was planted in honor of Bill Mauldin in McHenry, Mississippi at the George Austin McHenry House and yet another in honor of Astronaut Fred Haise on the Perkinston Campus of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College — his alma mater.

The “moon trees” continue to flourish, a living monument to our first visits to the Moon and a fitting memorial to Stuart Roosa, Bill Mauldin, and our space program.

 “This story was told in its entirety as part of the Telling Trees story gathering project in Stone County, MS with assistance from the MS Humanities Council and the National Humanities Council.”  Kathryn Lewis, project director.

Fun Fact: Little Creek Baptist Church

Little Creek Baptist Church
Little Creek Baptist Church

 

 

Join Little Creek Baptist Church as they celebrate their 104th Anniversary on Sunday, October 13, 2014.

Little Creek Baptist Church was founded in the Ramsey Springs Community in 1909.

Fun Fact: Jed O’Neal

Jed O’neal came from a long line of Stone Countians. His grandfather Van O’neal donated 40 acres of land to help establish the Harrison County Agricultural High School (HCAHS). Over the years. HCAHS became first Perkinston Junior College and later the Perk Campus of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.

Jed’s parents, Ford and Jewel O’neal were well known Stone County folks. Mom Jewel for years taught in the Wiggins and Stone County Schools.

Perhaps one of the best examples of the initiative within Stone County folks is the story of how Jed got the new steeple for the Little Creek Baptist Church in the Ramsey Springs Community from the manufacturer to the church.  Smile as you read the story here.

Jed Oneal Obit

“An Evening on the Hill” Scheduled for October 5, 2013

"An Evening on the Hill"

Fun Fact: Wiggins Fire of 1910

A History of Towns & Communities in Harrison & Stone Counties Mississippi

Compiled by LeRoy F. Eastes

In January , 1910 , there was a serious fire in the business district of Wiggins.  Three city blocks were consumed, while other buildings were dynamited to prevent the fire from spreading.  At 11 o’clock in the morning, a raging wind from the northwest swept the fire through the business center of the town, causing a property loss between  $100,000  and $150,000.

The Gulf Island Ship Island depot and Peoples Bank were destroyed.  Other businesses wiped out included, but were not limited to: Wiggins Mercantile Co.,  Foote & Bond Mercantile Co., W.W. Burnette & Co. (mercantile), The Burnette Hotel,  the Schwartz Dry Goods Company store,  two livery stables (owned by L.W. Davis and D.J O’Neal), and several small grocery stores  including Lindsay & Co. and Wiggins Grocery Co.

Three box cars were sent to Wiggins to be used as a temporary depot following the fire.

Fun Fact: Wiggins Presbyterian Church

From the 100th Anniversary Booklet (2007)

“When the sizzling summer sun arose over Wiggins on July 12, 1907, there was no Presbyterian church in the town, nor had there ever been.  But, there were Presbyterians; devout, faithful, hard-working Christian men and women who had a determination to live for Christ in the tiny saw-mill town.

On this particular day the fervor of Wiggins Presbyterians had reached a new high.  They had just experienced ten days of special meetings which were conducted by Evangelist J.F. Eddins and held in the Methodist Church.  So great was their zeal for God that before the sun set, their mountain top experience was climaxed by the organization of  The Wiggins Presbyterian Church with twenty-two charter members enrolled.  Eighteen were received by letter from other churches, two upon profession of faith and two upon reaffirmation of faith.  Seven children were baptized.”

So the church was born and was destined to become an effective witness for Christ in the community and state.

Fun Fact: G.A. McHenry in Cuba

Captain George A McHenry in Cuba
Captain George A McHenry in Cuba

Dr. George Austin McHenry, who homesteaded in the area of South Stone County that now bears his name beginning in 1889, joined the United States Volunteers in 1898, as a contract surgeon with the rank of Captain. He served in the Spanish American War in Cuba, the Philippine insurrection, and in China.  During his time in Cuba, Dr. McHenry directed the yellow fever hospital there. Since he was immune to the disease, he was able to help many others.

While serving in the Spanish American War, McHenry developed a close relationship with Leonard Wood, who later became Chief of Staff of the United States Army and was tasked with establishing military training sites throughout the United States. Because of this relationship, Dr. McHenry was instrumental in proposing the establishment of one of these training sites to be located south of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, because of the mild climate, available rail facilities, and geography. The site was selected, and in 1917 it became Camp Shelby, the largest state owned military training facility in the United States.

Fun Fact: Bond-Harvinson Memorial Park

Bond-Harvinson Memorial Park, located on McGregor Road in Wiggins, is a peaceful place of a number of settlers of the area. Most lived when the area now known as Stone County was a part of first Jackson County and then Harrison County. Col. John Bond was a Revolutionary War hero. His sons, Lt. Col. John Bond, Jr. and Lt William Bond, served in the Mississippi Militia during the War of 1812. John Bond, Jr. represented the area in the Mississippi Legislature at one point and settled in the McHenry area (and is buried in Saucier).  The Bonds, like the McHenrys, Batsons, Prices, Dales, and many others lives are tied together as the first families of this area.

It is noted in several records reviewed that the Cenotaph of Lt. William Bond that is in the Memorial Park contains a number of errors regarding his children.  Other records reviewed show the same picture for John Bond Sr. and John Bond Jr. Regardless both were key to the development of the area.

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Fun Fact: Pickle Festival

Pickle Festival 1940
Pickle Festival 1940

Stone County celebrated the first Pickle Festival on June 16-17, 1937. This collage is of the court and former queens from 1940.

Fun Fact: Perk Bulldogs Win Championship

From the Stone County Enterprise …. Oct. 13, 1927

PERKINSTON JUNIOR COLLEGE NOTES

“Bull Dogs Defeat Goodman“

 The first championship game was played Saturday on the court at Perkinston, Miss. between the Perk Bull Dogs and Goodman Junior College.  The Goodman boys put up a hard fight, but were defeated in the end, the score being thirty-one to nothing, in favor of Perk.

The weather was so unpleasant that everyone was afraid the game would be postponed, but upon questioning Coach, the following answer was given as the boys yelled over the campus… “we are going to play if we have to swim”.  The rush began and the students could not be checked…  Then standing in a torrent of rain, every student put his heart and soul in the game, and showed a clean one, and everybody enjoyed it.