City of Wiggins and towns and communities of Stone County Mississippi
Ever wonder how places get named? Over sixty-five years ago, Lake Toc-O-Leen’s name was originated by O’Connor Davis, who called Clark O. Batson “Toc” and his wife Walline, “Leen”. Carlos Rabby, husband of Marge Batson Rabby Roberts, built the lake on land purchased by Billy Batson. Lake Toc-O-Leen honors Clark, Leen, Billy, Marge and Carlos whose love and foresight made possible the lake, cabins, campground and restaurant enjoyed by so many today.
From W.P.A. for Mississippi Historical Research
Project: Stone County , Aug. 3, 1937
Written by Mrs. Charles E. Wells
The Old Gum Springs at McHenry
“L.B. Goddard bought the old Perry Bond house about 24 years (1913) ago. The Old Gum Springs were there then and are yet. A little branch trickles along and the springs are under a little embankment. It was a favorite place for the Goddard children to play. There are also other springs in the vicinity. When Dr. Pafford owned the place, after the Goddards, his wife had an artificial pond made, fed by these springs, with the thought of making a recreational resort at the place. This pond can still be seen from the new U.S. 49 which is slightly east of the main town of McHenry.
The story of the Copeland gang camping at these springs, is a common tradition in McHenry. But there is some confusion of dates. If this house was built when they (camped there), it is older than 75 years, for Copeland was hanged in 1857. Only an exhaustive search of land records would reveal the exact date of the homesteading.”
Interview with Mrs. L.B. Goddard
For more information about the Copeland Gang, check out these links below:
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.”
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.
From the Stone County Enterprise -Wiggins 100th Anniversary Timeline:
“1953 — Citizens dedicated Wiggins Memorial Park and a memorial was installed there for commemorating the forestry activities of Brooks Toler. The park was located on Hwy 49 S (now Magnolia Drive) in Wiggins.”
Most of us called it simply “the roadside park”. Mike Cain said when she was young, lots of parties and picnics took place there and it was a popular “parking place” for high schoolers! Cille McHenry Litchfield remembers picnics and Girl Scout day camp events being held there when she was little.
The park no longer exists, but the monument is scheduled to be placed on lawn of the Old Firehouse Museum this summer. It’s a big old stone and was located underneath bushes and debris on the property which had been bought by local developer.
“Why do stores close on Wednesday afternoon in Wiggins”? Mike Cain found the answer in the Wiggins 100th birthday edition of the Stone County Enterprise. It was written in a timeline… “1933 Merchants of Wiggins voted unanimously to close their places of business on Wednesday afternoon of each week through the months of May, June, July and August. Drug stores, filling stations and restaurants would remain open.”
Later, “1943 –In view of shortage of help and scarcity of merchandise the merchants of Wiggins agreed unanimously to continue closing on Wednesday afternoon on a year round basis.”
No one knows why some merchants continue this tradition today.
From the Stone County Enterprise 100th Anniversary of Wiggins Timeline…
1935 – The Palace Theatre, Stone County’s only motion picture house recently installed new equipment. The latest talkie machinery of high range and wide fidelity is the highest type of sound equipment, which makes the music perfect”. Mike Cain believes the Palace was where Serendipity is now thus where the Straub Theatre was located for many many years!
Effective May 1, 2012, via Senate Resolution 643, the 2012 Mississippi Legislature declared that Stone County is Mississippi’s Mural County. Sunset Through the Longleaf Pines was the first mural erected and can be found in Blaylock Park. Since then over twenty mosaic tile and painted murals have been erected in the County with more in the planning stages. The murals evolved through The Telling Trees, a project to capture and present the stories of Stone County through the arts.
John Perkins is the man for whom the community of Perkinston is named. After serving in the Confederate army, he became one of the homesteaders in South Mississippi. His home remains (in an expanded form) in the community today. See Len Blackwell’s The Perk Paperboy. This portrait was donated by his family to the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.
This short story appeared today on artist/columnist Marshall Ramsey’s website. Wiggins and the Dizzy Dean rest area are mentioned. I took a little personal liberty as webmaster to share this because I believe in many ways, he describes many South Mississippians I have known my entire life.Enjoy River of Stone.
The Old Firehouse Museum 