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From the Stone County Enterprise:
CUPID NEGLECTS STONE COUNTY DURING 1922
Stone County has the least number of marriages of any county in Mississippi. It comes in at the bottom of the state with only 72 marriages. Bolivar County led in the number of marriages with 1,100.
The Museum Board is ramping back up for activities for 2014. Stay tuned to the website, Facebook, and Twitter for news of coming events.
Stone County Enterprise – Century of Remembrance
THE SIXTIES
1968
Federal agents, assisted by Stone County Sheriff Eldon Ladner, seized a giant whiskey still in Stone County Thursday morning. They confiscated 320 barrels of sugar rye mash. Located about three miles west of Bond, the still is believed to have been one of the largest ever found in the state. Two men from Saucier were arrested.
First Baptist Church Wiggins (FBCW) hosted Bethlehem Revisited several times during the early 1980’s. In the late 1990’s, FBCW began hosting Bethlehem every other year. Now, it is hosted annually.
Bethlehem involves over 200 people( ages 2 weeks to 80+ years) in the village and behind the scenes. In the most recent years, over 1000 people per year toured Bethlehem. Church volunteers spend several days building the city on the parking lot across from the Sanctuary. Local farmers provide a host of animals… sheep, goats, donkey, chickens, horses, llamas, cows and geese. The city is open for walking tours where visitors can experience the sight and sounds of Bethlehem on Saturday night and Sunday night. In the church Sanctuary is a live Nativity. Local musicians play Christmas music as visitors approach the manger.
Bethlehem is a gift to the community from the members of First Baptist Church. Through Bethlehem they share the real meaning of Christmas. Join them this year on Saturday, December 7 and Sunday, December 8.
Wiggins is in the midst of a “scarecrow event” called THE SCARECROW CONVENTION (This is also known as “Scarecrows on the Hill”. This event is now three years old and headed up by “The Pine Hill Ladies (Mary Webb, Nina Shaw, Ruth Ford, Norma Batson, Christa Tanner Seals, Carole, Edyth Baer, and Mike Cain.)
Many of the scarecrows reflect on Stone County history. Rosie, the Riveter, pictured below, represents women from our community who were real-life Rosie’s at the Pascagoula Ship yard during WWII.
The other photo is old Fine Engine #3, the icon of The Museum.
An Evening on the Hill” was hosted by the Old Firehouse Museum in Wiggins on Saturday, October 5, 2013. Events included a meal (pre-purchased tickets) at Serendipity, local entertainment, hotdogs, drinks, popcorn, and snacks, a live auction, and a silent auction. Luckily, Tropical Storm Karen did not attend and a great time was held by all who attended.
Entertainment included everything from dulcimers to “Patsy Cline”. Supper, served both inside Serendipity and on the Hill was delicious. Both the Live Auction (held on Pine Hill) and the Silent Auction (held in the Over the Top building) were a great success.
Thanks to the great support of the community, The Museum raised sufficient funds for a large format printer and a fireproof storage container for The Museum. The Museum Board is “amazed and delighted” and says thanks to all for supporting this great evening.
The Old Firehouse Museum sells historical calendars to raise funds for the Museum. The 2014 calendars are now available. These may be purchased for $8 at the Museum on Wednesdays and Thursdays of each week. There are still a few 2013 calendars available for $4 each.
You may also order by mail but please include an additional $1 for postage and handling for each calendar ordered. Please send your order to: The Old Firehouse Museum, Attention: Calendar Sales, 117 First Street North, Wiggins, MS 39577.
Be sure to include your check made payable to The Old Firehouse Museum and your mailing address.
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.
Thanks Russ Hatten for sharing this. Ray Blaylock, the owner is the barber in the center. His shop was an icon for many many years in Wiggins!
W.P.A. for Mississippi Historic Research Project
February 10, 1939
Subject: Fine Arts and Crafts
The writer listed the names of the persons in the county who were accomplished artists. One of the artists was Miss Bell Ingersol. A description of her talents and accomplishments in the field of Drama follows:
Miss Bell Ingersol, who lives in Stone County ,recently moved from the East and lives with her parents on a farm ( located three miles east of Wiggins). Miss Ingersol is a former actress and playwright. She has played the leading part in several theatrical productions and traveled extensively with theatrical troupes.
She played in moving pictures during silent picture days and has worked and studied in Chicago and Detroit under well known picture directors of that time.
Another “Fun Fact” noted that Mr. Cicero Cunningham was known to keep a pair of her shoes in his display case!
The Old Firehouse Museum 