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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.
The Reverend Thomas Price Memorial Cemetery is located west of Wiggins off of old Highway 26 on Thomas Price Cemetery Road. Approximately 1/4 mile away is Dale Cemetery. Both are the final resting places of many prominent settlers in what became Stone County.
Surrounded by beautiful pasture land with Red Creek running through it, this land, settled in 1818-1819 by John Dale, Maria Dale Price’s father, has been continually occupied by the family. Thomas Price’s father, Jonathan, migrated with his family, including your Thomas in 1820. Thomas and Maria had nine children. Once of those, Theodocia, married James Batson. These descendents continue to live on and work this land.
This memorial documents their history. Several other gravestones in the cemetery document, in similar fashion, their continuation of the family.
Emilie Blackmore Stapp, an American children’s author and philanthropist, and her sister, Marie Graham Stapp, were women with a mission. Their lives are documented in an extensive collection of lively correspondence and letters, published and unpublished manuscripts for children’s stories in books, periodicals, and newspapers; original plays, illustrations and publicity materials; and, personal items, such as photographs of friends and notables, fragile scapbooks documenting Emilie Stapp’s from 1904 through the time of her death in 1962 can be found in the de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection at The University of Southern Mississippi, McCain Library & Archives.
The Stapps lived in Indiana, Iowa, Massachusetts, and finally in Mississippi during a significant historical period, covering two world wars and the tumultuous Jim Crow era. Emilie Blackmore Stapp probably was years ahead of her time in her work with children of all races and creeds, raising funds for two World Wars, and other philanthropic efforts. Some of these, commencing soon after their arrival in Wiggins, include deeding the land and facility for the Women’s Club of Wiggins, donating over 4000 books to establish the first lending library in Stone County, and funding construction for a new post office.
The Stapp sisters bought a farm they named Friendship Farm out Highway 26 East. There they established a pecan orchard and built their homenamed The Dolls’ House. The home received its name from a rare collection of over 400 dolls of historic significance, that the Stapp sisters acquired from their world travels and prominently displayed there during their lifetimes.
You will be hearing more about Emilie Blackmore Stapp in the months ahead as The Old Firehouse Museum and The Stone County Arts Council jointly will celebrate her life and accomplishments in several very distinct ways. You will not want to miss those events so stay tuned for dates to be published!
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:
Another Fun Fact from the August 5, 1916 edition of Stone County Enterprise:
LOCAL NEWS
“C.H. Lindsey, representing X.A. Kromer, Architect of Magnolia, was here Tuesday for the purpose of showing plans and specifications for a new courthouse.
W.R. Smith, member of the county board from beat 5 was in town Tuesday.
Miss Roberta Simmons will return to Purvis today after a week here with Miss May Boone. Miss Boone will return to Purvis with Miss Simmons to visit friends.for several days.
B.T. Price is nursing a bad hand caused by sticking a splinter in it a few days ago.”
The Stone High Class of 1973 was thrilled with the SHS Class of 1973 exhibit at the Museum. Thank you so much for hosting the open house for us.
Here are photos from our visit there. The Class of 1973 is grateful for the work you have done to preserve the history of Wiggins and Stone County.
The Stone High Class of 1973 celebrates their 40th Reunion today. The Old Firehouse Museum will honor the Class of 1973 with a special exhibit and open house today from 9am-11am at the Museum. As you can see from the baby photos in this post, “Things Have Definitely Changed”.
Darryl Tillman, a member of the Stone High Tomcat football team from 1984085, was the on the receiving end of one of the “Best Hail Mary Passes in College Football History”. Darryl played for University of Southern Miss. with another star, Brett Favre.
Check this pass and pass reception out on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziDPsDRQJzI&feature=share
For stats on Darryl’s career with the Arena Football League: http://www.arenafan.com/players/Darryl_Tillman-1602/
The following is an excerpt from “The Story of Stone County Industrial Board” written by Brax H. Batson (July, 2009):
The Stone County Industrial Board
The Stone County Industrial Board, which had a brief life of about 12 years from 1957 to 1969, but had a profound effect on the Wiggins and Stone county we know today. It is a story of what can be done with good leadership and a group of civic-minded citizens, working as a team for the greater good.
The Board composed of ordinary business and professional men of the community, all volunteers, at times using their own money, facilitated the following projects between 1957-69:
Wiggins Lumber Co. — employing 70 persons at the plant
Neely Lumber Co. — employing 30 persons at the plant
Brown – Miller Pickle plant expansion — saving 200 jobs for 30 years
Southern Paper Co. –employing 180 persons (changed to Coastal Paper)
Kuttnauer Enterprises, a sewing plant – employing 30 – 50 persons
International Plywood Mill (Now Hood Industries)
International Wood Treating Plant
Wiggins- Stone Airport
Flint Creek Water Park
New Post Office Building
WIGGINS GIRL DESIGNS COMIC STRIP COSTUMES
“Followers of the Dixie Dugan comic strip in the (Hattiesburg) “American” may be surprised to find that the costumes of the five girl characters in today’s (sometime in the 1930s-1940s) sketch on the comic page were all designed by a South Mississippian, Miss Bessie Merle Breland of Wiggins.
Miss Breland is credited with the designs in a note in the lower left had corner of the strip.”
Note:
Miss Breland was later married and became Mrs. Bessie Merle Peacock, who was a community minded and generous lady. (Owner of Peacock Bed & Breakfast)
For more information, check out – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dixie_Dugan
The Old Firehouse Museum 