Category: Recreation and Conservation

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.

Fun Fact: Lake Toc-o-Leen

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.

Lake Toc-o-Leen
Lake Toc-o-Leen

Fun Fact” The Lonesome Pine”

April 12, 1937 from the Works Project Administration (W.P.A. Historical Research Project) and the State Forestry Commission:

There is a  famous tree known as “The Lonesome Pine”  located in the forks of Red and Flint Creeks, about 6 miles SE of Wiggins.

Tree Dimensions

Circumference —–  17 feet 6 inches

Diameter—–5 feet 6 inches

Height ——- 114 feet

Height to first limbs ——– 50 feet

Limb spread —– 78 feet

Species —– yellow bark short leaf pine

“The inaccessibility of this tree and its immensity is why it has never been cut.  During the life of Finkbine Lumber Company at Wiggins, one hundred dollars was offered to anyone who would deliver it to their mill.  One man attempted, but found it too large to handle.”

Do you remember this tree?  Do you remember what happened to it?  If so, please contact the Old Firehouse Museum and let us know!

Fun Fact: Wiggins Memorial Park

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.

Fun Fact: Little Dills

Back in the 60’s, one of the fun community events in Stone County was square dancing. The student version of that was known as the “Little Dills”. “Dills”, of course was in reference to the Pickle Factory.  The grown up version of this group was known as the “Pickleville Squares”.

Check out this Stone County Enterprise article for more information about square dancing history in Stone County.

Little Dills
Little Dills

Fun Fact: Stone County 2030 Comprehensive Plan

Did you know that Stone County has a comprehensive plan for economic development that takes into account our history? The plan includes many interesting details about us.

Cover - Stone County 2030 Comprehensive Plan
Cover – Stone County 2030 Comprehensive Plan

 

Fun Fact: Red Creek Blueway

Red Creek
Red Creek

Growing up in Stone County, you probably learned to swim in one of two places – the Perk pool (at then Perkinston Junior College) or in Red Creek. The latter was more likely the case. Chances are that your “spot” of choice was either at City Bridge or at the Highway 49 Bridge just north of the Perk turn-off. The clear waters with their reddish tint provided must relief on many a hot afternoon as well as provided lots of food for the table.

Today Red Creek is, in part, protected and promoted by The Land Trust of the Mississippi Coastal Plain. The Red Creek Blueway is a public waterway from Highway 26 west of Wiggins to its joining with Black Creek and has been designated one of Mississippi’s Scenic Streams.

The easternmost segment of the Blueway begins at Cable Bridge and ends at Highway 15. Along this segment, you will see the natural springs that feed the creek close to the historic site of the historic Ramsey Springs Hotel.

Sources: http://www.ltmcp.org/admin/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Blueway_brochure_low_web.pdf;  http://www.wlox.com/story/15598988/non-profit-to-restore-old-ramsey-springs-hotel-site, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramsey_Springs,_Mississippi