News and Information

Doll Show and Tea Party

Dolls of Mike Annis Cain
Dolls of Mike Annis Cain

Join The Old Firehouse Museum as we celebrate the life of Emilie Blackmore Stapp, children’s author, philanthropist, and collector, with her sister Marie, of dolls from around the world.

The Museum will host a Doll Show and Tea Party on Saturday, March 15th from 10AM-4PM at the Ferris O’neal Senior Center.

The dolls in the photo are from the personal collection of Mike Cain. The Indian doll is from late 40’s, given to her by her grandfather, Rev. N.J. Lee.    Doll in the chair is a “Toni doll”… early 50’s.  This doll was entered into the doll show at Stapp’s home…sister Carole’s bride doll won, but Mike’s did not!  The rag doll was made for Mike in 1947 by her grandmother, Mrs. N.J. Lee and is named Suzie Q.
Save the date. You will not want to miss this.

 

Fun Fact: Cupid Missing in Stone County

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.

Museum Plans for 2014 Under Development

The Museum Board is ramping back up for activities for 2014. Stay tuned to the website, Facebook, and Twitter for news of coming events.

Fun Fact: Bootlegging – 1960s

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.

Fun Fact: Cucumber Growth Encouraged

From Stone County Enterprise, February 15, 1928 (An announcement)

GROW CUCUMBERS

We have examined and considered the America Pickle and Canning Company proposition to the farmers in the Wiggins Territory and give it our endorsement and support.

We urge every farmer in the Wiggins territory to put in some cucumbers for the factory

KENNEDY & COMPANY, KEW MERCANTILE, CO-OPERATIVE COMPANY, WIGGINS DRY GOODS CO., E.A. BOND GROCERY, JITNEY CAFE, BANK OF WIGGINS, BRELAND MERCANTILE CO., WIGGINS DRUG STORE, DUGGAN’S  RESTAURANT, FARMER’S DRUG STORE, JOES THE TAYLOR, MARTIN BROTHERS, L.A. WALLER, JEWELER, E.R. SMITH HARDWARE, STONE CO. ENTERPRISE

Fun Fact: Bethlehem

Bethlehem
Bethlehem

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.

Fun Fact: The Scarecrow Convention

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.

“Evening on the Hill” – A Great Success!

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.

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2014 Historical Calendars Now Available

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.

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.