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6 • SATURDAY, AUGUST 8, 2009
COURTHOUSE MEMORIES • THE SEA COAST ECHO
Flooring Sales & Installation
14499 Highway 49 • Gulfport, MS 39503 Residential • Commercial • Bonded • Insured
Commercial Sales Marci Carbajo 228.832.8008
Fax
228.832.8811
Installation Hugo Cabajo 228.860.4620
Photo courtesy of Hancock County Historical Society
The Custom House was the first place where Hancock County held court when the county seat of government was relocated to Shieldsborough in 1868. The Custom House on South Beach Blvd. was the former home of Spanish Customs agents in the 18th and 19th century. It served as a courthouse for about eight months in 1868. The building was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.
Todd N. Ti
HRIFFILEY
was given to Phillip Saucier in 1781.
In 1810, the United States gained control of the region and the area was designated a county on Dec. 14, 1812. It was named Hancock County after John Hancock, the president of the Continental Congress.
Five years later, in 1817, the first county courthouse was built in Center, which later became Caesar.
When Logtown was king:
County government operations remained in Center until 1837, when the county seat was moved to Gainesville.
Gainesville was the most populated area in the county, mostly due to the logging industry in the Pearlington and Logtown areas.
Gainesville had its own newspaper, the "Gainesville Star," as well as a new jail.
In 1853, the Gainesville courthouse burned and most of the county's first 40 years of accumulated history were lost.
Welcome to the Bay:
The late 1850s and early 1860s saw Hancock County
engulfed in the American Civil war.
During that time, the town of Shieldsborough—later Bay St. Louis—became a prominent place in Hancock County, first because of the encampment of troops and later as what it has been known for ever since—a tourist destination.
After the war, the state legislature passed an act requiring that the seat of government in every county be determined by vote and a special election be held on the matter.
After the special election, Gainesville retained the county seat, but a recount overturned the election and awarded the county seat to Shieldsborough.
Moving in and out:
On March 19, 1867, the county Police Court (Board of Supervisors) declared that Shieldsborough was the county seat. The board ordered the building known as "The Old Custom House" in Shieldsborough to become the courthouse and center for county government.
Sheriff David Maye was
given an allowance of $40 to furnish a guard and a jail.
Eight months later, the Custom House was deemed too small and the county moved to the Bay St. Louis
ATTORNEY-AT-LAW
(228) 467-2400
547 St. John Street Bay St. Louis
Louisiana’s Loss, Mississippi’s Gain
The History of Hancock County from the Stone Age To the Space Age
by Robert Scharff Available at
BAY BOOKS
Art independent bookstore in historic Old Town
131 Main Street Bay St. Louis