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Heritage Edition-Sea Coast Erho, May 28, 1978
John Toulme builds first merchantile store in Bay
John B. Toulme distinguished himself in several ways. Back in 1812 he opened the first mercantile business in Bay St. Louis, and in so doing he amassed a fortune. He fathered a son, J. V. Toulme, who became mayor of Bay St. Louis and administered the affairs of the town in such an efficient manner his administration merited the praise of the populace.
After John Toulme ?blazed the trail,? proving the need for direct sale merchandise, other business men were attracted to Bay St. Louis and stores sprung up to accomodate the needs of the people. Among the town?s early shopkeepers was August Keller, merchant and one-time mayor. He is said to have kept seven men employed on a year-round basis, keeping three- wagons running daily to deliver orders to his customers. A progressive man, Keller bought a gas machine and lighted his store. It was the marvel of the town as there
were no gas works supplied by the City of Bay St. Louis. In those days a shell road ran parallel to the beach, Keller?s store was located on Front Street at the ?head of the bluff? where a fine view of Cat Island?s light could beseen on clear days. Customers from Ulmanville, Pass Christian, Waveland and interior towns traded with August Keller, photos showing an interior of the store are too dim for reproduction, however, clerks dressed in dark pants, white shirts with ?celluloid collars,? used feather dusters to fight shell dust from the street, keep merchandise in apple-pie order on shelves and display tables, and followed the Toulme success example of ?courtesy goes a long way,? and ?our customer is always right.?
Gaston A. Levy, another pioneer in merchandising, had a large two-story building and he carried a ?fresh, clean line,? including dry goods, fancy goods, notions, furnishings, hats, shoes. He was said to have been well liked by
Launchings were holiday at Pearlington shipyards
Four brothers, natives of Denmark, opened a shipyard in Pearlington. Their business included the building and repairing of ships. For themselves they built a large two mast ship and the day of .its launching was declared a Holiday for all of Pearlington!
In those days Pearlington was a town of importance. The plans were for Pearlington to be a metropolitan ? covering between 500 and 600 acres. It?s founders invisioned Pearlington as the principal city of South Mississippi.
The Madison Brothers: Arnmus, Ferdinand, George and Karl were prominent citizens of Pearlington. They
returning on week-ends to be with their families in Pearlington.
The exact date of the fatal ?holiday? is not recalled, however, in the year 1821 Pearlington was of sufficient importance ? that the Mississippi legislature visited the town and went away ?favorably impressed?. The era of prosperity in Pearlington relied heavily on the ample supply of tall timbers, land suited to cotton raising and farming and most importantly the rolling river, highway to world markets
Land prices were right for times
the townspeople. He credited his success to the Jewish Home of New Orleans of which he was a graduate.
Joseph F. Cazeneuve, whose name is still listed in the Bay St. Louis telephone directory, operated a beautiful dry goods store said to have been stocked with ?a thousand and one things.? His store was located on Front Street near Union. Joseph Cazeneuve, a man of many abilities: merchant, sheriff, banker, owner of prime land, father of six girls and two sons. Our gentle and beloved Ruth Cazeneuve, his daughter, lives on the Main Street Cazeneuve estate. Only two members of the family are now living. Ruth?s older sister makes her home in New York, but is a frequent visitor in Bay St. Louis.
W. H. Yenni, with his family came from New Orleans, put up a frame building of) the corner of Front and Washington Street - directly across from August Keller?s store. He sold dry goods, fancy goods, dress goods and his wife was said to have been an excellent milliner. Hats were large and luscious, adorned with bows, roses and forgetmenots, etc., and often equipped with veils to protect mi-lady against breeze and bug. In 1894 Yenni?s store burned to the ground, despite every effort made by the Volunteer Fire Department. He rebuilt, increased his stock and continued as a successful merchant.
LOG HOME was not rare in old Gains gone by is that of Ezekial Evans, hen as figs, pecans, grapes, azaleas, and
1931 phone b
Robert H. (Bobby) Baxter of Pearlington owns a prized historical possession. It is a small directory of telephone subscribers put out for the winter-spring issue 1931-32 by the Southern-Bell Telephone & Telegraph Co. Inc. Pencil printed on the front is the name J.H. Weston Office, and there is a listing of Logtown, Miss., Exchange of the Ix)gtown Utility Company.
Logtown listings numbered 72, a record high with thirteen listings in the Weston name, including the Lumber Company?s office, of which Roy Baxter, Sr. was sales manager, D.R. Weston, treasurer and Lamar Otis, auditor. J.E. Baker was
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