Alphabet File page 31
The building and furnishings are estimated at a cost of about $4500 and it can be truthfully be stated that any citizen of the Bay possessed of public spirit, will never be sorry for his part in the payment.
The school is presided over by Prof. J. T. Eagan, from Nashville, Tenn;., a graduate of the National Normal University, Lebanon, Ohio, and Linwood High School, Tennessee. Prof. Eagan is not only a learned and competent man, but is a gentleman of culture and refinement. At present he (is) assisted by two accomplished young ladies, both of whom have considerable experience in teaching. Miss Theo Reese, graduated with high honors at Saint Joseph's Academy, Bay St. Louis, while Miss Graham received hers at Columbus, Miss. (SCE 05/06/1893)
Bay St. Louis public school, is closed after a most successful season, and too much cannot be said to the credit of Prof. Eagan who conducted the school with the able assistance of Misses N. Graham and Theo Reese. The citizens have a right to be proud of such an Institution. (SCE 05/13/1893)
Bay St. Louis Public School, closing exercises took place at the new school house Wednesday evening, May 10th. The Programme was very interesting and the pupils acquitted themselves in a creditable manner. Medals awarded to the following pupils: Principal's Dept., for Scholarship, Miss Pearl Meek; Deportment, Ella Driver and Genia Gragnon; Attendance Birdie Ansley and Mary Huber; Penmanship, Chas. Thiery. Miss Reese; Dept., for Deportment, Offie (Eve or perhps Effie?) Ward; Scholarship, Amanda VonGohren; Attendance and Scholarship, Mollie King and Barbara Marti. Miss Graham's Depart., for General Excellence, Edgar Driver, Laulie Grimes, Fred Ansley, Fred Williams, Pierre Lesseps and Horace Toulme. Mrs. A. Gragnon and Miss Fanny McCory graciously presided over the refreshment tables. (SCE 05/13/1893)
BAY ST. LOUIS - The City by the Sea.
A Healthful Resort. A Shell Road Extending Nine Miles. Fine Bathing, Pure Water and Beautiful Beach, Delightful Sea Breezes.
Bay St. Louis is one of natures chosen spots for rest and recreation and it is a most desirable place for Northern visitors to escape the rigors of a hard winter while the southern residents find it equally delightful to sojourn through the heated term, and people come by the hundreds to enjoy our fish and oysters and salt water bathing from June until September.
The town is built around the Bay, extending to the Gulf, for miles along the beach, half hidden by stately pines and shady oaks surrounding splendid residences. The shell road, the pride of our citizens, follows the waters edge for eight miles making a drive unsurpassed on this side of Rome, and it is a thing of beauty and a joy forever. Many of our people who have lived here all their lives underestimate the many natural advantages of the place, but others who have roamed the world over tell us that its temperature and quiet beauty are only equaled in Southern France. The waters of the Gulf and Bay and their tributaries yield continually a harvest of the finest varieties of food, and the salt sea air is freighted with health and exhilaration, so that half the ills arising from indigestion are literally unknown in this charming nook.
The water is as pure as any that mother earth yields to quench the thirst of her children, and its mineral composition has proven to be of remarkable quality. The water is as clear as crystal, cool and refreshing, with a pleasant taste of combined iron and sulphur, but without odor. It has attracted a great deal of attention by its vigorous and remarkable sanitary action, and will command a great deal more as soon as its effects are generally known. Persons who use it will be the best advertisers of its valuable curative properties in cases of dyspepsia, liver trouble, malaria poisoning, rheumatism, gout, diseases of kidneys, bladder or the blood. Indeed those using this water have been surprised at the relief afforded by its use.
The delightful breezes that are always felt here also tend to equalize the temperature and come from what direction it may it must come over a clear, pure and healthful area. It blows from the east, south or southwest. It comes from the Gulf. From the west it comes from the great Lake Pontchartrain, through a vast resinous pine forest and from the north it blows from the not far distant highlands.
There is always a balmy fragrance in the air and the sound of the waves dashing on the beach is soothing to weary nerves. Refreshing sleep comes to the most exhausted victim of insomnia and the effect of the air tonic dispels languor and lassitude and banishes the tired feeling so common to persons suffering from the effects of a cold and malarial climate. Bay St. Louis is a perfect flower garden the year round, as plants and shrubs bloom in the open air at all seasons, such as japonicas, magnolias, palms, orange trees jasmines, oleanders and the most delicate species of roses. Tropical and sub tropical fruits and vines flourish without protection and throughout the entire winter garden vegetables are growing to perfection.
The place for health is the one where no disease originates, and in a map recently issued by the United States marine hospital service at Washington, this Gulf Coast of Mississippi stands out prominently and alone the only region marked as entirely free from any local disease. Such a record as that belongs to this section only and as an inducement to offer those seeking pleasure or health resorts Bay St. Louis affords superior advantages.
The agricultural interests of the surrounding country are being slowly developed, the vast supply of lumber being harvested first so that orange and pecan trees may stand instead of our pine forests. Scuppernong grapes yield abundantly and when our hammock land is one green vineyard, our forest land, shaded with the orange and pecan, our marshes filled with grazing cattle and sheep, this country might well excite the envy of the gods. The farms that have been cleared and the manufactories that have been established are attracting other undertakings and more capital, and thus opening new channels for independent self sustenance.
Those who visit BSL never fail to be enlightened with it, as it is a thrifty and enterprising city of 3,500 inhabitants. The people are intelligent and refined and society offers elegance and cultured circles to all who come with the impress of merit and standing. There are two catholic churches and one Episcopalian and one Methodist and these have earnest and devoted congregations, with zealous ministers in charge. The Catholic congregations have amply provided for the education of their children and have a college and a convent-school, however, we must look for the education of the masses and the frame building that is now being erected will be completed June 1 of this year, it is a two story frame building, modern in style of architecture, and will, at the completion cost 25,000 dollars. The school has one hundred pupils with Prof. James T. Egan as principal, assisted by the Misses Reese and Graham. The building is being erected by the order of the enterprising Mayor of the city, Captain Toulme, and it is only one more sign of his progressive and public spirit.
Historically, Bay St. Louis is built where the passengers from the ships of Iberville and Bienville landed at the time of the French occupation, and the first settlers were the Monnettes,(Monet?), the Toulmes, Cowands and others, and their descendants still dwell on the spot occupied by them in 1701. The high peninsula upon which Bay St. Louis is built has a bold and picturesque shore, curving so that the entire town overlooks the water and there is certainly no place within the limitless globe so richly endowed by nature as this country.
Not many years ago the fields, vineyards and beautiful buildings were a trackless forest, but this has succumbed to the hand of civilization and progress, and beautiful homes occupy these once waste places and mark the path of progress enterprise, education, morality and financial prosperity.
But now behold: Where the flowerets kissed the morning dew and the primeval forests echoed with the noise of native warblers, stands a busy, prosperous city. A drive around the city or from the steamer as you pass through Mississippi Sound, you will not fail to admire the picturesque appearance presented by the varied architectures of the fine residences that line the beach, surrounded by widespreading oaks and beautiful shrubbery, and the large number of kiosks that stand near the beach, and the white bathing houses that dot the edge of the water and give the scene a delightfully cool and refreshing effect, which is greatly enhanced by the prevalent sea breezes. This is the fair picture Bay St. Louis presents with its hum of industry and the grand possibilities so bountifully foreshadowed.