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THE HISTORIAN OF HANCOCK COUNTY
(Courthouse from page 1) The records then show that no meeting was held for four years (during the Civil War). On May 1st., 1865, an attempt was made to hold court in Buck Branch, in the present territory of Pearl River County, but Judge John Hancock failed to appear.
About this time the question of the transfer of the county seat to Shieldsboro (later Bay Saint Louis) was being warmly argued. In 1867 an act of the state legislature authorized an election to determine the future county seat. Again we lack any account except the dry fact in official records, but we can imagine a very intense rivalry. The minutes of the Board of Police for a special March term in 1867 show the following: "Thcreas at an election held at the various precincts of Hancock County for the 3rd Monday, 18th day of March 1867, under a recent act of the Legislature of the State of Mississippi for the county seat of justice of said county, at it appearing further to the satisfaction of the Board that Gainesville retained the highest number of votes for the said seat of Justice. It is therefore ordered by the Board that the said town of Gainesvillle be and is this date declared the seat of Justice of this county.”
The county board, obviously partisan in the matter, did not have the last word, as shown by records of the circuit court for the first Monday after the fourth Monday in April of the same year.
“Board of Police of Hancock County. On motion of preemptory mandeaus to proceed to provide public buildings and establish the seat of Justice at Shieldsborough.”
My research indicates that the building then used as “an existing courthouse” was located on the site of the old Mauffray home at 210 Main Street. Legend has it that the Bay courthouse had concrete sidewalks. Many citizens from the country would not walk upon the sidewalks when they did their business, because they had never seen a sidewalk before and did not know its function.
On May 20, 1893, the Sea Coast Echo reported. “The Courthouse of Hancock
is a large two story frame building 50 X 70, which was erected in 1874, at a cost of $6,000. The court, jury and consultation rooms are upstairs, while the offices are on the ground floor, and these arc supplied with fire-proof vaults and all-steel safes, thus rendering the county’s records absolutely secure. “There is in the same yard a brick jail, (visible in photo) fitted with steel cells, and the peculiar fence with which it is enclosed makes it almost impossible for a prisoner to escape. The courthouse is manned by a good and careful set of officers, none of whom are more painstaking and competent than Jas. F. Cozenenvee (Cazeneuve), the sheriff and tax collector of the county.
“The courthouse is not of brick nor of stone but of wood, wood from the roof to the floorsills and considering its cost and size, it is the most attractive looking courthouse in the state of Mississippi.“
In 1910 at the time of the construction of the present building, H.S. Weston
.. they had never seen a sidewalk, before and did not know its function. ”
was president of the board of supervisors. and S. J. Craft, J. E. Smith, T. J. McArthur, L.C. Bourgeois were “associate members”. A. J. Carver was sheriff, and E. H. Hoffman was clerk. Thumbnail History, Hancock County Courthouse by Jim Pfeiffer, details the new courthouse which was begun that year.
“In July, plans submitted by Kenning & Weiss. New Orleans architects, were approved for building a new courthouse, not to exceed the sum of $25,000. Jett Bros. Contracting Co. of Alabama won the contract for construction with a bid of $24,989, which included granite steps at $650. However, before construction started, the plans were changed to eliminate the fire escapes. at a saving of $60.
“Napoleon Caron was low bidder for moving the old courthouse out of the way. His bid, to move the building and vault 76 feet to the east side of the
grounds, for $650. John Henry, only applicant for the job, was hired as Construction Superintendent with compensation set at two per cent of the cost.
“The contract with Jett Bros, was signed August 1, 1910, with contract time 8 months. Actual starting date is uncertain, but first payment under the contract, for $3, 120, was made October 4, 1910.
“Although the courthouse was built from the general county fund, the supervisors on Dec. 6, 1910 borrowed $10,000 from Hancock Bank. They issued five warrants of $2,000 each, payable one each year for five years. The courthouse was formally accepted by the board September 20, 1911. John Henry was employed to move the safe and furniture from the old building into the new, Jett Bros, was paid $50 for placing a marble cornerstone containing the names of the supervisors, and Alonzo B. Hayden provided “sundry articles for the toilet rooms” for $28.
“Napoleon Caron bought the old courthouse at auction for $150, and the pickets and posts from the fence around the courthouse grounds were sold to J.E. Saucier for $5.
“To complete the transition, the following were purchased for court and jury rooms: Three dozen chairs, four dozen cuspidors, two dozen sheets, and a dozen each of single beds, mattresses, pillow and blankets.”
The present building suffered severe roof damage during Hurricane Camille. The beautiful copula had been destroyed and I am told that most of its support structure was removed during the renovation. In addition, some very decorative work along the eave-line was not replaced leaving the overall appearance a bit more somber.
Greek Revival architecture is in good taste and is enhanced by age. One need only consider the vulgarity of “modern” civic buildings in other nearby counties to appreciate our building. This building is not our only option, but if we replace it. the new structure should have enduring architectural merit. Space alone isn’t sufficient reason.
Charles H. Gray