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THE HISTORIAN OF HANCOCK COUNTY
THE
HISTORIAN
OF HANCOCK COUNTY
Eddie Coleman, Editor Linda-Lou Nelson, Publisher
Published monthly by the HANCOCK COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
2008 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Charles Gray, Executive Director Scott Bagley, President Edward Gibson, First Vice President Jean Ann Thriffiley, Second Vice President Barbara Wamer, Treasurer Carol Wasielewski, Secretary Linda-Lou Nelson, Publicity Ames Kergosien, Historian Ellis Cuevas, Board Member At-Large
MAILING ADDRESS:
P. O. Box 3356 Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi 39521
PHYSICAL ADDRESS:
108 Cue Street
Telephone/Fax [228] 467-4090 Email address:
hancockcountyhis@bellsouth.net
Website:
www.hancockcountyhistoricalsocicty.com Marianne Pluim. Webmaster
LOBRANO HOUSE HOURS
MONDAY — FRIDAY 10:00AM — 3:00PM Closed: 12:00—1:00 (lunch)
MISSION STATEMENT
“TO PRESERVE THE GENERAL AND ARCHITECTURAL HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY AND TO PRESERVE THE KATE LOBRANO HOUSE AND COLLECTIONS THEREIN; TO RESEARCH AND INTERPRET LIFE IN HANCOCK COUNTY; AND TO ENCOURAGE AN APPRECIATION OF AND INTEREST IN HISTORICAL PRESERVATION.”
of Andrew Jackson. This once magnificent mansion was filled with large rooms and stood some eight to ten feet above the ground and the first floor had a porch wide enough for meeting space. The space underneath had provided comfortable shelter for the cows and hogs that roamed the nearby forest. The house itself could not be seen from the beach as large oak trees surrounded the building, hiding it from view.
With the help of fourteen other ministers and local craftsmen, Bishop Jones set about putting the deteriorating structure back into living condition. The bottom area was eventually closed in to become a kitchen, dining room and sweet shop. An additional building was added as well as a screened pavilion with a dirt floor. The immediate grounds were cleaned and a plat was laid for a tennis court. There was a makeshift dirt road leading to the Jackson house area, but when it rained, the road
flooded and turned to mud forcing visitors to walk about three miles through the woods from the train station. Originally called Gulfside Chautauqua and Camp Meeting Ground, the property was dedicated as the Gulfside Methodist Assembly on August 31, 1927.
The first two decades of Gulfside, under the leadership of Bishop Jones, saw this unique property blossom. Most events occurred during the spring and summer months. Some of the activities included the Young Men’s Christian Association Conference, the Summer School for Town and Country Pastors, the Summer School of Theology for aspiring ministers, the Boys’ Camp and Girls’ Reserves, 4-H meetings, scouting events, and picnics sponsored by groups throughout the region.
The summer events culminated with Bishop Jones’ Area Council Meeting. The only activity that spanned the entire year during Gulfside’s early
Visitors at Gulfside Methodist Assembly