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POSTMASTERS AND POST OFFICES FROM j 1882 TO THE PRESENT
I
Memory and Documentary Fragments Supply Interesting Data Down The Years.
The Bay St. Louis postoffice dates back to many years, arid sin.ce 1882 and before that time the memory of man runneth back.
Bay St. Louis has had white, and colored postmasters and postmistresses, the colored serving under Republican administrations. Of this race the one serving the longest and for several years at a time was Louis J. Piernas, today living, and whose services were always efficient, be it said to his credit and in justice to the man.
Before 1882 the local postoffice was served by Eldredge McArthur, when the postoffice building was located on the pier of the old Crescent Hotel, (later the Pickwick) at the intersection of the beach. This was a novel postoffice building—on the edge of the land and over the water.
He was succeeded by Edith Ross, who resided corner Second and State street, and had the postoffice at her residence.
In 1882 Mrs. Annie E. Avery, sister of the late Miss Josie Welch, served as postmistress, the office located at her residence on Union street, east of the present Locust cottage, and property now belonging to St. Stanislaus College. The postoffice then was fourth class.
In 1886 Miss Ella E. Ioor, succeeded Mrs. Avery, and conducted the post-office from her residence, comer Beach and Bookter avenue. The building was a two story one, and one entered from the end of the porch to get to the business window. It was : still a .fourth-class office, and did not become a third-class office until 1892, the year The Sea Coast Echo was established.
General Postmaster John Wana-maker administration, appoined Louis J. Piernas postmaster under President Harrison's administration. The post-office was then located on the beach front, opposite the present property of Mrs. George Planchet.
Later, in 1892, when Grover Cleveland, Democrat, was elected president, Joseph E. Saucier, former sheriff and tax-collector Hancock county, and for many years justice of the peace, was appointed postmaster. He carried on the business of the office in a building on the beacb, opposite the present Ramsey Bldg.,; then the dwelling site of the de Montluzin family. . This building was later on destroyed by fire.
McKinley was elected after Cleveland. With the Republicans back In power, Louis J. Piernas was, agair j
appointed. This was in 1898.	j
Following McKinley, Grover Cleve-! land made another comeback, and! Joseph E. Saucier was recommended! by his Congressman and again appointed to serve.
Then Teddy Roosevelt came into power and Louis J. Piernas was again appointed. This was in 1902 and again in 1906.
Richard Mendes, former city secretary and auditor was recommended by Congressman E. J. Bowers, under the Taft administration and was appointed.
A. R. Hart, local newspaperman at the time, was appointed under the administration of President Harding, and later under the administration of President Hoover, Harry C. Glover was offered the position, following Mr. Hart’s resignation, and was appointed.
For the past four years or more, Leo G. Ford, present postmaster has served and the postoffice, after ,beiiig located for many years in a building specially constructed by the Hancock Bank, Main street; located in .the government-owned building presently on Main street
This building is a handsome and substantial one, modern and r.ost some thirty-odd thousand dollars.
This about chronicles the local postoffice and postmasters' to the best of the ability of memory and, from documentary fragments.