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13 YEARS OF RURAL ELECTRIFICATION ON THE MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST
I
By Clay D. Blair, Sr.
Foreword
Some years ago I was asked to write a short history of the organization and growth of the Coast Electric Power Association. In recent years, I was also asked to bring this record up to date. Now I have been requested to review and chronicle the ever continuing progress of your home-owned and home-controlled Association. As I re-read the old issues of the Sea Coast Echo's Special REA editions and compared the scope and activities of Coast Electric then and now, I must confess that I am tremendously amazed.
To do justice to such a feature story, it appears to me that it should be set down in chapter form and as the years ahead unfold, it is the hope of your correspondent that either he or his successor shall have the pleasure of continuing, in chapter form, for you and yours the year-to-year progress of your Association.
Chapter 1.
EARLY HISTORY
Back in early 1937 when rural electrification was in its infancy, two groups of pioneers were struggling to secure electricity for their homes and rural establishments. One of these groups banded together and formed the Hancock Electric Power Association with headquarters at Bay St. Louis. These men were from Hancock and Pearl River Counties. The other group was from Harrison County and had formed the Gulf Coast Electric Power Association with headquarters at Gulfport.
The people desired electricity to light their homes, operate water pumps, radios, irons, refrigerators and othr appliances in an attempt to decrease the burden of rural living and to enjoy the same benefits of modern conveniences as their city neighbors.