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Louisiana?s Loss, Mississippi?s Gain
:ter hall, known as the Firemen?s Opera House. Construction of v Firemen?s Opera House started August 19th [Echo, 08/22/03). It nstructed by the contractor and builder, Gaston G. Gardebled, who actically all his time and labors to the cause of the firemen. After lpletion the dances of the town were held there; many married and older gentlemen learned how to dance there and enjoyed ubsequent dances {Echo, 10/15/04).
906, there was a skating rink at Firemen?s Hall. A. L. Stokoe was iager. Admission was 10 cents and skate rental was 25 cents/hour 03/06).
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owing close on the heels of the Hancock County Bank organization >, the Merchant?s Bank evolved out of a casual conversation of three the offices of the Echo. They were Walter J. Gex, Sr., Charles G. i, and John Osoinach. The Merchant?s Bank was incorporated in ber 1903, with an imposing list of stockholders, which included of the prominent names in the town (Herald, 1958, 10A). The of forty-seven founders appeared on its charter {Echo, 1942, 33).
cers and directors elected during the bank?s formation were: L. H. Id, president; John Osoinach, vice-president; George Rea, cashier; ;eph E. Saucier, assistant cashier. Other directors were: J. A. Breath, ameron, John K. Edwards, R. C. Engman, G. G. Gardebled, L. M. harles G. Moreau, W. J. Poitevent, and Louis Spotorno. Walter J. is elected attorney for the bank {Echo, 1942; 33).
1 newly formed Merchant?s Bank rented the corner portion of the built Sea Coast Echo building. It opened for business there, with , placed across two barrels to form a counter for paying and ng. A massive safe, formerly owned by a jewelry store, completed ik?s equipment. George R. Rea was the cashier in this new bank. i was his faith in the new venture, that he resigned a position as >f the note department at the Interstate Bank in New Orleans to this post. He later became the bank?s president and, later still, ent of the People?s Building and Loan Association. Joseph E. t was assistant cashier (he later became sheriff of Hancock y). John B. Spotorno was also an assistant cashier (Monti, 1977).
e bank?s first depositor was Gaston G. Gardebled, who took up a jn at the door before opening time on the morning of October 15, so he would have the honor of making the first deposit. This irising Bay St. Louis builder and contractor, then 32 years old, was