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THE SEA COAST ECHO • COURTHOUSE MEMORIES	SATURDAY,	AUGUST	8,	2009	•	9
Photo courtesy of Karen Ruhr
The courthouse during the 1930s and '40s.
publication.
A few weeks later, the board accepted the low bid of $24,989 from Jett Brothers Construction of Alabama. However, before construction could begin, the plans were altered to eliminate the fire escapes, which resulted in a savings of $60.
The old courthouse was moved 76 feet to the east side of the grounds to make room for the new construction. Napoleon Caron won the bid for the project with a bid of $650.
John Henry was hired as the construction superintendent at a cost of two percent of the construction costs.
The contract with Jett brothers was signed on Aug.
1, 1910, with a construction time of eight months.
The Bay St. Louis masonic lodge laid the first stone of the new building in the northeast comer.
The county planned on
using money from its general fund to pay for the project without having to raise taxes;
however, in December, the county borrowed $10,000 from Hancock Bank.
The county agreed to pay back the loan in warrants of five annual $2,000 payments
The building was built in a Greek Rival style and with polished wood floors and plastered walls. The exterior of the building was sand finished to bond the concrete.
The courthouse was complete by September 1911. Henry was employed to move the safe and furniture from the old building into the new one. Jett Brothers was also paid an additional $50 for placing the marble cornerstone containing the names of all of the supervisors (Weston, S J. Craft, J.E. Smith, TJ. McArthur, and L.C. Bourgeois.)
Furnishings for the new courthouse included three dozen chairs, four dozens cuspidors or spittoons, two dozen sheets, and a dozen beds, mattresses, pillows, and blankets for jurors who would be sequestered.
Not a misspelling:
A unique feature of the
HANCOCK
•3*
Mississippi Nurses’ Association
2009 Nightingale Award Winner Hospital of the Year (under 100 beds)
Accredited by The Joint Commission
2009 Avatar International
Exceeding Patients Expectations Award
Congratulations Hancock County!
...your day in court was worth the wait!
The Board of Trustees, administration, doctors, nurses, technologists, and health care professionals at Hancock Medical congratulate Hancock County on a job well-done with the completion of the Hancock County Courthouse. We are pleased to be part of the team that helps serve Hancock County!
Hancock Medical Bay St. Louis
467-8600
Hancock Medical Diamondhead
586-0014
Hancock Medical Kiln
255-5200
Hancock Medical Port Bienville
533-9000
Thank you artists and merchants!
Don’t miss the 13th Annual Moonlight on the Bay, one of Hancock County’s premier social events, Friday, September 18, at the Hollywood Casino. Our 2009 honorees are “Healing Hands & Hearts,” three health care organizations from across the country that chose to help us in our time of need.
Thanks to all of our area merchants and artists who are donating items to the Moonlight on the Bay Silent Auction. Your support is an investment in the health of our community and we greatly appreciate your contributions to our special night.
All funds raised support the Hancock Medical Foundation which helps Hancock Medical purchase new equipment and maintain quality health care services for the communities we serve. We commend you for your participation and thank you for helping to make our event an annual success.
13th Annual Moonlight on the Bay
Friday. Sept. 18. 2009 Hollywood Casino Ticket Information 467-8790