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rulfport-Ocean Sprlngs-Pascagoula, Miss., Saturday, October 15, 1977
Gainesville No. 1 project for Hancock historical group
By BILL GAUDET
SPECIAL TO THE SUN-HERALD
BAY ST. LOUIS — The Hancock County Historical Society which plans to erect historical markers throughout the county has selected the once thriving city of Gainesville as its No. 1 project, Capt. (U.S. Navy-Ret.) Max Bems, society president, said Friday.
Berns said earlier this week the group heard a graphic description of the area from retired Pearlington school teacher Mrs. Jeanne Doby Williams.
Gainesville now is the site of the National Space Technologies Laboratory (NSTL) and traces of the port city are gone.
NASA took over the area in 1961 when the Mississippi Test Facility was used to test Saturn rockets. Docks which once were used to carry lumber and cotton to world ports were remodeled to accomodate the rockets.
A spokesman for NSTL said, “We welcome this and you can be sure we will cooperate with the society in every way possible.”
One of the historical moments for Gainesville came at the end of 1813 when Gen. Andrew Jackson used it as his principal staging area for getting troops across the Pearl River for the battle of New Orleans.