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Prospectus - Hancock County Keekler Open House May 16, 1976
For Capt. Brent Gates
From Joe Pilet, Public Relations for Hancock County Bay-Waveland
Bicentennial Commission.
1.	During the year 1817 The State of Mississippi was admitted to the Union, Iliat same year Hancock County was formed.
2.	The County was named for John Hancock, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. At that time the county embraced two thirds of what is now Pearl River Oounty, also a part of what is now Harrison County, and the present Hancock County.
3.	Ziz-Zagging acorss the land were numerous Indian Trails and paths leading to a thriving community called "Center" because it was situated almost dead-center of the county.
4.	The community of Center was Hancock County*s first County seat . The court house was built of logs.
5.	In the early 1830 (I do not have the exact date) the Gainsville County Seat was moved to ftQU&XXKKSX (along the banks
of the beautiful Pearl River) This was as a matter of convenience to the public —
6.	In 1853 2XX a fire burned the Gainsville records, however, rrainsville continual as County Seat lintil 1857.
7.	B7 1857 the Louisville and Nashville R.R. (built in the 1840*s) had changed the life-style of the people within the oounty
and it was decided to relocate the county seat to Shieldsboro also referred to as Bay St. Louis.
8.	In 189^ the town became officially Bay St. Louis
t i L » *- i * I 1 i 1 t -i-
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Choctaw Indians inhabited this land and called Bay St. Louis
Chicapoftla (Place of bad grace). I believe the village had about
6,000 Indians.
I	would suggest that in the Open jiouse we trace the History of the County from the r-v?ian up to the present date.
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