Picayune is the largest city in Pearl River County, Mississippi. The population was 10,878 at the 2010 census. Located approximately 45 miles (72 km) from New Orleans, Hattiesburg, and Gulfport/Biloxi. The Stennis Space Center is 10 miles (16 km) away.
Picayune was founded in 1904, named by Eliza Jane Poitevent Nicholson, the owner and the publisher of the New Orleans Daily Picayune, a newspaper named for the Spanish Coin. In the early years of European settlements, France, Spain and England all vied for possession of the area that now encompasses Picayune and Pearl River County. The Picayune area, long inhabited by the Choctaw Indians, was first claimed for France and called Louisiana. The first capital of French Louisiana was at nearby Biloxi, founded in 1669.
In 1763, the French surrendered all their possessions in North America east of the Mississippi to the English. At the same time, the Spanish also ceded to the English their claims to what were called East Florida and West Florida.
The Spanish reasserted their claim to the area in 1799 by attacking British forts in Baton Rouge, Mobile, and Pensacola. The area was returned to Spanish dominion until 1800 when Spain ceded the area to France.
Napoleon Bonaparte's brother Jerome is said to have visited the area sometime during this period. Legend has it that he was headquartered on the river below Picayune - hence the name Napoleon was given to a settlement there.
Napoleon sold the area to the young United States as part of the historic Louisiana Purchase. Although the Americans claimed the area, the Spanish continued to claim that West Florida extended to the East Pearl River, and the area did not officially come under U. S. control until 1810.
In 1811, while the territory was yet the lawless abode of pirates and Indians, Stephen Jarrell became the first permanent white settler in what is now Picayune. Jarrell built a trading post on a bluff overlooking Hobolochitto Creek.
The next year, 1812, Gen. Andrew Jackson passed through the area on his way to the Battle of New Orleans, and "Old Hickory" had a young quartermaster named Moses Cook who was sent to obtain supplies at Jarrell's post.
Cook was so taken with the area, that he returned after the war to buy Jarrell out and take over the post. When Mississippi was admitted to the union in 1817, the area of Cook's post was included in the newly formed Hancock County.
In 1832, Cook was able to establish a post office at his stand, which he named Hobolochitto. The area grew slowly in the antebellum years and was still sparsely populated by the time of the War Between the States. Most of the able-bodied men in the area joined the Confederate Army and went away during the war, and those left behind experienced hardships inflicted by jayhawkers and the occupying Yankee soldiers.
Picayune was founded in 1904, named by Eliza Jane Poitevent Nicholson, the owner and the publisher of the New Orleans Daily Picayune, a newspaper named for the Spanish Coin. In the early years of European settlements, France, Spain and England all vied for possession of the area that now encompasses Picayune and Pearl River County. The Picayune area, long inhabited by the Choctaw Indians, was first claimed for France and called Louisiana. The first capital of French Louisiana was at nearby Biloxi, founded in 1669.
In 1763, the French surrendered all their possessions in North America east of the Mississippi to the English. At the same time, the Spanish also ceded to the English their claims to what were called East Florida and West Florida.
The Spanish reasserted their claim to the area in 1799 by attacking British forts in Baton Rouge, Mobile, and Pensacola. The area was returned to Spanish dominion until 1800 when Spain ceded the area to France.
Napoleon Bonaparte's brother Jerome is said to have visited the area sometime during this period. Legend has it that he was headquartered on the river below Picayune - hence the name Napoleon was given to a settlement there.
Napoleon sold the area to the young United States as part of the historic Louisiana Purchase. Although the Americans claimed the area, the Spanish continued to claim that West Florida extended to the East Pearl River, and the area did not officially come under U. S. control until 1810.
In 1811, while the territory was yet the lawless abode of pirates and Indians, Stephen Jarrell became the first permanent white settler in what is now Picayune. Jarrell built a trading post on a bluff overlooking Hobolochitto Creek.
The next year, 1812, Gen. Andrew Jackson passed through the area on his way to the Battle of New Orleans, and "Old Hickory" had a young quartermaster named Moses Cook who was sent to obtain supplies at Jarrell's post.
Cook was so taken with the area, that he returned after the war to buy Jarrell out and take over the post. When Mississippi was admitted to the union in 1817, the area of Cook's post was included in the newly formed Hancock County.
In 1832, Cook was able to establish a post office at his stand, which he named Hobolochitto. The area grew slowly in the antebellum years and was still sparsely populated by the time of the War Between the States. Most of the able-bodied men in the area joined the Confederate Army and went away during the war, and those left behind experienced hardships inflicted by jayhawkers and the occupying Yankee soldiers.
1869: Henry Smith House:
The present-day Henry Smith estate rests on the land that was once the Farr Plantation. On August 18th, 1869, brothers Billy and Joshua Stockstill paid $1,200 dollars for the land. They separated it into two sections. Joshua chose the north half of the property, on which the Smith house is now situated. His daughter, Cordelia, married Henry Smith on December 25, 1888. Around 1905, she and Henry bought all of the acreage from the Stockstill heirs. They lived in the log cabin on the land, which was constructed circa 1874.
Around 1909, Henry Emmitt Smith hired the premier carpenter of the South, Hector Puyper, to commence building his home. Smith paid seven dollars per thousand board feed for knotless heart pine lumber, which was fashioned into tongue and groove boards with cypress shingles for the roof. All of the materials originated from trees on the property and were milled on the site. Puyper approached the construction of the house as though solving a puzzle – he visualized the house piece by piece and built it as such. The home had nine large rooms and a front porch, which acted as a gathering place when people came to visit.....>>continued
The present-day Henry Smith estate rests on the land that was once the Farr Plantation. On August 18th, 1869, brothers Billy and Joshua Stockstill paid $1,200 dollars for the land. They separated it into two sections. Joshua chose the north half of the property, on which the Smith house is now situated. His daughter, Cordelia, married Henry Smith on December 25, 1888. Around 1905, she and Henry bought all of the acreage from the Stockstill heirs. They lived in the log cabin on the land, which was constructed circa 1874.
Around 1909, Henry Emmitt Smith hired the premier carpenter of the South, Hector Puyper, to commence building his home. Smith paid seven dollars per thousand board feed for knotless heart pine lumber, which was fashioned into tongue and groove boards with cypress shingles for the roof. All of the materials originated from trees on the property and were milled on the site. Puyper approached the construction of the house as though solving a puzzle – he visualized the house piece by piece and built it as such. The home had nine large rooms and a front porch, which acted as a gathering place when people came to visit.....>>continued
Picayune's first NO&NE Depot,
Hotel and Restaurant circa 1880
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1903: Picayune Drug Co. is a community based pharmacy and one of the first companies established in Picayune, MS. Opened in 1903, it remains in its original location.
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Picayune was incorporated as a township in 1904, the name having been given by Poitevent.
"Pearl Rivers", the Pen Name of Elia Jane Poitevent Nicholson, was the owner and publisher of the New Orleans Daily Picayune, a newspaper named for the Spanish coin. In the 1880s, the railroad passed through the community of Hobolochitto. The citizens in the community asked Ms. Poitevent to select a name for the township. She preferred the name of her paper--and Picayune, Mississippi was born.
In 1905 it was incorporated as a town, and, in 1922 it was incorporated as a city.
"Pearl Rivers", the Pen Name of Elia Jane Poitevent Nicholson, was the owner and publisher of the New Orleans Daily Picayune, a newspaper named for the Spanish coin. In the 1880s, the railroad passed through the community of Hobolochitto. The citizens in the community asked Ms. Poitevent to select a name for the township. She preferred the name of her paper--and Picayune, Mississippi was born.
In 1905 it was incorporated as a town, and, in 1922 it was incorporated as a city.
In 1914 Weems Chapel United Methodist Church began when a black store owner named George Weems, for whom the church is named, donated the land and building he used as a toolhouse for a place of worship. According to the cornerstone, in 1915, the church was erected as Weems Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church, under the leadership of Rev. E. P. Chapman.
Fourteen years later, in 1928 a new building was constructed. It was equipped with electric lights, new pews for comfort, and a bell. The pastor at that time was Rev. W. M. Emerson. Renovations were done in 1952 under the leadership of Rev. L. W. Smith. Rev. H. A. Brown envisioned a parsonage which was completed under the leadership of Rev. J. C Price. By 1978 the membership grew to 210 under the leadership of Rev. Phillip Heidelberg. A new structure with a maximum seating capacity of 305, was built to accomodate the new growth in 1983. In 1996 under the leadership of Elder Bobby E. Dailey, Weems Chapel has become a fulltime (meeting every Sunday for worship) church. God continues to bless Weems Chapel because the Church is dedicated to bringing individuals to Christ.
Fourteen years later, in 1928 a new building was constructed. It was equipped with electric lights, new pews for comfort, and a bell. The pastor at that time was Rev. W. M. Emerson. Renovations were done in 1952 under the leadership of Rev. L. W. Smith. Rev. H. A. Brown envisioned a parsonage which was completed under the leadership of Rev. J. C Price. By 1978 the membership grew to 210 under the leadership of Rev. Phillip Heidelberg. A new structure with a maximum seating capacity of 305, was built to accomodate the new growth in 1983. In 1996 under the leadership of Elder Bobby E. Dailey, Weems Chapel has become a fulltime (meeting every Sunday for worship) church. God continues to bless Weems Chapel because the Church is dedicated to bringing individuals to Christ.
1917: Saint Charles Borromeo Catholic Church:
On March 2, 1917, Mr. Robert J. Williams, a lumberman of Picayune and Wilco, who was Protestant, donated to the Catholic Diocese of Nachez a lot 50 x 140 feet reserving 8 feet for a sidewalk, and making the following restrictions: "It is agreed that the title to this parcel of land is to revert back to the grantor in the event that the same is not used for church building." The lot was at the Northeast corner of West Canal and Rester Streets, in the city of Picayune.
Under the leadership of Mr. Charles Mertel, Catholics and some Protestants, with the help of the Catholic Extension Society, raised enough money to build a church. Some of the building supplies were donated by the Thigpen-Whitfield Hardware Store.
A church was built and was dedicated to St. Charles Borromeo on November 4, 1917 (November 4 being the Feast of St. Charles Borromeo). This church building was used for the next 34 years until 1951, when a new church was built.....>>continued
On March 2, 1917, Mr. Robert J. Williams, a lumberman of Picayune and Wilco, who was Protestant, donated to the Catholic Diocese of Nachez a lot 50 x 140 feet reserving 8 feet for a sidewalk, and making the following restrictions: "It is agreed that the title to this parcel of land is to revert back to the grantor in the event that the same is not used for church building." The lot was at the Northeast corner of West Canal and Rester Streets, in the city of Picayune.
Under the leadership of Mr. Charles Mertel, Catholics and some Protestants, with the help of the Catholic Extension Society, raised enough money to build a church. Some of the building supplies were donated by the Thigpen-Whitfield Hardware Store.
A church was built and was dedicated to St. Charles Borromeo on November 4, 1917 (November 4 being the Feast of St. Charles Borromeo). This church building was used for the next 34 years until 1951, when a new church was built.....>>continued
West Canal Street 1920s
1928: St Pauls Episcopal Church
August 1928 - Rev. Girault Jones begins regular services in the Maple Room of the Peach Tree Inn.
December 1928 - 17 people sign petition asking for organization of church.
January 1929 - Bishop Bratton admits mission to Diocese under name of St. Paul’s.
June 1929 - Williams family deeds land on corner of Norwood and Williams Streets to the Diocese.....>>continued
August 1928 - Rev. Girault Jones begins regular services in the Maple Room of the Peach Tree Inn.
December 1928 - 17 people sign petition asking for organization of church.
January 1929 - Bishop Bratton admits mission to Diocese under name of St. Paul’s.
June 1929 - Williams family deeds land on corner of Norwood and Williams Streets to the Diocese.....>>continued
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1930: Roseland Baptist Church
Roseland Park Baptist Church had its earliest beginnings in the summer of 1930. The early 1930’s were depression years when money was tight and transportation by car was a luxury that many residents of the new Roseland Park community could not afford. The journey to the nearest churches, First Baptist or Sycamore Baptist, was therefore long and often miserable due to the dictates of weather. This cause led many to be denied regular, meaningful worship in a church family. But as God would lead, a burden was placed on the hearts of a small group of men and women. That burden eventually became a burning desire for a local Baptist church.....>>continued 
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1946 postcard from the Collotype Company of Elizabeth, New Jersey
1949: WRJW:
(Picayune Item Nov 24, 1949): The maiden broadcast of one of the newest broadcasting stations in the nation will be made Saturday, when radio station WRJW, of Picayune, Mississippi goes on the air at "sun-up".M The new station, operating on 1320 kilocycles, will be one the air daily after Saturday from sun-up until sundown and is a 1,000 watt station. Moseley Brothers, operators of the Ritz Theatre and Lane's, are owners of the station and will operate it as a partnership, with Mr. Felix. Adams, whose home is in Cincinnati, formerly connected with station WHSV in that city as manager. With studios and transmitter rooms built around the antennas, two miles east of Picayune on the Kiln road, the station is reported to be one of the best equipped small stations in the South and according to W.L. "Pic" Moseley of the firm, downtown studios will be provided as soon as the new "Pic" Theatre building is completed. Mr. Moseley stated this morning that no set programs have been arranged for the new station, however, the Mississippi State, Ole Miss Game will be broadcast Saturday afternoon beginning at 1:45. This game will be broadcast through a Mississippi Network hookup. The new station, according to Mr. Moseley, will not for the time being, be connected with any of the radio chains. Mr. Charles Tucker of Linden, Ala., will be the Chief engineer, and Mr. Archie Rushing, now with station KULP at Elcampo, Texas will take over as assistant engineer on December 1. |
