July 2025 Weekly Updates

 

July 23, 2025

Eastman Francis Tate / John Hawkins Napier Connection

     In November 1922, in Washington, D. C., Lena Mae Tate, daughter of Eastman Francis Tate became the bride of John Hawkins Napier, Jr., son of John Hawkins Napier, Sr. John Napier Jr., was an educator, and the young couple lived in various locations, including California. They eventually returned home to Picayune, where Dr. John Napier served the Picayune school district as principal and Superintendent.

     Lena Mae Napier was very meticulous in her record keeping. In a recent turn of events, the photographs, correspondence, and other collected memorabilia were donated to the Pearl River County Historical Society by Cameron Napier, widow of John Hawkins Napier III, Lena Mae's son.

     I have been in contact with the Director and the Communications Coordinator of the Mississippi Gulf Coast National Heritage Area, and we are working together to share some of the photos and other information from the Tate/Napier historical collection. We are also looking at the possibility of sharing additional aspects of our mutual history.

July 16, 2025

The Street in Picayune with three (3) names:

     In 1901, Julius Simmons, a turpentine forester, donated the land that is presently marked as U. S. Highway 11. His purpose was to move the rail head closer to his turpentine plant. The business was reportedly located in the area by the old Criminal Justice center and what was once known as the Picayune Shopping Center on South Main Street.

     Cyril Harvey was the Superintendent of the New Orleans and Northeastern Railroad and the documents relating to the donation of the land to create the entity known as "Pickayune" indicate that the gravel road parallel to the railroad was named Harvey Avenue. As the area began to grow, the name was changed to the current spelling and was incorporated as a town in 1904.

     By the 1920s, the name "Harvey Avenue" was falling into disuse and the road became known as Jackson Highway. In 1926 a bridge was built over Boley Creek, and the bridge was known as the Jackson Highway Bridge. By the 1950 US census, the road was known as either Harvey Avenue or Highway 11, depending upon who you asked. The reason for the name "Jackson highway" has very little to do with Andrew Jackson, as some may assume, but that is a story for another time.

 July 9, 2025

Great Truths that little children have learned:

  1. No matter how hard you try, you can't baptize cats.
  2. When your mom is mad at your dad, don't let her brush your hair.
  3. If your sister hits you, don't hit her back. They always catch the second person.
  4. Never ask your 3-yea- old brother to hold a tomato.
  5. You can't trust dogs to watch your food.
  6. Don't sneeze when someone is cutting your hair.
  7. Never hold a Dust-Buster and a cat at the same time.
  8. You can't hide a piece of broccoli in a glass of milk.
  9. Don't wear polka-dot underwear under white shorts.
  10. The best place to be when you're sad is Grandpa's lap.