100 Men D.B.A. Hall
The 100 Men D.B.A. Hall, a longtime center of African American social life and entertainment, was built in 1922 by the One Hundred Members’ Debating Benevolent Association. Over the years the association sponsored many events and also rented the hall to promoters who brought in blues, rhythm & blues, and jazz acts. Local residents have recalled performances by Etta James, Big Joe Turner, Guitar Slim, Irma Thomas, Professor Longhair, Ernie K-Doe, Deacon John, Earl King, and numerous others here.
In the decades following the Civil War, African Americans throughout the South formed many fraternal and benevolent organizations in order to collectively increase their social, economic, and political power. The One Hundred Members’ Debating Benevolent Association was incorporated in Bay St. Louis in 1894. According to its charter, “the purpose of this Association is to assist its members when sick and bury its dead in a respectable manner and to knit friendship.” The charter stipulated that “the Association may from time to time give entertainments for the purpose of replenishing the treasury.” Despite its name, the association was founded by twelve men, and the nature of its “debates” appears to be lost to time. (In other organizations, the initials D.B.A. often stood for Death and Burial Association.) By the 1950s the functions of many benevolent organizations were supplanted by insurance companies, although in New Orleans they have survived as social aid and pleasure clubs that organize annual parades. The Disabled American Veterans acquired the 100 Men D.B.A Hall in the mid-1970s. After Hurricane Katrina the hall was slated to be razed until Jesse and Kerrie Loya stepped in to purchase it in 2006. The Loyas restored it with the intent of creating a nonprofit community center and venue. It operates today as an ongoing live blues locale.
As a resort community in the early decades of the twentieth century, Bay St. Louis was the site of performances by New Orleans jazz and dance bands, as well as local groups, including the Supreme Band and bands led by Paul Maurice, August Saucier, and Harry Fairconnetue (who played regularly at the Promo Benevolent Association Hall). Bay St. Louis natives Fairconnetue and Warren Bennett also worked in Clarence Desdunes’ Joyland Revelers. Other local performers of the era included the Alexis family (Peter, Ricard, and Joseph), Edgar Benoit, Sumner Labat, Edward Palloade, Edgar Saucier, Oscar Collins, Eddie Thomas, Anderson Edwards, and Johnny Toncred. Famed New Orleans musicians Lorenzo Tio, Sr. and Jr. and Johnny and Warren “Baby” Dodds also lived in this area in the early 1900s. After World War II the 100 Men D.B.A. Hall became a stop on the “chitlin circuit,” a network of African American clubs, with many of the acts booked out of New Orleans. Mississippi coast bands, including M. C. Spencer & the Blue Flames, the Sounds of Soul, Carl Gates & the Decks, and the Claudetts, also played here. Another area venue in the early ’50s was the Cotton Club on Highway 90, operated by guitarist Jimmy Liggins, who relocated here briefly from Los Angeles. Onetime area residents who later achieved musical fame included the Bihari family, whose sons formed one of the most important independent record companies, Modern Records, in Los Angeles, and singer-guitarist Ted Hawkins, who was born in Lakeshore
The Mississippi Blues Trail markers tell stories through words and images of bluesmen and women and how the places where they lived and the times in which they existed–and continue to exist–influenced their music. The sites run the gamut from city streets to cotton fields, train depots to cemeteries, and clubs to churches. We have a lot to share, and it’s just down the Mississippi Blues Trail.
The Mississippi Blues Trail is an ongoing project of the Mississippi Blues Commission. Funding for this project has been made possible by grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities, Mississippi Department of Transportation, the Federal Highway Administration, AT&T, and the Delta Center for Culture and Learning at Delta State University plus additional support from the Mississippi Development Authority Tourism Division.
For more information visit msbluestrail.org.
Mississippi is the birthplace of many famous authors, including William Faulkner, Eudora Welty, and Richard Wright.
In the 16th century, French explorers arrived in the area and laid claim to the land, establishing the first European settlements. The presence of the French attracted many Spanish and British settlers, who competed for control of the region. This rivalry continued into the 18th century, with the area frequently changing hands between the three powers.
During the 19th century, Hancock County experienced significant growth as a result of the thriving timber industry. The virgin pine forests in the area provided the raw material for shipbuilding and other industries. The county became an important hub for trade and commerce, and several towns, including Bay St. Louis and Waveland, were established.
Hancock County faced substantial challenges in the 20th century. The devastating Hurricane Camille in 1969 and Hurricane Katrina in 2005 caused immense destruction, resulting in the loss of lives, homes, and infrastructure. However, the community showed resilience and has rebuilt stronger each time.
Today, Hancock County continues to be known for its natural beauty, with many residents and tourists drawn to its picturesque coastline, charming towns, and vibrant cultural heritage. The region's history, influenced by Native American tribes, European colonization, and the impact of natural disasters, has shaped the community and created a unique identity in Mississippi's Gulf Coast.
Hancock County Timeline
This timeline provides a glimpse into the major events and milestones that have shaped the history of Hancock County, Mississippi.
- 1699: French explorers Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville and Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville discover the area and establish the first French settlement in what is now known as Hancock County.
- 1716: Fort Maurepas is constructed by the French to serve as a defense against potential British attacks.
- 1763: The Treaty of Paris is signed, transferring the area to British control following the French and Indian War.
- 1779: Spain gains control over the area after supporting the American Revolution and capturing the British-held forts.
- 1798: The United States acquires the Mississippi Territory, which includes Hancock County, after the signing of the Treaty of San Lorenzo with Spain.
- 1812: Mississippi becomes a territory, and Hancock County is established as one of its original counties.
- 1830s: The construction of the Old Spanish Trail, an important trade route, boosts economic development in Hancock County.
- 1861-1865: Hancock County and the entire Southern region are heavily impacted by the American Civil War.
- 1880s: The timber industry thrives in Hancock County, with sawmills and logging becoming important sources of income.
- 1906: The Great Biloxi Hurricane devastates the Gulf Coast, including Hancock County, causing significant damage and loss of life.
- 1920s: The establishment of Pearlington, a town in Hancock County, as a shipping point for citrus fruits brings economic growth to the area.
- 1960s: The Civil Rights Movement impacts Hancock County, with protests and activism seeking to end segregation and racial discrimination.
- 2005: Hurricane Katrina, one of the most destructive hurricanes in U.S. history, causes widespread devastation and significant rebuilding efforts in Hancock County.