French explorer Bienville discovered this area on August 25, 1699, and he named the bay in memory of Louis IX of France, crusader and saint. Thus making Bay St. Louis a French possession.

This tiny jewel in the crown of the new world French colonies was originally inhabited by members of the strongest Indian tribe in Mississippi, the Choctaws. While having a mighty warrior reputation, the Choctaws of the Bay St. Louis area were friendly to the new explorers and shared the bounty of wild game and seafood found in their village of Chicapoula which is Choctaw for "bad grass" describing the rockachaws or burrs commonly found in the landscape.

In 1763, the settlement was given to Britain following the French and Indian War. At the close of the American Revolution in 1793, the land was passed to Spain and the name was later changed to Shieldsborough after a land grant was given to Thomas Shields. Later public opinion demanded that the name be changed back to Bay St. Louis.

In our first story we meet two families who have a special relationship with Ship Island. Captain Louis Skrmetta and his family have been ferrying people back and forth to the island for many years and Ethel Stone Smith and her family manned the lighthouse on Ship Island for a period of time.

We introduce you to the works of internationally renowned sculptor Richmond Barthe'. He is a native of Bay St. Louis and he was a major influence in the Harlem Renaissance Movement.

The Turkey Creek and Rippy Road neighborhood in North Gulfport is a post-Civil War African American community that retains much of its original architectural integrity.

It is currently in danger of being eliminated due to the high growth in the area. This segment continues our look at Mississippi's Ten Most Endangered Historic Places.

Walt takes a look at the migratory birds who stop by the coast on their journey southward. In this weeks edition of Walt's Way.

(top of page)