Live Local: Biloxi Walking Tour Stop 16, 17, and 18

Lace up your shoes and take a stroll with News 25’s Lorraine Weiskopf in today’s edition of Live Local, a series you can catch here on News 25 on Thursday.

Today, we take you to stop number 16, 17, and 18 of the Biloxi Walking Tour with someone who knows the area well, Biloxi Library Historian Jane Shambra.

The tiny yellow building on Vieux Marche was once home to the Biloxi Number 2 Mechanic’s Fire Company. “The fire truck actually had steam engines. They actually had a horse and buggy.”

While the building is small, the city’s love for their firefighters was evident as they would throw big parades for them down Biloxi’s historic streets. “Firefighter parades were even bigger than Mardi Gras parades. It was a big deal. They would have floats and all the different units were represented. It was a great event back in the day.”

The show wasn’t over when the parades ended. There’s also a grand presence at Biloxi’s Dukate Theatre. The theatre would entertain the public with films and plays as well as host graduation and even would be an interactive experience. “They actually had a contest. They would project a popular person’s image on the wall and if you could guess it you would get a free ticket to the next movie.”

One of the most iconic buildings in all of Biloxi is the old People’s Bank, now home to Ellzey’s Hardware Store. While it’s been home to many different establishments, one rather witchy woman won’t leave as she sits on her broom gazing over the city. “It’s actually a weathervane and was put up in the late 1800s when the building was built. It’s very unique and draws a lot of attention to downtown Biloxi.”

While these three buildings all served different purposes to residents back then and even today. They’re all connected through their survival of the times, all dating back to the late 1800s. Some of Howard Avenue’s most notable features have since run dry. “Right in the middle of the street there used to be a famous fountain where people could come and collect water. Probably the fountain was fed by springs on the ground so if you needed water you could just get it there.”

Live Local is made possible through the support of the Biloxi Library System. Be sure to tune in next Thursday as News 25 continues highlighting places of interest along our Coast.