City of Gulfport celebrates 125 years
The City of Gulfport gathered and threw a major anniversary celebration over the weekend, complete a parade, fireworks, and tributes to the many communities that make up the fabric of the city.
Gulfport Fire Chief Billy Kelley said, “All communities in the City of Gulfport, coming together. Black, white, it doesn’t matter. Look, we’re all family. We’re all friends and family and that’s what we’re here about.”
A 125 years later, the City of Gulfport is still thriving. A city founded on its port and railroad systems now full of thousands gathered here at Jones Park to celebrate a special birthday for the city. Gulfport High Band Member Alexis Daruo said, “Gulfport is special to me because it’s where I grew up and everything’s in Gulfport, basically for me, and there’s a lot to offer.”
The City of Gulfport has been around since its incorporation in the year 1898. Its founders, William Harris Hardy and Joseph Thomas Jones, whom Jones Park is named after, were early pioneers in Mississippi’s development of trade and commerce.
Saturday citizens gathered to honor these men and the many communities that make up the state’s second largest city. One resident of Gulfport, Issac Pittman, says what made his community special are the people in it. “Where is took a village to raise a child. Every mother was a mother to every child. Every father was a father to every child, the families we shared light bread and butter and sugar and whatever it was to make the family eat and that’s the community that Forest Heights represents and I’m a part of it.”
The celebration of 125 years does not mean that the city didn’t go through hardships, but a remembrance of how far the city has come in the face disaster. “Appreciate about it is the people. You know after Hurricane Katrina man I looked at this place and was just you know, broke my heart. Working for the fire department doing search and rescue every day for months. It was heartbreaking and never knew that we would see this. Everybody that is here at Jones park today went through something. At Katrina, before and after. And, you know, everybody here means something and it’s a big family down here.”
Pittman says what makes the city beautiful is the welcoming spirit the people have towards one another. “Gulfport is just southern with the southern hospitality. We all welcome everybody from different walks of life to share in to the beautiful city that we have.”
No matter young or old, you can recognize how special Gulfport truly is. “It’s a big accomplishment because being a part of Gulfport for 125 years, that’s a long time.”
“You don’t realize how lucky you are to live in a paradise like this until you leave it for a little while.”
