D'Iberville in Harrison County, Mississippi — The American South (East South Central)

Original D'Iberville Community House

Photographed by Robert M. Cook, Jr., circa October 11, 2024

1. Original D'Iberville Community House Marker

Inscription. A century before the City of D'Iberville incorporated (1988), the north side of the Bay of Biloxi shared worldwide cultural traits. Social events brought all together. The scattered settlements began coalescing when the first street (Central Avenue today) was paved in 1926. Social gatherings were usually held in and around schools and churches. Amid the Great Depression (1930s) social activities were reduced for lack of discretionary funds. A purpose of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's Works Progress Administration was to help communities survive socially and culturally.

In 1937, the WPA appointed Selma Smith of D'Iberville to represent the agency and her community. Meetings were organized at Joe Poulos' Store (formerly Peter Quave's) and hundreds of residents attended; Selma presided. The name selected: D'Iberville Community Club. Trustees: Frank Ibele, Bud Patronus, and Arnot Smith. The cost of land at this site was $475. In 1939, the Community House was completed; the calendar of events included: Carnival balls, bingos, wedding celebrations, and dances. Uniquely built with a Pioneer finish, north of the original high school, the (front) columns were cypress tree trunks.

Erected 2023 by D'Iberville Historical Society • City of D'Iberville • Dale Greenwell.

Topics. This historical

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marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Notable Buildings. A significant historical year for this entry is 1939.

Location. 30° 25.742′ N, 88° 53.403′ W. Marker is in D'Iberville, Mississippi, in Harrison County. It is on Church Avenue south of Rodriguez Street, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 10039 Church Ave, Diberville MS 39540, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

and on the Gulf Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Viceroyalty of New France,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: D'Iberville High School Original Site (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Fort Maurepas and Old Biloxi (about 400 feet away); The Five Trails (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Quave Commercial Strip (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Land and Legend of the Cross (approx. 0.4 miles away); The Crossing (approx. 0.4 miles away); Harvey's Hill (approx. 0.4 miles away); Santa Cruz Landing (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in D'Iberville.

More about this marker. The marker was taken down in late 2023 to correct a misspelled name in the inscription, and will be reinstalled in 2024, according to the D'Iberville Historical Society. The inscription on this marker entry has the correct spelling.

Photographed by Robert M. Cook, Jr., October 11, 2024

2. Original D'Iberville Community House Marker

Wide Angle View

Original D'Iberville Community House Marker (missing) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, March 9, 2024

3. Original D'Iberville Community House Marker (missing)

Current D'Iberville Community Club building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, March 9, 2024

4. Current D'Iberville Community Club building

The $2.5 million building opened in 2014, replacing the original community house that was heavily damaged by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 12, 2024. It was originally submitted on March 14, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 320 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 11, 2024, by Robert M. Cook, Jr. of Biloxi, Mississippi. 3, 4. submitted on March 14, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.