HOME COMMUNITY TOWN HALL NEW BUSINESSES VISITORS ABOUT US CONTACT US MAP Pearl River History Home Pearl River History The community that is today Pearl River was originally known as Halloo, a moniker it reputedly garnered from loggers yelling to one another as they labored along the nearby Pearl River. The town was founded in 1859. Early Halloo was a small railroad town, located at the junction of the Northeastern and Poitevent and Favre’s East Louisiana Railroads. In 1886 a train station was constructed at the site, and two years later Samuel Russ Poitevent (June 4, 1852 – June 3, 1904), established the first store in the village. The community’s name was first changed from Halloo to Pearl, later to Pearlville, and eventually Pearl River, in 1888, after the train station built in the town. On July 13, 1898, the 200 citizens of Pearl River voted to petition the state of Louisiana for incorporation as the “Village of Pearl River”, a request which was granted nearly a decade later, on May 24, 1906, by governor Newton Crain Blanchard, with G.W. Fuller as the first mayor. The village slowly modernized over the course of the next half century, acquiring the land for a courthouse in 1935 and a town hall ten years later. Pearl River Junior High was opened in 1963, but the building was made into a police training academy in 2005. In 1964, the village insignia was replaced, as the newly minted “town” laid claim to 1,500 residents, a designation that lives on today, in the town of about 2,500. In 1968 Pearl River High School was established on Taylor Drive with Mr. Rowley as principal. The school is now a major success with over 700 students total. Mr. Mike Winkler resides as principal. Mr. James “Jim” Lavigne served as Mayor of Pearl River from 1992 to 2014. Mr. Lavigne served as Mayor longer than anyone in Pearl River before. He lost the Mayor elections in November 2014 to David McQueen. Past Mayors 2015-1954 2015 1991 1983 1982 1970 1966 1962 1958 1954 1950 1946 1945 David McQueen James Lavigne Pearl River Then & Now 1906 1931 1935 1945 1949 1950 1953 1964 Village of Pearl River On May 24, 1906, a proclamation was made by the State of Louisiana incorporating the Village of Pearl River in St. Tammany Parish. A petition had to be draw up by a list of voters. A mayor and 3 aldermen were appointed by the Governor. Electricity Electric current and transmission lines were installed in the Village in 1931 by Ellis Crawford ABOUT PEARL RIVER About Us Pearl River History Museum LOCALE INFO Local Time 10:38 pm Today November 29, 2021 66°F 3m/s Tuesday November 30, 2021 65°F 5m/s Wednesday December 1, 2021 67°F 6m/s Thursday December 2, 2021 71°F 4m/s EVENTS There are no events at this time. ABOUT PEARL RIVER The community that is today Pearl River was originally known as Halloo, a moniker it reputedly garnered from loggers yelling to one another as they labored along the nearby Pearl River. The town was founded in 1859. GALLERIES 19th Annual Town Clean-up March 30, 2019 2017 Christmas Program December 15, 2017 Lieutenant Governor’s Award 2017 July 28, 2017 See All Galleries PHONE NUMBERS Town Hall State Police - Troop L (Mandeville) (985) 893-6250 Fire Department Station 111 (Pine St. Ext.) (985) 863-3134 Fire Department Station 112 (Hwy. 3081) (985) 863-3132 See All Phone Numbers TOWN HALL ADDRESS 39460 Willis Alley Pearl River, LA 70452 Phone: (985) 863-5800 Fax: (985) 863-2586 Email: townhall@townofpearlriver.net Mon.-Fri. 8:00am – 4:30pm © Copyright - 2021 | Designed by Bayou Web Design+