Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/287205
23 Spring 2014 | Connections A few days after Hurricane Katrina ripped through the Gulf Coast, Jesse Loya happened to ride his bike past a severely damaged old building. He knew this building from when he and his family relocated from Los Angeles to Bay St. Louis, his realtor had told him about an old dance hall, The 100 Men Hall. Jesse can't explain why, but that day marked the beginning of his incredible journey to save and restore an important piece of history. His wife Kerrie was less than enthusiastic and worried the restoration project would take an irreversible toll on their finances. Somehow, Jesse was able to convince her to let him buy the building, which sat for months following Katrina with no windows, doors or roof. But as Jesse began the restoration in late summer of 2006, Kerrie's interest was piqued. The Hall, as the locals call it, was once a stop on the Chitlin' Circuit and hosted virtually every major African American performer from the 1940's to the early 1970's. Fats Domino, Big Joe Turner, Etta James, Irma Thomas and Ike and Tina Turner are just a few of the famous performers that played the Hall. Getting others in the community interested in the restoration of The Hall wasn't easy. Kerrie and Jesse were frequently referred to as "the crazy couple from California." The two fought frequently about how much The Rebirth of the Historic 100 Men Hall Bay St. Louis, MS