"A 20^th Century Chronology of Ocean Springs"
by, Ray L. Bellande, Local Historian

 

  1900 - 1949   ¤   1950 - 1969   ¤   1970 - 1979   ¤   1980 - 1999   ¤  2000 - PRESENT

Another decade-another war. The US and ROK troops with token UN support engaged North Korean and Chinese military forces, which had invaded South Korea in 1950. Although the Korean War ended in 1953, the two nations remain enemies.

The early 1950s saw the birth of Rock and Roll. A relatively unknown, hip-gyrating, singer from Tupelo, named Elvis Presley (1935-1977), spent a summer in the area coming to Gulf Hills for rest and relaxation in 1956.

Also in 1956, after the dredging of Bayou Cassotte in eastern Jackson County, a chemical-industrial complex began along its banks. The Mississippi Chemical Corporation of Yazoo City developed fertilizer, sulfuric acid, and phosphate plants here, while H.K. Porter made refractory bricks. The petroleum refinery of Standard Oil (Ky), now Chevron, came in 1961.

Several "clean" industries were developed at Ocean Springs, during the decade, among them the Ferson Optical Company and the E.R. Moore Company. The Gulf Coast Research Laboratory expanded and became a permanent facility. Although US 90 by-passed the downtown area in 1954, the economy was generally good as Ingalls Shipbuilding and KAFB provided additional employment opportunities. Ocean Springs nestled snuggly between Pascagoula and Biloxi became known as "a bed room community".

The Anderson brothers of Shearwater Pottery continued their creative activities as two notable murals were generated during the decade by Bob and Mac Anderson.

In January, J.H. Edwards (1893-1950) expired at New Orleans while serving as Chief Steward of the Army transport service boat, Short Splice. (The Gulf Coast Times, January 13, 1950, p. 1)

In March, the Bayou Convalescent Home was opened by Mrs. Ethel Rhodes Scott Shafer in the former Bayou Chateau-Bayou Inn. Mrs. Lea A. Evans, R.N. was named supervisor.(The Gulf Coast Times, March 3, 1950, p. 1)

In April, the Civil Aeronautics Authority allocated funds for construction of an airport for Ocean Springs. J.K. Lemon and Bruce Thomas collected funds from local citizens for the purchase of ten-acres of land from Reinhold W. Schluter (1890-1966). The proposed airport land was once used as a city dump.(The Gulf Coast Times, April 7, 1950, p. 1)

In May, the E.R. Moore Company of Chicago, manufacturers of gym suits and caps and gowns, began operations in early May on the second floor of the Bailey Building (Lovelace Drugs) with ten seamstress. The Community Center was also utilized as a cutting room until the $76,000 plant on Government Street was completed in November 1950, by the Walley Construction Company of Richton.(The Gulf Coast Times, February 2, 1950, p. 1, April 7, 1950, p. 1, April 14, 1950, p. 1, April 28, 1950, p. 1, May 5, 1950, p. 1, November 10, 1950, p. 1)

In May, Alvin Endt hit the first home run at Freedom Field as the Ocean Springs High baseball team lost to Moss Point 14-9.(The Gulf Coast Times, May 19, 1950, p. 1)

The Korean Wear started in June.

In June, Mayor Albert Westbrook (1900-1980) went to the 100^th Anniversary of the L&N Railroad at Louisville, Kentucky. He was president of the Veterans Club and spoke briefly about the work of his organization.(The Gulf Coast Times, June 9, 1950, p. 5)

Gulf Hills saw proprietor, Dick Waters, introduce the "Dude Ranch" resort concept. It was very popular and prompted management to keep the resort operating all year. This plan provided guests a comprehensive rate, which included room and board and all sports and social functions. Spring and winter rates were somewhat more than the summer rate.(The Gulf Coast Times, September 29, 1950, p.1)

In September, N.E. Taconi (1910-1971) began his tenure as School Superintendent as S.S. Wall had resigned in April. Coach Clay Boyd (1911-1974) was appointed acting Superintendent until Taconi’s term commenced.(The Gulf Coast Times, April 7, 1950, p. 1)

Duncan Moran (1925-1995) commenced construction of his home on the corner of Cleveland and Martin. They were occupying it in late January 1951.(The Gulf Coast Times, October 6, 1950, p. 5 and January 26, 1951, p. 5)

T.W. Miles of Evergreen, Alabama had Frank Galle build two cottages. One faced Porter and the other in the rear was situated on VanCleave Avenue. Frank and Gussie Galle also built the Galle-Woods home on the southwest corner of Ocean and Washington Avenue at this time.(The Gulf Coast Times, October 13, 1950, p. 7)

The new Ocean Springs Community Center on Washington Avenue was dedicated in late October. Congressman Bill Colmer complimented the citizens of Ocean Springs for their ability to work together to accomplish this feat.(The Gulf Coast Times, November 3, 1950, p. 1)

In December, the State building commission awarded $30,000 to the Gulf Coast Marine Research Laboratory to construct its first permanent building, a laboratory.(The Gulf Coast Times, December 22, 1950, p. 1)

Raymond "Big Boy" Beaugez, sophomore running back, led the Greyhounds to a 9-1 record as he scored 142 points-tops in the Mississippi high school ranks.

Roland Lovelace Roland Lovelace (1889-1967) and Valerie Pickel Lovelace (1910-1977) began their new home on the corner of Martin and Cleveland. Elwin Friar (1910-1970) is still working on his new home on Cleveland.(The Gulf Coast Times, January 26, 1951, p. 5)

Bob Anderson (1903-1965) painted murals in the new Ocean Springs Community Center for $1.00.(The Gulf Coast Times, February 22, 1951, p. 1)

Ronald Pook (1888-1993) and Charles Marquiss were completing their new edifices on Old Fort Bayou.(The Gulf Coast Times, March 15, 1951, p. 3)

Ocean Springs municipal leaders declared the town to now be a city based on the population compiled from the recently completed 1950 Federal Census.(The Gulf Coast Times, May 3, 1951, p. 1)

The Reorganized Church of the Latter Day Saints moved into their new building on Magnolia and East Porter. The congregation had been meeting in the city hall. The Victory Church is here in 2003.(The Daily Herald, May 3, 1951, p. 8)

C.E. Schmidt (1903-1984) began selling his inventions, the hydrolevel and leveleasy, all over the planet.(The Ocean Springs News, July 11, 1951, p.1)

The Ferson Optical Company, founded by Fred B. Ferson (1899-1969), located in temporary quarters of the second floor of the Bailey Building (Lovelace Drugs).(The Gulf Coast Times, September 27, 1951, p. 1)

In June 1952, Ocean Springs received its first public telephone booth when Southern Bell Telephone Company erected one on the corner of Washington And Government next to the Hill-Cavanaugh gasoline service station.(The Gulf Coast Times, June 19, 1952, p. 1)

A new $300,000, educational plant for black students was constructed on School Street, which was later named for Elizabeth H. Keys (1892-1976), a long time local educator.

In November, a contract was let for the new Ferson Optical plant which would initially employ 75 people.(The Gulf Coast Times, November 20, 1952, p. 1)

New Orleans tailor, Henry Girot (1887-1953), founder of Cherokee Glen, director of the Ocean Springs State Bank, and organizer and manager of the United Poultry Producers, expired in late January.(The Gulf Coast Times, January 29, 1953, p. 1)

Aldermen abolished the elected positions of city clerk and town marshall.(The Gulf Coast Times, February 2, 1953, p. 1)

In early February, Chicago developer, Harvey W. Branigar (1875-1953), a native of Morning Star, Iowa, expired at Gulf Hills which he founded in the late 1920s.(The Gulf Coast Times, February 5, 1953, p. 1)

Edgar P. Guice invented the dehydrated shrimp bait.(The Gulf Coast Times, March 5, 1953, p. 1)

In March, Ferdinand Kiernan went to Thomasville, Georgia to try out with the St. Louis Browns.(The Gulf Coast Times, March 19, 1953, p. 1)

In April, the Mitchell Brothers erected the Holiday Shore Motel, a 72-unit luxury motor lodge, at Long Beach.(The Gulf Coast Times, April 30, 1953, p, 1)

In June, the aldermen were considering extending the city limits to include Gulf Hills and Halstead Road.(The Gulf Coast Times, june 11, 1953, p. 1)

George Washington Smith (1857-1953), former slave and preacher, expired in mid-June.(The Gulf Coast Times, June 18, 1953, p. 1)

In July, the Korean War ended.

Dr. J.H. Waddell opened an office at 17 West Porter, present day 822 Porter.(The Gulf Coast Times, July 9, 1953, p. 1)

Art Fifield’s home on West Porter was destroyed by fire. It was built by Richard Lyons (1867-1929) in the early 1900s.

In July, the Ferson Optical Company held formal opening ceremonies in their new, $85,000 building on Government Street.(The Gulf Coast Times, July 23, 1953, p. 1)

Durbin’s TV Center opened on Washington Avenue.(The Gulf Coast Times, July 23, 1953, p. 1)

Donald Catchot was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals to play baseball.(The Gulf Coast Times, August 20 ,1953. P. 1)

In September, the LeMoyne Lodge was opened on Fort Bayou by Mrs. Clendinen B. Smith, who acquired it from Ethel Shafer.

In October, Wendell Palfrey was constructing the new, $26,000 US Post Office on Washington Avenue at Robinson.(The Gulf Coast Times, October 10, 1953, p. 1_

Sadie Catchot Hodges (1894-1973), longtime city clerk, resigned in October. She was replaced by Lloyd "Joe Boy" Ryan (1928-1985).(The Gulf Coast Times, October 29, 1953, p. 1)

Paving began on US Highway 90, which was rerouted from Porter Avenue and Government Street to north of the L&N Railroad.

The Ocean Springs State Bank merged with the Pascagoula-Moss Point Bank in January 1954.

Paul W. Allman (1918-2000) of Eldon, Iowa commenced Allman’s Reastaurant on the old Ocean Springs Seafood Company tract on US 90 near the War Memorial Bridge.

In June, the US Post Office moved from Government Street to Palfrey the Building, on Washington Avenue and Robinson, which now houses Salmagundi Gifts.

Former mayor, fire chief for many years, and sixty-four year employee of the L&N Railroad , Antonio J. Catchot (1864-1954), expired on August 11^th.

Dr. Gordon P. Gunter (1909-1998), a marine biologist, was named as the third Director of the Gulf Coast Marine Research Laboratory. He held this position until 1971.(The Sun Herald, December 20, 1998, p. A-17)

Elvis Presley (1935-1977) met Eddie Bellman, an Ocean Springs native, at Biloxi. He entertained Presley with deep sea fishing and water skiing trips as Elvis spent much of the summer at Gulf Hills.(Juanico, 1997, p. 82)

The new building, dry cleaning, and laundry shop of the Fallo Brothers opened on Government Street in September. Joseph and John Fallo utilized the "Hoffman Jet", a modern dry cleaning unit.(The Gulf Coast Times, September 6, 1956, p. 1)

A.P. "Fred" Moran (1897-1967) was elected president of the Mississippi Association of Supervisors.(The Gulf Coast Times, August 20, 1956, p. 1)

Carroll B. Ishee (1921-1982) designed and built a model home at Gulf Hills. From this very conventional beginning, Ishee would develop his own architectural style. One might say that an "Ishee House" is as obvious as a Van Gogh painting, even to an art novice.(The Gulf Coast Times, November 8, 1956, p. 1)

In February, the Mitchell Brothers commenced operations of a Shell Oil and Gas Station, which they had erected at the Inner Harbor.(The Ocean Springs News, February 2, 1957, p. 1)

St. Alphonsus Roman Catholic Church announced that it would build a new church and rectory to cost $175,000.(The Daily Herald, May 21, 1957, p. 1)

Foundation work on the Singing River Hospital at Pascagoula was underway in August.(The Ocean Springs News, August 8, 1957, p. 1) Mac Anderson’s mural, Singing River, which was sponsored by the American Legion was hung in the lobby in 1959

The Mayor’s salary was set at $100 per month and that of the Aldermen at $50 per month on October 1^st.(The Ocean Springs News, June 13, 1957, p. 1)

The Greyhounds with Bobby Beaugez, Curtis Lloyd, and Oliver Latil carrying the mail crushed Notre Dame at Biloxi to complete an undefeated gridiron season.(The Ocean Springs News, December 5, 1957, p. 1) The 1957 football squad was the first unvanquished eleven since the 1941 team.(The Ocean Springs News, January 16, 1958, p. 1)

In December, Clarence Galle (1912-1986) began demolishing the old Davis Brothers Store on Washington Avenue. Built in 1883, the large mercantile store was a fixture on Washington Avenue until it closed circa 1954. The M&M Supply Company was one of the last tenants of the structure.(The Ocean Springs News, December 5, 1957, p. 1)

Dr. Estelle T. Babendreer (1871-1958) expired.

In January, the Newsom Brothers were awarded a $17,000 contract to build the Shearwater Drive Bridge by the JXCO Board of Supervisors.(The Ocean Springs News, January 16, 1958, p. 1)

In February, the E.R. Moore Company completed a 5070 square-foot annex to the existing plant on Government Street.(The Ocean Springs News, February 6, 1958, p. 1)

In June 1958, J.P. Starks Contractors of Biloxi started construction on the 29,000 square-foot, Coca Cola Bottling Plant on US 90 at Cox Avenue. PFG Optics occupies the former soda bottling plant today.(The Ocean Springs News, June 5, 1958, p. 1)

A religious census of Ocean Springs was planned by the Ministerial association. Chairman, Rev. Robert Crumpton, and more than 100 volunteers planned to complete the survey.(The Ocean Springs News, January 8, 1959, p. 1)

Katherine Crane Powers (1891-1961) donated a 1.84 acre tract on the northeast corner of Washington and Calhoun, once the site of the Shanahan Hotel, to the City to be used as a playground for children.

The East Elementary School (now Oak Park Elementary) on Government Street was dedicated on August 22, 1959. The new school cost approximately $175,000. William Allen II, architect, and L.A. Easterling, general contractor.(The Ocean Springs News, February 12, 1959, p. 1 and August 20, 1959, p. 1)

The $160,000 addition to the Elizabeth H. Keys School was dedicated in late August. It consisted of two new classrooms, a homemaking department, and a combination auditorium-gymnasium-industrial arts workshop. Professor W.L. Herd was principal.(The Ocean Springs News, August 20, 1959, p. 5)

Perkinston Junior College planned in September to open an educational center in the O’Keefe-Dale Home on Porter Avenue. It housed Trilby’s Restaurant in May.(The Ocean Springs News, May 27, 1959, p. 1)

Much of this decade involved a guerilla war in a former, French colony, Vietnam, situated in southeastern Asia. It would consume our national energy and cost over 50,000 American servicemen their precious lives before our involvement ceased in the early 1970s. Civil Rights were also a national issue and public school integration in the South began. In 1964, an English export, the Beatles, brought America and the rest of the planet a look and sound that would influence pop culture for decades. After a sluggish start vis-a-vis the Russian space program, NASA made rapid progress and put men on the lunar surface in July 1969. At this time and later, the Ferson Optical Company of Ocean Springs was an integral part of America’s space program providing optical accouterments for satellites and tracking devices. The assassination of JFK (1917-1963), MLK Jr. (1929-1968), and RFK (1926-1968) darkened a decade sometimes remembered for Woodstock and free love.

Economic development in eastern Jackson County continued unabated as ground was broken for a $125 million dollar petroleum refinery on Bayou Cassotte in November 1961. A $2 million dollar grain elevator at the Port of Pascagoula was also completed in the Fall of 1961. Ingalls Shipbuilding at Pascagoula began building attack, nuclear submarines for the US Navy in the early 1960s. Ground breaking for a $130 million dollar "shipyard of the future" took place at the Ingalls facility in January 1968. "Mr. Jackson County", A.P. "Fred" Moran (1897-1967), the man responsible for much of this economic progress expired in October 1967.

At Ocean Springs, new sanctuaries were erected by the congregations of the Roman Catholic, Methodist, Lutheran, and Baptist faiths. Education also went well as Ocean Springs got a new high school plant in 1965, and the Jackson County Junior College opened at Gautier in December 1965. Local architect, W.R. Allen Jr. (1911-1982), designed both facilities. A new hospital and elementary school were also erected at Ocean Spring during this interval. Coach Hugh L. Pepper’s Greyhound gridsters had undefeated seasons in 1963-1964, and went 10-1 in 1965. The public schools were quietly integrated in 1968. In August 1969, Camille literally blew away many of our historical homes, precious trees, other treasures as the decade ended on a sour note for her victims.

In January, construction commenced on the $77,000 Nationaal Guard Armory on Pine Drive.(The Ocean Springs News, January 21, 1960, p. 1)

Music teacher, Tempy S. Smith (1890-1960), daughter of A.B. Stuart, died at New York City on November 3rd.

Bob Mohler opened a Spud-Nut. Later became Tato-Nut.

A Jitney Jungle food store opened on March 29^th, by Carl Griffin of Moss Point. Griffin had operated a Jitney Jungle at Moss Point since 1947. Ocean Springs market will be his second.(The Ocean Springs News, February 19, 1959, p. 1)

A Red & White food store opened on May 18^th.

The new St. Alphonsus Roman Catholic Church and rectory were dedicated on September 26^th. Built by Contractor Ralph J. Marion from a Jules K. DeLavergne (NOLA) design for $250,000. The 1874 church was used as a parish hall until July 1971, when it was demolished. C’est dommage.

Recently completed four-lanes of US 90 between Ocean Springs and Gautier were opened to the public on October 26^th.

The Ferson Optical Company secured a contract with NASA for lenses and components for four telescopes to be placed in a satellite. Employment was expected to increase from seventy to over one-hundred.(The Ocean Springs News, March 1, 1962, p. 1)

The R.W. Schluter scholarship grants to graduating seniors at OS High School commenced in May.(The Ocean Springs News, April 19, 1962, p. 1)

The citizens of Ocean Springs passed a $635,000 bond issue to construct a new public high school on Holcomb Boulevard.(The Ocean Springs News, may 31, 1962, p. 1)

The new $7 million dollar, four-lane, US 90 bridge linking Ocean Springs with Biloxi was dedicated on May 9^th. At the time, it was the longest span designed and erected by Miss. Highway Dept. engineers. George L. Lemon, a native of Ocean Springs, was the bridge engineer for the project.(The Ocean Springs News, May 3, 1962, p. 2)

Blossman Gas Inc. acquired the old A.C. Gottsche store in November.

The new sanctuary of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church was dedicated on January 13^th. The Reverend J.H. Dilliard was pastor at the time.(The Ocean Springs News, January 17, 1962, p. 1)

Two grand dames of Ocean Springs, Iola Y.F. Davidson (1883-1963) and Miss Annie O. Eglin (1881-1963) expired in March.

The Reverend Richard O. Dahlke came to Ocean Springs in June to establish a Lutheran congregation.(The Ocean Springs News, June 13, 1963, p. 1)

In August, Johnny Pott of Gulf Hills won $9,000 and the American Golf Classic at the Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio while vanquishing links legends: Arnold Palmer, Julius Boros, Bob Charles, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player.(The Ocean Springs News, August 9, 1963, p. 1)

In October, the Mississippi Power Company moved into a modern brick structure at 705 Washington Avenue. The building was built and owned by the Ocean Springs Lumber Company.(The Ocean Springs News, October 24, 1963, p. 1)

Captain Ellis Handy (1891-1963) expired in November. Handy fought in France with the Canadian Army in WWI. A businessman at Ocean Springs, he also in 1949-1950, wrote a column, "Know Your Neighbor", for The Gulf Coast Times. This series is a very valuable preservation of our local chronology.

Annette McConnell Anderson (1867-1964), founder of Fairhaven, the precursor to the Shearwater Pottery, passed on January 25^th.

The Gulf Park Estates airport proposed to erect a new 25-plane hangar.(The Ocean Springs News, February 27, 1964, p. 1)

In June, the Winn-Dixie Store in the Spring Plaza Shopping Center opened for business.(The Ocean Springs News, July 2, 1964, p. 1)

The Treasure Oaks Country Club was founded in August on a portion of the Gus Nelson estate. Dr. R.F. Carter was the first president.(The Ocean Springs News, August 20, 1964, p. 3)

On September 22^nd, the Eglin House on Washington Avenue was consumed by fire. The elegant old tourist home had housed and boarded visitors, schoolteachers, and others for many decades. James E. Farley (1880-1964) was killed in the conflagration. The Villa Maria is situated on a portion of the former Eglin House site.(The Daily Herald, September 22, 1964, p. 1 and p. 23)

In October, voters defeated a $1.25 million bond issue to extend sewer service.(The Ocean Springs News, October 29, 1964, p. 1)

On November 13^th, the Ocean Springs Greyhounds played their last football contest at Freedom Field as the squad moved to a new field on Hanley Road in the fall of 1965. They defeated Notre Dame (Biloxi) 24-6 here on September 3^rd, 1965.(The Ocean Springs News, September 9, 1965, p. 1)

The Reverend Francis Deignan (1901-1965), a native of Offaly County, Ireland and pastor of St. Alphonsus Roman Catholic Church since 1944, passed on February 20^th .(The Ocean Springs News, February 25, 1965, p. 1)

In April, Ferson Optical completed a 12,000 square-foot addition to the optical manufacturing facility, which almost doubled the size of the plant.(The Ocean Springs News, April 8, 1965, p. 1)

In April the Mississippi Public Service Commission accepted the L&N Railroad’s request to close their Ocean Springs depot.(The Ocean Springs News, April 15, 1965, p. 1)

In May, J.K. Lemon (1914-1998) commenced remodeling of his building on Washington Avenue. Claude Lindsley was the architect and Joseph Collins of Biloxi, the contractor.(The Ocean Springs News, May 13, 1965, p. 3)

The airport east of Ocean Springs dedicated in June.(The Ocean Springs News, June 24, 1965, p. 1 and July 1, 1965, p. 2)

A Desegregation Plan for the Ocean Springs Public School System was presented.(The Ocean Springs News, August 12, 1965, p. 3)

The new Ocean Springs High School on Holcombe Boulevard was opened to the general public on August 22, 1965. Dedication took place in November 1965.(The Ocean Springs News, August 19, 1965, p. 1 and November 24, 1965, p. 1)

In early September, Hurricane Betsy struck NOLA with full fury.

The Jackson County Junior College at Gautier and the Jefferson Davis J.C. at Biloxi were dedicated by Governor Paul B. Johnson on October 22, 1965.(The Ocean Springs News, October 28, 1965, p. 1)

Walter I. "Bob" Anderson (1903-1965), decorator and watercolorist, resident of Shearwater Pottery and Horn Island, expired on November 30^th at NOLA.(The Ocean Springs News, December 9, 1965, p. 3)

The first Civil Defense emergency operations center in the State was dedicated on December 2^nd. The new building located on Dewey Avenue cost $50,000 and designed by H.F. Fountain. Glenn Young was and is still the city civil defense director.(The Ocean Springs News, December 2, 1965, p. 1)

The new US Post Office on Desoto and Jackson was dedicated on June 19^th. Orwin Scharr was the postmaster.(The Ocean Springs Record, June 23, 1966, p. 1)

In December, a contract for construction of the first hospital at Ocean Springs was made with the Fletcher Construction Company.

The new medical clinic of Dr. Richard T, Furr opened at 1800 Government Street on January 15th.(The Ocean Springs News, January 5, 1967)

By mid-March, The Church of Christ on Washington Avenue valued at $100,000, but was built by parishioners for half that amount, was almost finished.(The Ocean Springs Record, March 16, 1967, p. 10)

Barber shop and beauty salon of Roy Baxter opened at 2201 Government Street and called "Los Salones de Espana".(The Ocean Springs Record, March 16, 1967, p. 12)

The Dr. Clifton L. Beckman (1933-1984) opened his new dental clinic on the southwest corner of Washington and Porter in April.(The Ocean Springs Record,

Blossman Gas planned a Desoto Avenue addition to their corporate complex.(The Ocean Springs Record, August 10, 1967, p. 10)

On August 6^th, inaugural church services were held in the new Christus Victor Lutheran sanctuary by the Reverend B.F. Rutrough. Slaughter & Smith designed the $61,000 edifice.(The Ocean Springs Record, August 10, 1967, p. 9)

The Pecan Park Elementary School opened in September,(The Ocean Springs Record, September 14, 1967, p. 3)

A.P. "Fred" Moran (1897-1967), "Mr. Jackson County", died on October 19, 1967. Mr. Moran was a member of the JXCO Board of Supervisors for thirty-eight years.(The Ocean Springs Record, October 25, 1967, p. 1)

Broome’s Foodland.(The OSR, April 19, 1967, p. 10)

The first hospital in Ocean Springs was dedicated on April 11th. H.F. Fountain was the architect.(The Ocean Springs Record, April 4, 1968, p. 1)

Aviatrixes Janet Ferson Green and Janis Hobbs captured second prize in the Angel Derby race from Nicaragua to Florida.(The Ocean Springs Record, May 2, 1968, p. 1)

Inner harbor(see OSR, 8-1-1968, p. 1)

In October, local artisan, Harry D. Reek (1920-1982), spoke at the dedication of his "Sam Dale Monument" at Dalesville, Lauderdale, County, Mississippi.(The Ocean Springs Record, October 17, 1968, p. 1)

The Ocean Springs Yacht Club, conceived by Dr. R.T. Furr, was organized in November in the home of Bache Whitlock on Hellmer’s Lane. Founding members were: W.R. Allen Jr., Bruce Duckett, Dr. Furr, Janet F. Green, Russell Moran, and Bache Whitlock. The local sailors were also accepted into the North American Yacht Racing Union the same month.

The First National Bank of Ocean Springs opened for business on November 25th. The $104,500 building was erected by J.O. Collins from a Claude Lindsley design. Hancock Bank occupies this edifice today.(The Ocean Springs Record, November 14, 1968, p. 3)

Cedar Oaks Apartments on the southwest corner of Porter and Washington Aveue were under construction by Jim-Ray Builders.(The Ocean Springs Record, January 30, 1969, p. 3)

In April, Fred B. Ferson (1899-1969), founder of the Ferson Optical Company expired.(The Ocean Springs Record, May 1, 1969, p. 1)

Donald L. "Pat" Conner (1912-1982) became our first full time mayor.

The new $250,000 sanctuary of the First Baptist Church of Ocean Springs was dedicated on May 11^th.

Professor W. Lamar Herd left the E.H. Keys school to become principal at Addison High School in Port Gibson.(The Ocean Springs Record, June 5, 1969, p.1)

The Blossman Printing Company was formally opened in June.(The Ocean Springs records, June 26, 1969, p. 3)

The First Federal Savings & Loan at 819 Desoto Avenue opened on August 16, 1969.(The Ocean Springs Record, August 14, 1969, p. 1)

On August 17^th, a tropical cyclone named "Camille" made an overnight visit to the Mississippi Gulf Coast, which will never be forgotten by those who weathered her banshee winds and tidal surge.

The golf course at St. Andrews opened on November 11, 1969 with Bobby Burch as club professional.(The Ocean Springs Record, November 13, 1969)

The Bernard Beaugez fire station at Government Street was dedicated on December 7, 1969.(The Ocean Springs Record, December 11, 1969, p. 1)

NEXT 1970 - 1979