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

 

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

The 1970s were dynamic times. The war in Vietnam ended for America in 1973, but the Arab oil embargo and subsequent energy crisis saw a dramatic increase in petroleum prices. It demonstrated our energy vulnerability to an international oil cartel, OPEC. Watergate and President Nixon’s duplicity led to his resignation in 1974. The nation’s Bicentennial Celebration (1776-1976) was certainly one of the top events of the decade with the Dow-Jones closing over 1000 for the first time.

Locally, Ingalls Shipbuilding was awarded a Navy contract to build the DD-936, Spruance Class destroyer. They launched the first LHA, Tarawa, in November 1973. In 1976, The Sand Hill Crane Refuge was created in western Jackson County.

In 1971, Ocean Springs got its first movie house, The Springs Cinema, since the Illing Theatre closed in the 1950s. In 1976, the Downtown Revitalization and Preservation Committee was formed, and the Historic Preservation Commission commenced functioning in 1979.

In 1973, Connie Moran and Karen Williams advanced to the national finals in talent and beauty contests after winning the State titles of Miss Teen Mississippi and Miss Pre-Teen Mississippi, respectively. Miss Williams was crowned Miss hemisphere at Asbury Park, New Jersey.

On the sporting scene in the late 1970s, young tennis players, Tommy and Steve Carter, Danny, David, and Kim Olesen, Laurie White, and Lance St. Amant, under the tutelage of Treasure Oaks club professional, Jim Cantrelle, began to make waves in State and regional competitions.

In February, David McFalls (1912-1974) sold The Ocean Springs Record to JacFase Publishing, owned by Dr. Dewey Lane, Dr. Paul Moore, and Wayne Weidie.(The Ocean Springs Record, February 12, 1970, p. 1)

In June, Ingalls won a $2.1 billion dollar contract to build thirty US Navy warships, particularly the Spruance Class, DD-963.(The Ocean Springs Record, June 25, 1970, p. 1)

The garage of the Emergency Operations Center was converted to an air-conditioned six-cell jailhouse.

The City approved plans for the Mochella Apartment complex on Holcomb Boulevard near the High School.(The Ocean Springs Record, July 2, 1970)

The Magnolia Park Elementary school had a ten-class room addition.(The Ocean Springs Record, July 9, 1970, p. 1)

In August, the Chamber of Commerce had a city slogan contest. Harvey D. Speight won with "City of Discovery".(The Ocean Springs Record, August 13, 1970, p. 2)

The Ocean Springs Yacht Club clubhouse on Inner Harbor burned while under construction.(The Ocean Springs Record, September 10, 1970, p. 1)

Open house for the new convent at Jackson Avenue for the Marianite Sisters of the Sacred Heart was held on October 25^th.(The Ocean Springs Record, October 22, 1970, p. 1)

On December 5th, voters rejected a $1.5 million dollar school bond issue. Had it passed, the 1927 Ocean Springs Public School would have been demolished.(The Ocean Springs Record, December 10, 1970, p. 1)

Vernon Reinike’s monument to Iberville (1671-1706) was dedicated at Marshall Park in mid-December.(The Ocean Springs Record, December 17, 1970, p. 1)

In January, Blossman Gas demolished the old Claude Engbarth auto garage on Washington Avenue, to build a flower shop.(The Ocean Spring Record, January 7, 1971, p. 1)

Radio station WSOM began broadcasting on February 12^th. Charles M. Cooper and Margaret Cooper of Gulfport were the owner.(The Ocean Springs Record, December 17, 1970, p. 1 and February 18, 1971, p. 2)

In mid-February, Mr. and Mrs. Donald Munro broke ground for Deedy’s strip shopping center on Thorn Avenue. Robert Cossey of Vancleave was the project architect.(The Ocean Springs Record, February 18, 1971, p. 1)

The 1699 Historical Committee received its State charter in March. Betty B. Milsted was president.(The Ocean Springs News, March 11, 1971, p. 1)

Dr. Frank O. Schmidt (1902-1975) retired in March. He began practicing medicine with Dr. O.L. Bailey in 1934.(The Ocean Springs Record, April 1, 1971, p. 1)

N.E. Taconi (1910-1971), Superintendent of Public Schools, expired on March 9^th.(The Ocean Springs Record, March 11, 1971, p. 1) Allan T. Curry, who came to Ocean Springs as Junior High principal in 1962, succeeded Mr. Taconi in April.(The Ocean Springs Record, April 22, 1971, p. 1)

In April, the $1.5 million dollar school bond issue failed again.(The Ocean Springs Record, April 15, 1971, p. 1)

The Springs Cinema, Ocean Springs first movie house since the Illing Theatre closed in the 1950s, was planned by Calvin Grosscup. Slaughter & Smith were architects for the structure.(The Ocean Springs Record, July 10, 1971, p.1)

Mayon Johnson was installed as Postmaster in June.(The Ocean Springs Record, July1, 1971, p. 1)

The Ocean Springs Nursing Center, a 19,000 square-foot facility, developed by George Sliman on the Ocean Springs-Vancleave Road was scheduled to open in January 1972.(The Ocean Springs Record, August 26, 1971, p. 8)

The Villa Maria was completed in September.

On Christmas Day, the Gulf Hills Dude Ranch main building burned to the ground.(The Ocean Springs Record, December 30, 1971, p. 1)

The Springs Cinema on Bienville Boulevard opened early 1972.(The Ocean Springs Record, January 6, 1972, p. 3)

The Banker’s Trust Building on Bienville was completed in 1972.(The Ocean Springs Record, January 6, 1972, p. 3)

In March, the Societe des Arbres was formed to protect and catalog trees.(The Ocean Springs Record, March 16, 1972, p. 1)

In late April, the Secretary of the Interior, Mr. Norton, dedicated GINS.(The Ocean Springs Record, April 27, 1972, p. 1)

The Fort Bayou Apartments were under construction.(The Ocean Springs Record, May 18, 1972, p. 1)

On May 28^th, the Ocean Springs Nursing Center on the OS-Vancleave Road opened for business. George Sliman was the developer.(The Ocean Springs Record, May 25, 1972, p. 1)

Aldermen adopt a zoning ordinance for the City of Ocean Springs.(The Ocean Springs Record, July 27, 1972, p. 1)

Moschella Enterprises proposed a 77-unit condominium, Gulf Oaks, on Front Beach Drive.(The Ocean Springs Record, July 20, 1972, p. 1)

In July 1972, WOSM began broadcasting from its new building on Brown Road, east of Ms. Highway No. 57.(The Ocean Springs Record, July 27, 1972)

In August, Fletcher Construction Company was awarded a $1 million dollar contract for an addition to the Ocean Springs Hospital.(The Ocean Springs record, August 10, 1972, p. 1)

J.O. Collins construction of Biloxi awarded $144,223 contract to erect library on Dewey Avenue.(The Ocean Springs Record, August 10, 1972, p. 2)

Bayou Chateau Apartments on Bienville Boulevard announced that completion expected by June 1973.(The Ocean Springs Record, September 28, 1972)

Bank of Mississippi commenced construction in September.(The Ocean Springs Record, September 21, 1972, p. 1)

In late September, Dr. Broussard’s Ocean Springs Health & Spa Club opened on Bienville Boulevard (now part of YMCA).(The Ocean Springs Record, September 28, 1972, p. 7)

In October, the Ocean Springs Arts Association commenced its Fall Art Show, which continues to the present.

Trent Lott was elected to Congress for the first time in November replacing William Colmer.

The $1.5 million dollar school bond issue passed on December 12th.

Former Mayor, Charles E. Schmidt (1904-1988), published "Ocean Springs French Beachhead", an excellent chronology of the city from 1699 to WW II.

The aldermen reduced the Mayor’s salary to $250 per month.(The Ocean Springs News, January 18, 1973, p. 1)

E.W. Blossman and the 1^st Ocean Springs Development Corp. were building on Government Street, the Marmin Studio (now the YMCA), the finest swim facility in the State.(The Ocean Springs Record, February 1, 1973, p. 1)

In March, the Gulf Coast Research Lab’s educational facility building was dedicated to Dr. Richard L. Caylor. Dr. Gordon Gunter (1909-1998), the third director of the lab, was recognized by having the main library, situated on the ground floor of the Caylor Building, named for him.(The Ocean Springs Record, March 15, 1973, p. 1)

The new Ocean Springs Library on Dewey Avenue was dedicated on June 24^th. It was built by J.O. Collins from a W.R. Allen Jr. design.(The Ocean Springs Record, June 21, 1973, p. 1)

In July, archaeologists from the MDAH began a detailed search for the site of Fort Maurepas (1699-1702) on the Fort Point peninsula (Lovers Lane). The six-month survey investigated the Connor, Palfrey Estate, Callan, and at least one other tract on "the Lane".(The Ocean Springs Record, July 19, 1973, p. 1 and December 6, 1973,p. 1)

In November, Ferson Optics planned a $4.1 million dollar, 56,000 square-foot addition to their existing facility on Government Street. The work force was expected to increase to four hundred-fifty people.(The Ocean Springs Record, November 22, 1973, p. 1)

On January 19th, the Gulf Oaks Condominiums on Front Beach opened for public sale. Units ranged in area from 1700 to 2000 square-feet in area and priceed from $43,000 to $60,000.(The Ocean Springs Record, January 23, 1974, p. 6)

In April, the 275^th Celebration of the Landing of Iberville was held. Orey A. Young (1892-1986) portrayed French Canadian hero, Pierre Lemoyne, Sieur d’ Iberville (1671-1706), in the local pageant.(The Ocean Springs News, April 11, 1974, p. 3)

In December, the Ocean Springs Junior High School erected on Government Street by W.F. Mosley from a design by Pascagoula architects, Slaughter & Smith, was opened for classroom work.(The Ocean Springs News, December 2, 1974, p. 1)

Former Greyhound coach, Clay Boyd (1911-1974), expired in mid-December. (The Ocean Springs Record, December 12, 1974, p. 2)

On December 31^st, Chancellor L.C. Corban (1901-1989) retired after fifty years in the legal profession. Sixteen of those years were on the chancery and circuit court benches.(The Ocean Springs News, December 19, 1974, p. 2)

The Friends of Walter Anderson, Inc. had their inaugural meeting in the Ocean Springs Community House on February 15^th. Stewart J. Gilchrist of Laurel was elected president of the organization.(The Ocean Springs Record, February 13, 1975, p. 1)

Pianist Gigi Reeks was selected as guest artist to the NOLA Symphony during its 1975-1976 season.(The Ocean Springs Record, April 3, 1975, p. 3)

Former Mayor and businessman, J.C. "Champ" Gay (1909-1975) expired in mid- July .(The Ocean Springs Record, July 24, 1975, p. 1)

Alpha Optical Systems was organized by John Fahnestock.(The Ocean Springs Record, September 1, 1983, p. 11)

The Davis Bayou Unit of GINS opened.

Hap Glaudi, sportscaster for WWL Channel 4 of NOLA, had lunch at the Lagniappe and predicted that if legalized gambling came to the Mississippi Gulf Coast, in ten years it would be as prominent as Las Vegas.(The Ocean Springs Record, January 22, 1976, p. 10)

Long time educator, Elizabeth H. Keys (1892-1976), expired on February 2^nd.

In February, Governor Finch spoke at the dedication of Peter Toth’s Indian Monument (the Indian Head) on US 90. It was Toth’s seventeenth memorial to the American Indian. He planned one for every State. Lum Cumbest donated a ten-ton, cypress log for the project.(The Ocean Springs Record, February 5, 1976, p. 1, February 19, 1976, p. 1 and February 19, 1976, p. 8) In February 1978, Toth (b. 1949) was working on memorial number twenty-six, at Desert Hot Springs, California.(The Daily Herald, February 10, 1978, p. B-1)

OS Yacht Club agreed to sell property to the State for Fort Maurepas replica.(The Ocean Springs Record, February 19, 1976, p. 1)

Mamie Coles Hanshaw (1910-1976), author, artist, musician, and poet expired on May 21, 1976.(The Ocean Springs Record, May 27, 1976, p. 3)

A McDonald’s and a Sonic Drive Inn, both on US 90, opened in June.(The Ocean Springs Record, June 3, 1976, p. 12 and July 1, 1976, p. 5)

The Gulf Coast YMCA received its charter at Black Mountain, North Carolina.(The Ocean Springs Record, July 1, 1976, p. 1)

On July 31^st, the Jaycees buried two time capsules at City Hall. One is to be opened in 2026 and the other in 2076.(The Ocean Springs record, July 22, 1976, p. 1)

In January, the Board of Aldermen proposed a $400,000 Community Center on Hanley Road which was rejected by voters in March.(The Ocean Springs News, January 20, 1977, p. 1 and March 10, 1977, p. 10)

Don Green was named president of PFG Precision Optics, a local subsidiary of Precision Optics of Pennsburg, Pennsylvania, which initiated operations here in 1977.(The Ocean Springs Record, June 30, 1977, p. 3)

An interim visitors contact station opened at GINS in July.(The Ocean Springs News, July 21, 1977,p. 1)

In July, a pistol range for the police department was completed on Hanshaw and Old Spanish Trail. The Middle School would be erected here in 1995.(The Ocean Springs Record, July 28, 1977, p. 1)

In August, Neirynck Construction Company drove pilings for the new OSYC at the foot of the OS-Biloxi bridge.

In September, the Enrichment Program commenced at the four, public elementary school plants.(The Ocean Springs News, September 29, 1977, p. 1)

Popeye’s Famouse Fried Chicken opened on Bienville Boulevard on September 2, 1977.

"The Islander", a Mississippi ETV documentary on the life of Bob Anderson (1903-1965), was broadcast on September 26^th. In June 1978, it won an award from the Southern Educational Communications Association for the Most Creative Production. This recognition followed kudos from the Virgin Islands International Film Festival; International Film & Television Festival of New York; and the Gabriel Awards.(The Ocean Springs Record, September 22, 1977, p. 1, and June 22, 1978, p. 2)

Wilda F. Mayfield was recognized by the congregation of the Macedonia Baptist Church for her thirty-eight years of secretarial service.(The Ocean Springs Record, December 15, 1977, p. 13)

The new Ocean Springs Yacht Club on Front Beach was dedicated on December 12^th.(The Ocean Springs Record, December 8, 1977, p. 4)

The EPA warned the city that its wastewater treatment plant had deficiencies to be corrected and that it was understaffed.(The Ocean Springs Record, February 2, 1978, p. 1)

Robert Mohler renovated his Tato-Nut which had been in business since 1960.(The Ocean Springs Record, March 16, 1978, p. 1)

A convenience store was approved by the Board of Aldermen on Porter near Front Beach.(The Ocean Springs Record, June 15, 1978, p. 1)

In August, The Ocean Springs Record office on Cox Avenue was renovated and a new structure added behind the existing building.(The Ocean Springs record, August 10, 1978, p. 1)

The Twin Oaks at Gulf Hills, believed to be over 500 years old and weighing 20 tons, fell.(The Ocean Springs Record, January 18, 1979, p. 20)

Wendy’s opened on January 29, 1979.(The Ocean Springs Record, February 2, 1979, p. 2)

The Mississippi Jaycees named John Blossman one of the three most outstanding men in the State.(The Ocean Springs Record, February 22, 1979, p.1)

The Ocean Springs Historic Preservation Commission was formed in March.(The Ocean Springs Record, March 8, 1979, p. 1)

50 private rooms at the Ocean Springs Hospital were added in June for a cost of $6 million dollars.(The Ocean Springs Record, June 7, 1979, p. 1)

In June, the Chamber of Commerce acquired the L&N Depot.

The JXCO Board of Supervisors voted to lease property on Washington Avenue to the Friends of Walter Anderson, Inc.(The Ocean Springs Record, September 6, 1979, p. 1)

Hurricane Frederic hit on September 12^th. The eye passed over Pascagoula. Glenn Young, OS Civil Defense Director, believed that the damage from this tempest, was more severe than previous storms to strike the city.

Gay-Lemon Park was under construction in September.(The Ocean Springs Record, September 13, 1979, p. 10)

The first annual Fine Arts Festival was held in early November.(The Ocean Springs Record, October 25, 1979, p. 1) In 1985, it became the Peter Anderson Festival. Original director, Margaret H. Anderson , continues in this capacity today.

Regina B. Hines, published, "Ocean Springs, 1892".

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