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1900
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1950
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1970 -
1979
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1980 -
1999
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2000 - PRESENT
2000
Super Wal-Mart opened on US 90.
Southern Traditions, an upscale
restaurant opened on Washington Avenue.
In March, Gilda Marie Seymour was named
Mrs. Mississippi.(The Ocean
Springs Record-Independent, March 16, 2000, p. 1)
2001
Ocean Springs is introduced to the world
via the Internet. During the month of April
OceanSprings-MS.com goes live on the World Wide Web starting off
with a hand full of pages and visitors then quickly growing to over
80 pages and an excess of One Million Pages Viewed.
The O’Keefe Foundation’s New Hope Center
on Government Street was named as "The Facility of the Year" by the
Mississippi Recreation and Parks Association. This organization
works within the local school and community recreation programs to
ensure the full inclusion of individuals with disabilities and to
promote disability awareness.(The
Ocean Springs Record, January 25, 2001, p. 6)
E.R. Moore Company, now American
Identity, plans to close at the end of the year.(still open in
2004!)
The Manhattan Grill and Steakhouse
opened on Washington Avenue.
Big year for the medical industry of Ocean
Springs as medical offices for Dr. Zayed, cardiologist and Dr.
Franklin Rawls, Gulf Coast Eye Center, under construction on US 90,
Carl Germany, AIA. Also new Endoscopy Center Building west of the
original structure for Dr. McNair and the Ocean Springs Hospital
Endoscopy and outpatient surgery clinic east of hospital near
walking tract..
US 90-Bienville Blvd. lane widening project
between M.L. King-Vermont to Washington Avenue commenced in the
spring.
Municipal elections held in June. Seren
Ainsworth wins mayoral race in a landslide.
Cingular Wireless
comes to town. Will utilize old Wal-Mart building on Bienville
Boulevard and hire 500-700 people. Building remodeled in May-July.
June-July: Brad Lemon continues remodeling
of the Lemon Building on Washington Avenue with Paul Campbell,
contractor.
New Ocean Springs Public School District
building commenced construction on Government Street and Holcombe
Boulevard in July 2001.
Dr. William Lobrano
began building a large domicile on Lovers Lane.
In August, Salvetti Brothers moved from
Washington Avenue to their new building on US 90 east of the Super
Wal-Mart. Carl Germany, AIA designed the structure and Danny
Jalanivich, was the general contractor. Opened for business on
August 22, 2001.(The Mississippi
Press, August 20, 2001, p. 1-A)
Construction started on the new Fisherman’s
Wharf Restaurant on Old Fort Bayou and Bienville Boulevard.
In October, Al Fresco restaurant opened on
Washington Avenue in the space vacated by Salvetti’s.
On November 11, 2001, ground was broken on
the East Campus of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church.(The
Mississippi Press, November 12, 2001, p. 6-A)
Margaret Virginia Seymour Norman
(1908-2001) expired on November 24, 2001.
New shopping center on the east side of the
Super Walmart commenced construction in December.
2002
Two fires in January. 322 Lovers Lane,
an Ishee cottage, burned on January 2, 2002, with damage estimated
at $45,000. Six units at The Ocean Pointe Apartments at Martin and
Front Beach were destroyed by fire on January 10, 2002.
"New" Fisherman’s Wharf opens on Bienvile
Boulevard in April.
In early May first "Trade Days" weekend
held on Washington Avenue. Featured antiques. Organized by Wilson of
The Very Thing, a local gift shop.
In May 2002, new McDonald’s construction on
Bienville Boulevard begins and opens for business in late July.(The
Ocean Springs Record, August 1, 2002, p. A-3)
First Renaissance Fair held by St. John’s
Episcopal Church in Marshall Park in May or June.
In July, Fletcher Construction commences
work on the $1.7 million, Mary C. O’Keefe Cultural Center
renovation-addition. Official ground breaking, August 6th,
2002, Senators Lott and Cochran in attendance.(The
Ocean Springs Record, August 8, 2002, p. 1)
McDonald’s on Bienville torn down to build
a new one further west.
Former US Postmaster and School Board
member, Orwin J. Scharr (1914-2002), expired on August 7,
2002.(The Sun Herald, August 8,
2002, p. A-6)
In September, Deeded Baxter Munro, widow of
Donald Munro, commences first new home construction on Front Beach
in several decades. Replaced the John Cook home at 212? Front Beach
Drive. Carl Germany, architect, and Dan Resch, contractor.
Tropical Storm Isidore struck east of New
Orleans and unleashed heavy rain and beach erosion at Ocean Springs
on September 25, 2002.
In September, construction began on
Robinson Street for a new restaurant. Bay View Gourmet of Mary
Ratliff will relocate here from Government Street. Restaurant
created from the old house situated at Robinson.
2003
An Indian Motorcycle Company dealership
opened on Bienville Boulevard.(The
Ocean Springs Record, December 26, 2002, p. 1)
Bay View Gourmet opened on
On May 11th, St. Paul’s United
Methodist Church has first services in new Family Living Center on
US 90. Old sanctuary on Porter continues for parishioners who want
to remain.(The Ocean Springs Record,
May 15, 2003, p. A-1)
New upscale condominium developments on
Old Fort Bayou, Camilla Pointe of Dr. Bahrat Sagani
and Walter "Buzzy" Bolton’s Iberville Landing, in
planning stages.(The Ocean Springs
Record, May 15, 2003, p. A-1)
On June 15th, the new
facility of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church on US 90 near Ms
Highway 57 was dedicated.(The Ocean
Springs Record, June 19, 2003, p. )
In July, Chile Poblano, a southwestern
food restaurant opened on Government Street in the Furr Building
formerly occupied by Bay View Gourmet.
In August, McElroy’s Harbor House of
Biloxi took over the operation of The Fisherman’s Wharf in Ocean
Springs on Bienville Boulevard.
M.C. O’Keefe Center for Art and Education
formally opened on September 5, 2003.
New restaurant, "Dinner is served", opened
on Government Street in September 2003.
The Homunculus,
a locally filmed and produced silent movie, starring local potter,
Shane Sekul, was shown at the M.C. O’Keefe Center on September 19,
2003.
In September, an outdoor patio was built
for Al Fresco restaurant on Washington Avenue. Designed by H.H. Furr,
AIA.
Shearwater Bridge
opened in October, after a two-year closure.
Bello Bakery building on Government,
refurbishment-construction began in November by Fred Moran.
Henry H. Furr
acquired the southeast corner of Washington and Government.
A small fire occurred on December 5th
on 12th floor of the Villa Maria injuring one tenant.(The
Ocean Springs Record, December 11, 2003, p. A1)
2004
In January, Burger Burger, a Biloxi
hamburger phenomena replicating the food of Abbey’s Little Diner of
the 1950-1960s, opened on Washington Avenue in the Moran building
formerly housing Southern Traditions, a failed restaurant.
In January, Jack Gottsche sold
"Germaine’s", his fine dining establishment, on Bienville
Boulevard to Wayne and Vikki McElhose. Name changed to Chandler’s
Fine Dining, the name of her father.(The
Ocean Springs Record, January 15, 2004, p. A1)
The Mississippi Sandhill Crane National
Wildlife Refuge was named as one of
the US globally important birding areas.(The
Ocean Springs Record, January 8, 2004, p. A1)
The Reverend Andrew Wells, First
Presbyterian Church of Ocean Springs, left for the Covenant
Presbyterian Church in Jackson.(The
Ocean Springs Record, January 22, 2004, p. A8)
The Ocean Springs Recreation Department
commenced construction of a new walking track at the Civic Center.
This 1/3 mile path will replace the one near the Ocean Springs
Hospital. The hospital donated $100,000 for its construction.(The
Ocean Springs Record, February 12, 2004, p. A1)
Percy T. Miller
(1931-2003), former hospital administrator, was honored in March
with the naming of a boat landing and park on Old Fort Bayou.(The
Ocean Springs Record, March 31, 2004, p. 3-A)
Fountain at the Mary C. O’Keefe Cultural
Center dedicated to Bob and Virginia Meyer on March 20, 2004.
Mr. Meyer is a philanthropist who gave $100,000 to HOSA, which funds
town improvements.(The Ocean Springs
Record, March 25, 2004, p. A1)
1st Baptist of Ocean Springs
demolished F.E. Schmidt Bakery shop on Washington Avenue on April 2,
2004.
Ocean Springs Hospital gets permission to expand to sixty beds.(The
Ocean Springs Record, August 12, 2004, p. A1) |
