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<div><strong><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">BILOXI BOATS</span></span></strong></div>

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<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:12px"><strong>Model Biloxi Catboat </strong>[Biloxi Maritime and Seafood Museum]</span></span></div>

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<div><strong>Model Biloxi Trawler&nbsp;</strong><span style="font-family:georgia,serif; font-size:12px">[Biloxi Maritime and Seafood Museum]</span></div>

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<div><strong>Model Biloxi Schooner&nbsp;</strong><span style="font-family:georgia,serif; font-size:12px">[Biloxi Maritime and Seafood Museum]</span></div>

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<div><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/inline/images/Biloxi%20rowing%20skiff.jpg" style="height:300px; width:400px" /></div>

<div><strong>Biloxi Rowing Skiff&nbsp;</strong><span style="font-family:georgia,serif; font-size:12px">[Biloxi Maritime and Seafood Museum]</span></div>

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<div><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/inline/images/Biloxi%20sailer%20%5Bsmall%5D.jpg" style="height:300px; width:225px" /></div>

<div><strong><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Biloxi Sailing Skiff&nbsp;</span></span></strong><span style="font-family:georgia,serif; font-size:12px">[Biloxi Maritime and Seafood Museum]</span></div>

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<div><strong><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">BILOXI SCHOONERS</span></span></strong></div>

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<div><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/inline/images/Biloxi%20Schooner-H.E.%20Gumbel.jpg" style="height:400px; width:485px" /></div>

<div><em><strong><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">H.E. Gumbel</span></span></strong></em></div>

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<div><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/inline/images/Biloxi%20schooner-Henry%20Clark.jpg" style="height:400px; width:455px" /></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong><em>Henry Clark</em></strong></span></span></div>

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<div><em><strong><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">August</span></span></strong></em></div>

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<div><u><span style="font-size:18px"><strong><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">BACK BAY SHIPYARDS</span></strong></span></u></div>

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<div><span style="font-size:20px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong><u>Biloxi Boat Timeline</u></strong></span></span></div>
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<div class="rtecenter"><strong><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">1855</span></span></strong></div>

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<div class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">[The Daily Picayune, February 20, 1855, p. 5]</span></span></div>

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<div class="rtecenter" id="cke_pastebin"><span style="font-size:12px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>1880</strong></span></span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">On Saturday, January 3rd, the <strong><em>Castelaro</em></strong>&nbsp;, a fine schooner was</span><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>&nbsp;launched at Point Caddie. &nbsp;It was built </strong></span><span style="font-size:14px">by Marsh Ridgeway for <strong>Messrs. Lopez &amp; Co., and is intended to be used in the oyster business.</strong> &nbsp;She is a fine craft, and the builder deserves credit for the workmanship manner in which the craft is built. &nbsp;Wine flowed freely and the launch will long be remembered. &nbsp;By May 1880, <em><strong>Castelaro</strong></em> was&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size:14px">employed in bringing oysters from outside and planting them on the bedding grounds of Lopez &amp; Dukate. &nbsp;These gentlemen intend to keep well supplied with oysters, and be ready to meet the demand when the trade opens again.</span><span style="font-size:14px">(The Pascagoula-Democrat-Star, "Biloxi Items", January 30, 1880, p. 3 and May 21, 1880, p. 3)</span></span></div>

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<div class="rtecenter"><span style="font-size:12px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>1890</strong></span></span></div>

<div class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">Captain John Boardman was running the&nbsp;<em><strong><u>Relief</u></strong></em>, a steamer, to Ship Island from Biloxi for daily excursionist.&nbsp; The steamer left Biloxi at 9:00 a.m.&nbsp; Visitors were given two hours to visit Fort Massachusetts and the Ship Island Lighthouse before returning to the mainland.&nbsp; A new Mathushek piano was on board the vessel for those who enjoyed music. &nbsp;The <u><strong><em>Relief</em></strong></u>&nbsp;could also be chartered to make trips to other points along the Coast at reasonable rates.<em>(The Biloxi Herald, June 28, 1890, p. 4 and July 19, 1890, p. 4)</em></span></span></div>

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<div class="rtecenter"><span style="font-size:12px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>1891</strong></span></span></div>

<div class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The old <u><em><strong>Keno</strong></em></u> has come back beating the <strong><u><em>Baucalache</em></u><em>&nbsp;</em></strong>and <strong><em><u>May H</u> </em></strong>this week. &nbsp;The <u><strong><em>Keno</em></strong></u> is a 16-foot, round-bottom, cat boat and is the fastest of her size on the Coast having won 51 races of 56 sailed.(The Biloxi Herald, June 20, 1891, p. 4)</span></span></div>

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<div class="rtecenter"><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/inline/images/Screen%20Shot%202020-09-24%20at%203.43.05%20PM_0.png" style="height:300px; width:514px" /></div>

<div class="rtecenter"><span style="font-size:12px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Casimer Harvey [Herve]&nbsp;built the Emma Harvey in 1891.[from Russell Barnes-September 2020]</span></span></div>

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<div class="rtecenter"><span style="font-size:12px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>1892</strong></span></span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>Captain Charles T. Tuero&nbsp;</strong>(1834-1909), the well-known boat builder, has just finished a beautiful cat-rigged boat which was launched yesterday on Back Bay. &nbsp;The <strong><em>Nina</em></strong> is the name of the new craft, which is 26 feet [at the] keel, 11 feet, 4 inches beam, with a draught of only 18 inches</span>. <span style="font-size:14px">The <strong><em>Nina</em></strong> was for sale in December 1895.</span><span style="font-size:14px">(The Biloxi Daily Herald, October 22,1892, p. 4 and December 4, 1895)</span></span></div>

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<div class="rtecenter"><span style="font-size:12px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>1894</strong></span></span></div>

<div class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">In May 1894, the new, 18-foot catboat, <u><strong><em>Rosina</em></strong></u>, built by Frank Taltavull (1851-1930) was for sale by Wallace Montross of the Montross Hotel.&nbsp; Asking price $65.(The Biloxi Herald, May 26, 1894, p. 8)</span></span></div>

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<div class="rtecenter"><strong><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">1895</span></span></strong></div>

<div class="rteleft"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">The schooner <strong><em>Queen of the Fleet</em></strong>, owned by Biloxians, was <strong>conveyed for $1100 to Mrs. L.J. Bidwell</strong> of Pass Christian. &nbsp;She plans to use the vessel as a cruiser.(The Biloxi Herald, August 24, 1895, p. 8)</span></span></div>

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<div class="rtecenter"><span style="font-size:12px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong><strong>1896</strong></strong></span></span></div>

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<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:12px">In early May, a sloop is launched and rigged at <strong>W.N. Johnson’s Shipyard</strong> in Biloxi and sailed to <strong>Southern Yacht Club</strong> as </span><strong><em>Joanne</em></strong><span style="font-size:12px">.(The Biloxi Herald, May 2, 1896, p. 8 and The Daily Picayune May 11, 1896)</span></span></p>
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<div class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>Frank Taltavull </strong><span style="font-size:14px">(1851-1930) well-known Back Bay ship buildrer </span><strong>has moved his plant to Deer Island</strong><span style="font-size:14px">.(The Biloxi Herald, August 22, 1896, p. 8)</span></span></div>

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<div class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>1897</strong></span></div>
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<p class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong><em>Nydia</em></strong>, a 30-foot, cabin sloop with a 9-foot beam and built by <strong>William Nels Johnson</strong> (1861-1914) of Biloxi, Mississippi was at the <strong>Southern Yacht Club in New Orleans and owned by John A. Rawlins</strong> (1867-1944).&nbsp; The vessel was built with oak frames and planked with 7/8 inch, choice cypress.(The Biloxi Herald, May 8, 1897, p. 5)</span></p>

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<p class="rteleft"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The <strong><em>Rowena</em></strong>, a stern wheel steamer, built for <strong>Lopez, Dunbar Sons' and Company</strong> and costing about $5000, was under <strong>construction by Frank Taltavull</strong>. &nbsp;The vessel was to be utilized as a steam dredge with the capacity for 150 barrels of oysters.[The Biloxi Herald, July 31, 1897, p. 8]</span></span></p>

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<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>1899</strong></span></p>

<div class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="background-color:rgb(253, 253, 253)">On 11 July, 1899, W. Nels&nbsp;Johnson launched <strong><em>Jean</em></strong> for Thomas Sully, New Orleans architect, at his Back Bay shipyard. The motor yacht had two masts and was 42-feet in length with an 8-foot beam.[The Biloxi Daily Herald, </span><span style="color:darkblue">July 13</span><span style="background-color:rgb(253, 253, 253)">, 1899, p. 8]</span></span></div>

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<div class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">The <strong><em>Lillie W</em></strong> was launched on September 2, 1899 at the <strong>Johnson Shipyard</strong> on Back Bay for James S. Wentzell (1857-1936).(The Biloxi Daily Herald, September 3, 1899, p. 8)</span></div>

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<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:12px"><strong>1900</strong></span></span></p>
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<div class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>Fabacher's</strong> yacht, <u><strong><em>Semper Idem</em></strong></u>, is here <strong>for the regatta</strong>.(The Biloxi Daily Herald, August 26, 1900, p. 14)</span></span></div>

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<div class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:12px"><strong>1901</strong></span></span></div>

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<p class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="background-color:rgb(241, 237, 224); font-size:12px"><span style="font-size:14px">Two<strong> Frank Taltavull</strong> (1851-1930) built vessels, the schooner,<strong><em>&nbsp;<u>A. Gerdes and Brother</u></em></strong>, and the steam tug,&nbsp;<u><strong><em>Julius Elbert</em></strong></u>, became involved on May 29, 1901.&nbsp; Captain Antoine V. Bellande (1829-1918) was in command of the schooner in the&nbsp;</span></span></span><span style="background-color:rgb(241, 237, 224); font-family:monospace,lucida console,trebuchet ms; font-size:12px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">Mississippi Sound</span></span></span><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="background-color:rgb(241, 237, 224); font-size:12px"><span style="font-size:14px">&nbsp;en route to Ocean Springs.&nbsp; The seven-man crew was below preparing for bed with a green sailor at the helm.&nbsp; The weather roughened and his inexperienced allowed the vessel to capsize.&nbsp; Captain Bellande and his crew were found by the&nbsp;<em><strong><u>Julius Elber</u>t</strong></em>&nbsp;clinging to their stricken ship.&nbsp; They were rescued and having lost all their possession to the sea.(The Biloxi Daily Herald, May 29, 1901)</span></span></span></p>

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<p class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The <strong>Taltavull shipyard on Back Bay launched a large schooner for Lopez &amp; Dukate </strong>on October 1st. Yet to be named, the vessel was 62 feet in length with an 18-foot beam. &nbsp;This was the second schooner built for them this year by Taltavull.(The Biloxi Daily Herald, October 1, 1901, p. 8)</span></span></p>

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<div class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:12px"><strong>1902&nbsp;</strong></span></span></div>

<div class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>Tony Copaitich </strong>of Biloxi drowned when his skiff capsized on the Pass Christian reef. &nbsp;He was working for the Dunbar Canning Company of Bay St. Louis from the <u><strong><em>Belle Casino</em></strong></u> with <strong>Captain Toney Bunicich</strong> at the helm.(The Biloxi Daily Herald, March 29, 1902, p. 4)</span></span></div>

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<div class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>1903</strong></span></span></div>

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<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">Joe Fountain's <strong><em>Viola Rose</em></strong> was launched at North Biloxi in early September.(The&nbsp;Biloxi Daily Herald, September 3, 1903, p. 6)</span></span></div>

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<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The <em><strong>Wilda L </strong></em>and <strong><em>Noretta L</em></strong> recently measured <strong>joined the fishing fleet of Lopez &amp; Dukate</strong>.(The Biloxi Daily Herald, September 14, 1903, p. 6)</span></span></div>

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<div class="rtecenter"><strong><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Julia L.</span></span></strong></div>

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<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>Biloxi's boat carpenters built 21 large vessels</strong>&nbsp;in 1903. &nbsp;Among them were: <strong><em>Julia L.</em></strong> for Lopez &amp; Dukate by W.N. Johnson; <em><strong>Henry</strong></em> for Martin Fountain Sr. by Martin Fountain Sr.; <strong><em>Cayuga </em></strong>for William Gorenflo by Louis Gorenflo; <strong><em>Mayflower</em></strong> for Martin Fountain by martin Fountain; <strong><em>Noretta L.</em></strong> for Lopez &amp; Dukate by W.N. Johnson; <strong><em>Wilda L.</em></strong> for Lopez &amp; Dukate by W.N. Johnon; <strong><em>Anna K. </em></strong>for Lopez &amp; Dukate by Lopez &amp; Dukate; <strong><em>Kangaroo</em></strong> for August A. Bellias Jr. by P.B. Hand; <em><strong>Cairo </strong></em>for E.C. Joullian by E.C. Joullian; <em><strong>Ollie Ford</strong></em> for Foster Brothers by Mike Frazer; <strong>Oxalis</strong> for E.C. Joullian by E.C. Joullian; <em><strong>Oneida</strong></em> for William Gorenflo by Louis Gorenflo; <strong><em>Louisiana</em></strong> for G.W. Dunbars Sons by W.N. Johnson;&nbsp;<strong><em>Intrepid</em></strong> for G,W. Dunbar Sons by W.N. Johnson; <em><strong>Edna D.</strong></em> for G.W. Dunbar Sons by W.N. Johnson;&nbsp;<strong><em>Clara L.</em></strong> for Arnaud Lopez by Frank Taltavull; <em><strong>E</strong></em><em><strong>lbert D</strong></em>. for W.K.M. Dukate by W.N. Johnson;<strong><em> Nemesis</em></strong> for Elder &amp; Bradford by W.N. Johnson; <strong><em>Viola Rose</em></strong> for Joseph Fountain by M.J. Caperal.(The Daily Herald, November 17, 1903, p. 6)</span></span></div>

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<div class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>1904</strong></span></span></div>

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<p><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/inline/images/Wyandotte%2C%20Casimir%20Harvey-1904.jpg" style="height:350px; width:649px" /></p>

<p><em><strong><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Wyandotte</span></span></strong></em></p>

<p>[probably moored at the W.F. Gorenflo factory on Back Bay at Main Street]</p>

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<p class="rtejustify"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Another <strong>Casimer Harvey</strong> [1845-1904] built schooner depicted in this vintage postcard was the <strong><em>Wyandotte</em></strong>.&nbsp;&nbsp;The&nbsp;<strong><em>Wyandotte</em></strong>&nbsp;was constructed in 1903-1904 for William F. Gorenflo [1844-1932], pioneer Biloxi seafood magnate and philanthropist.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Gorenflo factor</span></span><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">y was situated on Back Bay near Main Street. &nbsp;The vessel was&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">measured by Vincent&nbsp;J. Tucei, Deputy Collector of Customs,&nbsp;in late January 1904. &nbsp;</span><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Like the&nbsp;<strong><em>Emma Harvey</em></strong>, the&nbsp;<strong><em>Wyandotte</em></strong>, was a victim of the 1916 July Storm.&nbsp;&nbsp;She was capsized and beat to pieces in Back Bay while owned by O.D. Gunn.[The Biloxi Daily Herald, January 27, 1904, p. 6 and The Daily Herald, July 7, 1916, p. 7]</span></span></p>

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<p class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255); color:rgb(51, 51, 51)">The <strong><em>Indian Girl </em></strong></span><span style="background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255); color:rgb(51, 51, 51)">was&nbsp;</span>launched in July at Lazarus [North Biloxi] by the Trochesset Brothers<em>.(The Biloxi Daily Herald, July 19, 1904, p. 5)</em></span></span></p>

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<p class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The <em><strong>Tulip</strong></em> built by Mack Flechas for <strong>E.C. Joullian was measured</strong> at Biloxi in October.(The Biloxi Daily Herald, October 10, 1904, p.5)</span></span></p>

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<p class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">Southern Yacht Club Commodore,&nbsp;<strong>John A. Rawlins, sold <em>Nydia</em> to A. Baldwin Wood (1879-1956) in December</strong>.(The Daily Picayune, December 14, 1904, p. 12)</span></span></p>

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<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>1905</strong></span></span></p>
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<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">In late October, the <em><strong>Ethel Redding</strong></em> built by Jake Covacevich for Charles Redding and the <strong><em>Charles Buckingham</em></strong> built by Frank Taltavull for himself were&nbsp;measured at Biloxi.(The Biloxi Daily Herald, Ocotber 31, 1905, p. 4)</span></span></div>

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<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">In 1905, the <strong>Taltavull &amp; Rerecich Shipyard</strong> was in operation at&nbsp;402 East Back Bay Avenue.&nbsp; It was sold by Bernard Taltavull to George Melvin in August 1908.&nbsp; Casimero Rerecish (1858-1918) was an 1896 Austrian (probably Croatian) immigrant.(HARCO, Ms. Chattel Bk. 10, p. 216.)</span></span></div>

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<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The <u><strong><em>Sarah Kennedy</em></strong></u>, a Biloxi schooner, recently built by <strong>Martin Fountain</strong> departed for the Louisiana marshes on her maiden voyage.(The Biloxi Daily Herald, December 28, 1905, p. 1)&nbsp;</span></span></div>

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<div class="rtecenter" id="cke_pastebin"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>1906</strong></span></span></div>

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<div class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">In early September,&nbsp;<strong><em>Austrian Girl</em></strong>, a new schooner, was measured by V.J. Tucei, Deputy Collector of Customs. &nbsp;She was built by William N. Johnson for Nick Skrmetta.(The Biloxi Daiy Herald, September 5, 1906, p. 4)</span></span></div>

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<div class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>Losses to Back Bay shiyards from the September 1906 Storm</strong> were as follow: Martin Fountain-$500; Bernard Taltavull-$400; and John Brander-$300. &nbsp;The <u><strong><em>Goldbug</em></strong></u>, a schooner owned by Peter Eskald sank in front of the ways of Brander's Shipyard.(The Biloxi Daily Herald, September 28, 1906, p. 1)</span></span></div>

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<div class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>J.C. Brander &amp; Son Boat Builders </strong>was founded on Back Bay near Main Street in 1906.</span></span></div>
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<div class="rtecenter" id="cke_pastebin"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>1907</strong></span></span></div>

<div class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">A late September storm caught several Biloxi boats shrimping in the Louisiana marshes. &nbsp;Those driven ashore were: the <strong><u><em>William Coates</em></u></strong> owned by Tony Rosetti and <u><strong><em>Dauntless</em></strong></u> of Louis Gorenflo. &nbsp;Other boats in the area were: <u><strong><em>Henry M</em></strong></u>.; <u><strong><em>Nels</em></strong></u> <u><strong><em>Johnson</em></strong></u>, and <strong><em><u>Indian Girl </u></em></strong>of the Barataria Canning Company; <u><strong><em>Wilda L.</em></strong></u> and <u><strong><em>Elbert D.</em></strong></u> of Lopez &amp; Dukate; <strong><u><em>Jolly Traveler</em></u></strong> owned by Willie Bullock; and <u><strong><em>Dorenza</em></strong></u> of Henry Diaz.(The Biloxi Daily Herald, September 30, 1907, p. 1)&nbsp;</span></span></div>

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<div class="rtecenter" id="cke_pastebin"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>1908</strong></span></span></div>

<div class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">The new schooner, <strong><u><em>Volunteer</em></u></strong>, built by Casmir J. Harvey for Louis Gorenflo measures 48.8 feet x 17.9 ft x 3.4 ft and 15 tons gross.(The Biloxi Daily Herald, August 12, 1908, p. 2)</span></span></span></div>

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<div class="rtecenter" id="cke_pastebin"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>1909</strong></span></span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The power boat <em><strong>Jerry</strong></em> owned by Dunbars, Lopez &amp; Dukate and two days out of Morgan City, Louisiana sank in 70 feet of water in the Gulf of Mexico while headed for Biloxi with 4000 cases of oysters. &nbsp;The <strong><em>Jerry</em></strong> was a duplicte of the <strong><em>Tom</em></strong>. &nbsp;The was 80-feet long and its twin-screws were powered by two 35-HP Globe engines. &nbsp;The <strong><em>Jerry</em></strong> was mained by Captain R.F. Gillen, master; Robert Nurse, enginneer; Julius Collins, cook; and George Foretich of Morgan City and Peter Harvey of Biloxi. &nbsp;The crew rowed a lifeboat to the Ship Shoal Light.(The Biloxi Daily Herald, May 14, 1909, p. 8)</span></span></div>

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<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>J. Covacevich</strong> completed the <u><strong><em>Ernestine D</em></strong></u>, a gasoline screw, for <strong>Ulysse Desporte.</strong> &nbsp;It was measured in September 1909 as follows: length=51.5 feet; beam=17.8 feet; and depth=3.8 feet. &nbsp;The vessel's displacement was 19 gross tons and 10 net tons.(The Daily Herald, September 9, 1909, p. 4)</span></span></div>

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<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The September 1909 Hurricane destroyed seven schooners and three men drowned at Bay St. Louis when the watercraft were driven by strong windsy and trapped against the L&amp;N RR Bridge and smashed. &nbsp;Reported lost were: <strong><em>Clementine</em></strong> running for U. Desporte with Charles Lanston at the helm and Adam Kosczky drowned; running for Lopez &amp; Dukate;<strong><em> J.J. Cowar</em></strong>t owned by Bernard Taltavull lost with two negro crewmen; <strong><em>Faultless</em></strong> owned by Mrs. Dulion; <em><strong>Margaret Kennedy</strong></em> owned by Kennedy &amp; Kennedy with Captain J. Christ and working for Desporte; <strong><em>Sidonis</em></strong>, L.D. Byrd owner, and sailed by Cook Seymour; <strong><em>Fannie ?</em></strong>, V. Simonich, owner, running for Desporte, and the <em><strong>Champion</strong></em> working for Charles Torch proprietor of the Peerless Seafood factory at Bay St. Louis which was severely damaged.(The Daily Herald, September 24, 1909, p. 3)</span></span></div>

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<div class="rtecenter" id="cke_pastebin"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>1910</strong></span></span></div>

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<div class="rtecenter" id="cke_pastebin"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong><span style="font-size:14px">1911</span></strong></span></div>

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<p class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">In September 1911, <strong>John Jelusich</strong> (1871-1945) was captain of the <u><strong><em>Apache</em></strong></u> and was working in the Louisiana marsh near White Grass Island for the Gorenflo factory when his crew discovered the corpse of a young man tied to a stake.&nbsp; They believed the body was placed there to be retrieved by Parish officials<em>.(The Daily Herald, September 6, 1911, p. 8)</em></span></span></p>
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<div class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong><span style="font-size:14px">1912</span></strong></span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">Jack Covacevich recently completed the<strong><em> <u>Nellie L.</u></em></strong> for Arnaud Lopez to be used in the shrimp and oyster industry.[The Daily Herald, March 7, 1912, p. 8]</span></span></div>

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<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">In early July, the <u><strong><em>Eveline Desporte </em></strong></u>recently built by <strong>Anson Holley</strong> (1882-1967) for Ulysses Desporte ran a trial race with the Jennie Johnson, a similar schooner. &nbsp;The Holley-built, Biloxi schooner did well and when fitted with top sails should be competitve in sailing races.(The Daily Herald, July 8, 1912, p. 8)</span></span></div>

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<div class="rtecenter" id="cke_pastebin"><span style="font-size:12px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>1913</strong></span></span></div>

<div class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>Marine News</strong><span style="font-size:14px">-William Gorenflo sold <u><strong><em>Gladiola</em></strong></u>, a schooner, to Louis Gorenflo; New licnse issued to the <strong><em><u>Mercedes Baltar</u></em></strong>, owned by Martin Fountain Jr.; Rigging of the <strong><em><u>G. Frentz</u></em></strong> was changed from schooner to gasoline screw. &nbsp;George D. Long, master, and Edgar S. Balthrope, owner; Schooner <strong><em><u>Ida May H</u></em></strong>.-Matteo Surdich (1886-1973), master; Schooner, <u><strong><em>Clara LaCoste</em></strong></u>-Raymond Barber, master; and <strong><em><u>Gladiola</u></em></strong>-Frank Perez, master.(The Daily Herald, March 7, 1913, p. 1)</span></span></div>

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<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>Marine News</strong>-Schooner<strong><em> Ethel </em></strong>sold by D.A. Ramsay to Chris Lawrence and Walter H. Latimer.&nbsp; <strong><em>Austrian Girl </em></strong>sold by Nick Skermetti (sic) to Marco and John Skermetti (sic).&nbsp; Change of Masters: Schooner <em><strong>Winchester</strong></em>-Lewis Ryan; Schooner <em><strong>Velma B</strong></em>-John Gabriel; Schooner&nbsp;<strong><em>Austrian Girl</em></strong>-Rudolph Santa Cruz; Schooner <strong><em>Annie Strong</em></strong>-John Jelusich; Schooner <strong><em>Eva Foster</em></strong>-Paul Fountain; Schooner<strong><em> Reflector</em></strong>-John Tapper; Schooner <strong><em>Lillie W</em></strong>-W.H. Williams; Schooner&nbsp;<strong><em>New Design</em></strong>-Tony Stanovich; Schooner&nbsp;<strong><em>Ethel</em></strong>-Emil Carron; Schooner &nbsp;<strong><em>Ruthie</em></strong>-Stip Mihojevich; Schooner <strong><em>Pawnee</em></strong>-Tony Rosetti; Schooner <strong><em>Foucher D</em></strong>.-Francis Ryan; Schooner &nbsp;<strong><em>Alina</em></strong>-P.J. Trochessett.&nbsp;Gas screw <strong><em>Tom</em></strong>-Harry Chatham; Gas screw <em><strong>Peerless</strong></em>-Perry Winchester;&nbsp;and Gas screw <strong><em>Mabel Nelson</em></strong>-Joseph Fountain.&nbsp; License renewals: Gas screws, <strong><em>Osage </em></strong>and <strong><em>Mattie J</em></strong>. and <em><strong>Sea Lion</strong></em>, a schooner barge.(The Daily Herald, April 13, 1913, p. 2)</span></span></div>

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<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>John Charles Brander </strong>(1843-1913), native of Nova Scotia and Biloxi resident since 1906, passed at his home at 421 Copp Street in June 1913. &nbsp;He came to Biloxi from Pascagoula, Mississippi where was engaged in shipbuilding.(The Daily Herald, June 16, 1913, p. 8)</span></span></div>

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<div class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong><span style="font-size:14px">1914</span></strong></span></div>

<div class="rtejustify"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>William Nels Johnson </strong>(1861-1914), Biloxi's master boatwright, died at NOLA on June 26th. Johnson had relocated to NOLA circa 1909 and built boats in the Crescent City.(The Daily Herald, June 26, 1914, p. 1)</span></span></div>

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<div class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif; font-size:14px"><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/Biloxi%20schooner-Wonder.jpg" style="height:231px; width:400px" /></span></div>

<div class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>Henry Brasher's <u><em>Wonder</em></u> </strong>on starboard tack passing the BYC</span></div>

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<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif; font-size:14px">The Brasher brothers, <strong>Isom Brasher and Henry Brasher</strong>, ship carpenters in North Biloxi, completed two schooners, <u><em><strong>Miracle</strong></em></u> and<strong> Wonder</strong>, respectively in July. &nbsp;Both vessels were 57 feet in length with a beam of 18 feet and a hold depth of 4 feet.(The Daily Herald, July 16, 1914, p. 2)</span></div>

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<div class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong><span style="font-size:14px">1915</span></strong></span></div>

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<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">On July 2<sup>nd</sup>, <strong>Augustus ‘Gussie’ Fountain&nbsp;</strong>(1883-1926) registered his newly built&nbsp;<strong><u><em>Clara Fountain</em></u>,</strong> a fishing schooner, with Lewis E. Curtis, U.S. Deputy Collector of Customs.&nbsp; The large vessel was named for Gussie’s spouse, <strong>Clara Noble </strong>(1887-1939).&nbsp; The <u><strong><em>Clara Fountain&nbsp;</em></strong></u>was 53.7 feet long; 18 feet at the beam; and 14 feet deep.&nbsp; It went to work for the <strong>Foster-Fountain Packing Company</strong> who already had the schooners, <u><em><strong>Mercedes Baltar</strong>&nbsp;</em></u>and <u><strong><em>Leroy&nbsp;</em></strong></u>in their fishing fleet.<em>(The Daily Herald, July 3, 1915, p</em></span><span style="font-size:14px"><em>.8)</em></span></span></p>

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<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">In August, <strong>Fred Moran completed a 30-foot,&nbsp;motor launch for Dunbars, Lopez and Dukate </strong>to be used to tow vessels at their <strong>Brunswick, Georgia factory</strong>.(The Daily Herald, August 4, 1915, p. 2)</span></p>

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<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The</span><span style="font-size:14px">&nbsp;</span><u><span style="font-size:14px"><strong><em>American Girl</em></strong></span></u><span style="font-size:14px">&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size:14px">sank with a load of oysters near Half Moon Island, St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana in mid-December. &nbsp;Captain Peter Parker was fishing for the Desporte Brothers. &nbsp;He was accompained by Captain James Parker, master of the</span><span style="font-size:14px">&nbsp;</span><u><span style="font-size:14px"><strong><em>New Resident&nbsp;</em></strong></span></u><span style="font-size:14px">when the incident occurred. &nbsp;The</span><span style="font-size:14px">&nbsp;</span><u><span style="font-size:14px"><strong><em>Eccentric</em></strong></span></u><span style="font-size:14px">, a gasoline boat, was sent to salvage the oyster catch, but she also sank. &nbsp;The</span><span style="font-size:14px">&nbsp;</span><u><span style="font-size:14px"><em><strong>American Girl</strong></em></span><span style="font-size:14px">&nbsp;</span></u><span style="font-size:14px">was raised and working again in short time.(The Daily Herald, December 18, 1915, p. 1, Decemebr 23, 1915, p. 2 and December 30, 1915, p. 2)</span></span></p>
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<div class="rtecenter" id="cke_pastebin"><span style="font-size:12px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>1916</strong></span></span></div>

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<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">In June, the following schooners and thier masters were listed by the Deputy Collector of Customs: <strong><em>Ida May H</em></strong>.-Luka Kuljis; <strong><em>Esther Reddin</em></strong>g-Walter Seymour; <em><strong>Evelyn Desporte</strong></em>-Vincent Gospodonivich; <em><strong>Wonder</strong></em>-Jake Rosetti; <em><strong>Marvel</strong></em>-Sam Marinovich; <em><strong>Mercedes Balta</strong></em>r-Geroge Misko (1878-1971); <em><strong>Ocean Queen</strong></em>-Martin Fountain Jr.;<strong><em> Anne Mabey</em></strong>-Joe Benezue; <em><strong>Edna D.</strong></em>-James Spindler; <em><strong>Margerie D.</strong></em>-license renewed;<strong><em> Commanche</em></strong>-Peter Wescovich; <strong><em>Lillian C.</em></strong>-J.S. Creel;<strong><em> Irma D</em></strong>. [gasoline screw]-Rudolph Santa Cruz; <em><strong>Algonquin</strong></em>-Delmas Lattimer; <strong><em>Mettle-</em></strong>Arnie Blodenich; <strong><em>Regina Edna</em></strong>-Frank Barhonvich; <strong>American Girl</strong>-Joe Kriss; Apache-Eugene Tiblier; <em><strong>Clara Fountain</strong></em>-Augustus 'Gussie' Fountain (1883-1926); <strong><em>Valley Reddin</em></strong>g-John Cox; and <em><strong>Winiford B</strong>.</em> Hudson Johnson.(The Daily Herald, June 10, 1916, p. 3)</span></span></div>

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<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>J.F. Joullian filed suit requestins $3000 in damages&nbsp;against the L&amp;N RR</strong> for alleging that the company sawed his schooner in half and burned it after it&nbsp;was beached on thier tracks at Lake Shore by&nbsp;virtue of the September 1915 Hurricane.(The Daily Herald, November 24, 1916, p. 1)</span></span></div>

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<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">In December, </span><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>J.D. 'Jackie-Jack' Covacevich</strong></span><span style="font-size:14px"> (1875-1962) completed the </span><span style="font-size:14px"><strong><em>Young Champion</em></strong></span><span style="font-size:14px"> for John Sumich of NOLA. &nbsp;The vessel was a gasoline screw 50.3 feet long; 15.5 feet at the beam; with a depth of 3.8 feet and valued between $3000 and $4000 dollars.(The Daily Herald, December 18, 1916, p. 3)</span></span></div>

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<div class="rtecenter" id="cke_pastebin"><span style="font-size:12px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>1917</strong></span></span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The <strong>International Shipbuilding Company was chartered in January</strong> by Henry Piaggio (1874-1921) of Gulfport; Barney E. Eaton (1878-1944) of Gulfport; and D.R. McInnis of Orange, Texas.(The Daily Herald, February 3, 1917, p. 2)</span></span></div>

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<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>Lewis E. Curtis</strong>, Deputy Collector of Customs, said that at least fifty boats have been built in Biloxi shipyards in the last two months. &nbsp;The majority of these vessels were constructed for the sea food industry. &nbsp;Among those building watercraft in Biloxi were: <strong>Francis Brander</strong> (1886-1965); <strong>Martin Fountain</strong>; <strong>Jacob D. 'Jackie-Jack' Covacevich</strong> (1875-1962); <strong>Isham Brazier</strong>; <strong>Henry Brazier</strong>; <strong>Anson Holley</strong> (1882-1967); and the <strong>Moran shipyard</strong>. &nbsp;These new vessels are usually 25 to 30 feet in length and average about $200 per boat.(The Daily Herald, January 31, 1917, p. 1)&nbsp;</span></span></div>

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<div id="cke_pastebin"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The <strong>Brander Shipyard is negotiating with the U.S. Goverment</strong> to build a submarine chaser every two months. &nbsp;The 130-ton vessels would be 110 feet long, 15 feet at the beam with a depth of 14 feet.(The Daily Herald, April 5, 1917, p. 1)</span></span></div>

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<div id="cke_pastebin"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The <strong>Biloxi Shipyard and Box Factory</strong> was chartered in June 1917 by <strong>Francis Brander&nbsp;</strong>(1886-1965).&nbsp;<strong>Mrs. J.C. </strong>[Emma]<strong> Brander</strong>&nbsp;(1862-1925), and <strong>J. Frank Stuard</strong>&nbsp;(1866-1941) of Gulfport.(Harrison Co., Mississippi Chattel Bk. 18, p. 379)</span></span></div>

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<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>Lewis E. Curtis,</strong> deputy collecor of customs, measured the<u> <strong><em>Sarah Ford</em></strong></u>, a schooner built by Anson Holley (1882-1967) for Mrs. J.I. Ford of Pascagoula as: 28 gross tons and 17 tons net; 58 feet long with a 19.4-fot beam; and depth of 3.8 feet. &nbsp;The vessel has been leased to the C.B. Foster Packing Companty to be used for shrimp and oyster haresting. &nbsp;The Seafood Company has four schooners being built by the Biloxi Shipyard and Box Factory, which will between $1800 and $2300. &nbsp;The Fountain Brothers are building a schooner for themselves and Anson Holley is constructing another schooner for Mrs. J.I. Ford.(The Daily Herald, July 7, 1917, p. 5 and July 12, 1917, p. 1)&nbsp;</span></span></div>

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<div class="rtecenter">&nbsp;<strong><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Henry E. Gumble</span></strong></div>

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<div id="cke_pastebin"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">In 1917, the <strong>Seafood Company built four Biloxi schooners</strong> for their fishing fleet. &nbsp;These four, nearly identical watercraft were constructed on Biloxi’s Back Bay at the Biloxi Shipyard and Box Factory. &nbsp;The first three boats were:<strong><em><u> I.</u> <u>Heidenheim</u></em></strong>, <u><strong><em>H.E. Gumbel</em></strong></u>, and <u><strong><em>Louis Goldman</em></strong></u>. &nbsp;The fourth schooner was called <u><strong><em>Anna May</em></strong></u>. &nbsp;Their measurements were as follows: length-54.5 feet; breadth-18.8 feet; depth-4.4 feet; gross tonnage-28 tons; and net tonnage-19 tons.(The Daily Herald, September 13, 1917, p. 3)</span></span></div>

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<div id="cke_pastebin"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">Russell Barnes, a Biloxi author, model builder and schooner historian, relates that these four boats “were designed by Jackie Jack Covacevich and were built right along side each other at the Biloxi Shipyard and Box Factory owned by the Branders. These were a bit different from the traditional Biloxi schooner in that they were all spoon bowed instead of clipper bowed. Otherwise they were fairly typical centerboard schooners. &nbsp;On the admeasurement &nbsp;papers I found in the National Archives, Jackie Jack &nbsp;is listed as the builder on two of the schooners, <u><strong><em>I. Heidenheim</em></strong></u> and<strong><em><u> L. Goldman</u></em></strong>, while Francis Brander is listed as the builder on the other two, <strong><em><u>Anna Eve</u></em></strong> and <strong><em><u>H.E. Gumbel.</u></em></strong> It is fairly obvious that Jackie Jack &nbsp;cut the half model and lofted the boat himself. He then created the templates for each piece of the hull frame and then cut four copies of everything so that four schooner could be simultaneously and to the exact same measurements.” (e-mail February 29, 2010)</span></span></div>

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<div><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">In September, <strong>Anson Holley</strong> completed the <strong><em>Edna May</em></strong> for the C.B. Foster Packing Company. &nbsp;The vessel was measured by Lewis E. Curtis, US Deputy Collector of Customs as followes:length=56.3 feet; beam=19.4 feet; hold depth=4.2 feet.(The Daily Herald, September 18, 1917, p. 3)</span></span></div>

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<div class="rtecenter"><span style="font-size:12px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>1918</strong></span></span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">In January 1918, <strong>International Shipbuilding Company at Pascagoula</strong> had <strong>four vessels of which the frames</strong> were nearly completed. &nbsp;They were <strong>driving piling to construct a new set of ways</strong>. &nbsp;International <strong>was building a company town on its land </strong>as fast as materials could be procured. &nbsp;The housing erected was for their employees.</span></span></div>

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<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The <strong>Dierks-Blodget Company</strong> also at Pascagoula also had the <strong>frames for four ships nearly finished</strong>. &nbsp;The first vessel to be launched would be called the <u><em><strong>Pascagoula</strong></em></u>.</span><span style="font-size:14px">(The Daily Herald, January 22, 1918, p. 2)</span></span></div>

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<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">In January 1918, the <strong>Gulf Ship Company of Pascagoula acquired the shipyard of George Frentz </strong>(1841-1928) for $7500.&nbsp; Mr. Frentz had decided to sell because he had reached retirement age.&nbsp; The Gulf Ship Company was owned by <strong>A.F. Dantzler</strong>, <strong>B.G. Boaz</strong>, and <strong>H.H. Colle</strong> (1879-1955).&nbsp; The L.N. Dantzler Lumber Company owned fifteen vessels which could utilize this shipyard for overhauls and repairs<em>.</em>(The Daily Herald, January 22, 1918, p. 2 and January 30, 1918, p. 6)</span></span></div>

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<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>Devitt-Clark Packing Company borrowed $25,000 from Charles Redding</strong> and listed their boats as follows: Schooners: <u><strong><em>Joe Lawrence</em></strong></u>; <strong><em><u>Ocean Queen</u></em></strong>; <strong><em><u>Henry Clark</u></em></strong>; and <strong><em><u>Lilly Rose</u></em></strong>. &nbsp;Barge: <strong><em><u>Black Box</u></em></strong>; Motor Boats: Sunny Boy; Zuzudora; Hunter; Cuba; and Cracker Jack; Trawlers: No. 1 thru No. 5; Skiffs-fifteen and nine large seines.(The Daily Herald, April 23, 1918, p. 5)</span></span></div>

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<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The <strong><em>Elizabeth Ruth</em></strong>, a <strong>193-foot schooner</strong>, was launched&nbsp;on June 15th. &nbsp;Catherine Lopez, daughter of Julius Lopez had the honors. &nbsp;The large vessel was built on Back Bay by the <strong>Mississippi Shipbuilding Corporation </strong>and&nbsp;designed by <strong>Zona W. Carter</strong> (1879-1953), a Biloxi resident, and named for the daughter of Englishman <strong>William Hasketh Lever </strong>(1851-1925), <strong>Lord Lever</strong>, founder of soap manufacturers, Lever Brothers<strong>.</strong>(The Daily Herald, June 12, 1918, p. 1, June 15, 1918, p. 1. and &nbsp;June 17, 1918, p. 3)</span></span></div>

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<div class="rtecenter"><span style="font-size:12px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>1919</strong></span></span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">In January, the <strong><em>Joseph Leopold</em></strong>, a four-masted, schooner built for J.F. Stewart of Gulfport was measure by Customs Agent Lewis Curtis as follows: length-180 feet; beam-38 feet; and depth-13 feet; gross weight-668 tons; net weight-573 tons.</span></span></div>

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<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The <strong><em>Joseph Leopold </em></strong>was built by J.D. Covacevich at the Biloxi Shipyard and Box factory on Back Bay.(The Daily Herald, January 23, 1919, p. 1)</span></span></div>

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<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">In February, the <strong>first schooner built by the Biloxi Drydocks and Shipbuilding Company</strong> was sailed to Portugal with a cargo of lumber by Captain Frank Castanera for delivery. &nbsp;The vessel was 100 gross tons [700 net tons] and the first of seven contracted. &nbsp;The boatyard <strong>employed about 160 men</strong> and managed by Claude Daughdrill. &nbsp;<strong>H.D. Money</strong> was president of the company.(The Daily Herald, February 19, 1919, p. 1 and April 11, 1919, p. 1)</span></span></div>

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<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The <strong>second ship launched by the International Shipbuilding</strong> at Pascagoula was <em><strong>City of Biloxi</strong></em>, an auxuliary barkentine.(The Daily Herald, April 22, 1919, p. 1)</span></span></div>

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<div class="rtecenter"><span style="font-size:12px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>1920</strong></span></span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The following factory schooners were entered in the 1920 Annual Biloxi Regatta: C.B. Foster Packing Company: <em><strong>Edna May</strong></em> and the<strong><em> Sarah Ford</em></strong>. &nbsp;Dunbar-Dukate Company: <strong><em>Marjorie D</em></strong> and the <strong><em>Willie Ewing</em></strong>. &nbsp;Seafood Company: <strong><em>Louis Goldman</em></strong>, <strong><em>Henry Gumbel</em></strong>, and <strong><em>I. Heidenheim</em></strong>.(The Daily Herald, July 1, 1920, p. 3)</span></span></div>

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<div class="rtecenter" id="cke_pastebin"><span style="font-size:12px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>1921</strong></span></span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The <strong>Biloxi Shipyard and Box Factory filed for bankruptcy </strong>on June 15th. &nbsp;The end of the shrimp and oyster season as well as a declining market for boats and lumber were blamed for the approximate $23,000 insolvency of the company.(The Daily Herald, June 16, 1921, p. 8)</span></span></div>

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<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">In July, the <strong>Frentz Shipyard </strong>had a large boat on the ways. &nbsp;The <u><strong><em>El Rito</em></strong></u> of New Orleans was in the yard for repairs.(The Daily Herald, July 26, 1921, p. 3)</span></span></div>

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<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>Henry Piaggio</strong> (1874-1921), 1882 Italian immigrant from Genoa and founder of <strong>International Shipbuilding</strong> at Pascagoula, Mississippi, <strong>expired at Mississippi City, Harrison County, Mississippi on December 19, 1921</strong>. &nbsp;Margaret Piaggio (1878-1955, his Ohio born spouse, died on March 7, 1955. Their corporal remains were interred in the Evergreen Cemetery at Gulfport.(The Daily Herald, December 20, 1921, p. 1)</span></span></div>

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<div class="rtecenter" id="cke_pastebin"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong><span style="font-size:14px">1922</span></strong></span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">Fred Moran's shipyard launched the <u><em><strong>Biloxi</strong></em></u>, a 41-foot, 11-foot beam, <strong>cabin cruiser for a NOLA cotton broker</strong>. &nbsp;The vessel had a 60-75 HP Scripps 6-cylinder engine, six pullman berths, and the capacity for fifty people. &nbsp;The<strong><em> <u>Naomi</u>,</em></strong> utilized in the supper tourist trade, &nbsp;was overhauled for <strong>Captain Ernest Moran Sr</strong>. &nbsp;<strong>Ojo Ohr</strong> was having a run-about built powered by a Pierce Arrow automobile engine capable of 20-25 miles per speed and <strong>planned to be raced in the July Biloxi Regatta.</strong>(The Daily Herald, June 20, 1922, p. 3)</span></span></div>

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<div class="rtecenter" id="cke_pastebin"><span style="font-size:12px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>1925</strong></span></span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The <u><strong><em>Silver Moon</em></strong></u>, a 53-foot pleasure craft built owned by <strong>Edwin L. Moran </strong>(1888-1951) and designed by <strong>Jack Covacevich&nbsp;</strong></span><span style="font-size:14px">(1875-1962),</span><span style="font-size:14px">&nbsp;was launched in mid-June on Back Bay. &nbsp;It was powered by a 125 HP Sterling engine and was touted as the fastest pleasure boat on the Mississippi coast. &nbsp;The <u><em><strong>Silver Moon</strong></em></u> was moored at the Riviera pavilion and had the capacity to carry an estimated 150 passengers to the barrier islands.(The Daily Herald, June 22, 1951, p. 10)</span></span></div>

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<p class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="color:black">On the eve of July 5, 1925, the <strong>Isle of Caprice resort opened for business</strong>.&nbsp;&nbsp; Fun seeking tourists departed for the resort from landings at the Biloxi Yacht Club, White House, Riviera Pavilion, and Wachenfeld’s Pier.&nbsp; The <u><strong><em>Silver Moon</em></strong></u><em>, </em>commanded by Ed L. Moran (1888-1951), the brother of A.P. ‘Fred’ Moran (1897-1967) of Ocean Springs<strong><em>, <u>Jolly Jack</u>, <u>Charles Redding</u>, </em></strong><em>and <u><strong>Margaret</strong></u></em>&nbsp;provided transportation.&nbsp; In the new pavilion, music was made by the Buena Vista Orchestra.<em>(The Daily Herald, July 6, 1925, p. 3)</em></span></span><strong><span style="color:black">&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></strong><span style="color:black"><em>&nbsp;&nbsp;</em></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><em><span style="color:black">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</span></em></span></p>
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<div class="rtecenter"><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/inline/images/Screen%20Shot%202018-12-31%20at%2010.34.06%20PM.png" /></div>

<div class="rtecenter"><strong><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">[The Daily Herald, July 31, 1925, p. 3]</span></span></strong></div>

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<div class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong><span style="font-size:14px">1926</span></strong>&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div>

<p class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">In June,<strong> </strong><strong>Captain Peter Skrmetti</strong>, master of the<u> <strong><em>Pan American</em></strong></u><em>, </em>a converted Biloxi schooner, made excursion trips to the Isle of Caprice and the other barrier islands.&nbsp; The vessel had a length of&nbsp; 66 feet with a 22-foot beam and a seating capacity of 200 and a maximum passenger capacity of 300.&nbsp; There was also a small dancing platform on the boat.&nbsp; It made two trips daily from <strong>Desporte’s Pier for the Isle of Caprice</strong>.<em>(The Biloxi News, May 30, 1926, p. 1 and June 6, 1926, p. 20)</em></span></span></p>

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<p class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="color:black"><strong>Captain Ernest L. Moran</strong> (1888-1951), son of Francis D. Moran and Elizabeth L. Vanderpool, and brother of A.P. Moran (1897-1967) of Ocean Springs, commanded the <u><strong><em>Iona Louise</em></strong></u><em>, </em>a </span></span></span><span style="color:black"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">Biloxi</span></span><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"> charter boat.&nbsp; In September 1926, he announced that his vessel would discontinue daily trip to </span></span><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">Ship</span></span><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"> </span></span><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">Island</span></span><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">.&nbsp; Instead, it would make the voyage to the Isle of Caprice departing at 1:45 P.M. from the </span></span><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">Buena Vista</span></span><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"> and Biloxi Yacht Club piers.&nbsp; The <u><strong><em>Iona Louise </em></strong></u>left the islet at 6:00 P.M.<em>(The Daily Herald, September 1, 1926, p. 2)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </em></span></span></span></p>

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<p class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="color:black">Additional marine <strong>transportation service to the Isle of Caprice </strong>was provided by the <u><strong><em>Silver Moon </em></strong></u>operated by Captain Ed Moran (1881-1951) and the <u><strong><em>Water Witch </em></strong></u>of Captain Foster Swetman (1893-1953).<em>(The Biloxi News, May 30, 1926, p. 1)</em></span></span></span></p>

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<div class="rtecenter"><strong><em><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">Schooner Helen</span></span></em></strong><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">,<em><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"> </span></span></em>now </span></span><strong><em><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">Lavengro</span></span></em></strong></div>

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<div class="rteleft" dir="ltr" style="font-size: 16px; font-family: &quot;helvetica neue&quot;, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">This is the schooner yacht <strong><em>Helen</em></strong>, built for the Denegre family by <strong>Jackie Jack Covacevic</strong>h in 1926. I will have to see who owned her in 1947, but I know she was still local.&nbsp;<span style="color:darkblue">Today</span>, she is named <strong><em>Lavengro</em></strong> and is in Seattle, owned by the Northwest Schooner Society (I think that is the name of the group).[per Russell Barnes, February&nbsp;16, 2020]&nbsp;</span></span></div>

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<p class="rtecenter"><strong><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:12px">1927</span></span></strong></p>

<div class="rtejustify"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">The <em><strong>Altha </strong></em>of the <strong>Desporte Packikng Company returning from the oyster grounds of Louisiana ran aground in the fog near Ship Island. </strong>&nbsp;<strong>Captain Caanan and his five crewman swam to the island and were provided food and warm clothing by Ship Island lighthouse keeper, Captain Clarisse</strong>. The <em><strong>Altha </strong></em>lost about 0ne-half of her harvested oysters.(The Daily Herald, March 8, 1927, p. 1)</span></span></div>

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<p><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">When placed into service in May 1927, the<strong> <em>Nonpareil </em></strong>was the largest pleasure craft ever used in the barrier island service of the Mississippi Gulf Coast.&nbsp; The vessel had been acquired from the US government and had served as a pilot boat.&nbsp; The <strong><em>Nonpareil</em> </strong>was 100 feet in length with a 19-foot beam and had the capacity to carry about 250 passengers to the Isle of Caprice or for fishing charters.&nbsp; Power generated from two Wolverine, 4-cycle, full diesel 70s of the Ellis type costing $12,000 drove the vessel at about 15 mph.&nbsp; The <strong><em>Nonpareil</em> </strong>was captained by M.B. Spottswood and Peter Harvey while Captain Lee Bosarge located fish for the clientele.&nbsp; The craft was refurbished at the Frentz Brothers Shipyard on Back Bay for the Isle of Caprice Amusement Company led by promoters, Walter H. Hunt and Arbeau Caillavet.(<em>The Daily Herald, May 6, 1927, pp. 1-2</em>)</span></span></p>

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<div class="rtecenter"><span style="font-size:12px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>1928</strong></span></span></div>

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<div><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">After the 1927 tourist season had ended, Hunt and Caillavet had the&nbsp;<strong><em>Nonpareil</em>&nbsp;</strong>completely overhauled and refurbished at the Brasher Shipyard in North Biloxi.&nbsp; The Brashers created the <strong>“new&nbsp;<em>Nonpariel</em>”</strong> by removing the superstructure of the vessel and replacing it with new decks, glass-enclosed cabins and dance floor and a new pilothouse.&nbsp; The relatively new diesel engines were not replaced and the vessel’s passenger capacity was increased to 350 persons. &nbsp;<span style="background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255); color:rgb(51, 51, 51)">It appears that the Nonpareil was motored to the Frentz Brothers Shipyard on Back Bay at Biloxi for her finishing touches.&nbsp; When the Elmer Packing Company, which was situated to the east of the shipyard, burned to the ground on January 31, 1928, the</span><strong>&nbsp;<em>Nonpareil&nbsp;</em></strong><span style="background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255); color:rgb(51, 51, 51)">was almost completed and fortunately was not damaged by the large conflagration</span><em>The Daily Herald, January 19, 1928, p. 2 and January 31, 1928, p. 2</em>)</span></span></div>

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<div class="rtecenter" id="cke_pastebin"><span style="font-size:12px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>1929</strong></span></span></div>

<div><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>Covacevich &amp; Sons</strong> at their Back Bay shipyard&nbsp;are completing the <strong><em>Mary Jane</em></strong>, a spoon model schooner similar to the <strong><em>I. Heidenheim</em></strong>, <strong><em>L. Goldman</em></strong>, <strong><em>Anna Eve</em></strong>, and <em><strong>H.E. Gumbel </strong></em>built for the Sea Food Company in 1917. &nbsp;The vessel was 69 feet in length wih a 19-foot beam.</span></span><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">(The Daily Herald, May 9, 1929, p. 8)</span></span></div>

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<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>Jack Covacevich </strong>(1875-1962) will launch a new schooner on May 29th at his shipyard on Back Bay near Oak Street. The vessel was 57 feet long with a 18-foot beam and was built for the Biloxi Canning Company and is the 217th watercraft built in Biloxi by Mr. Covacevich and his two sons. &nbsp;The boat will be rigged for the Gulf Schooner Championship race to be held at the Biloxi Yacht Club in July.(The Daily Herald, May 28, 1929, p. 3)&nbsp;</span></span></div>

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<div><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>Jack Covacevich</strong> (1875-1962) completed the <strong><em>American Beauty</em></strong>, a 48-foot, gas screw, for Vincent Rosetti. &nbsp;It was owered by a 25 HP Palmer engine.(The Daily Herald, August 17, 1929, p. 1)</span></span></div>

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<p><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>Jules Galle</strong> completed the <strong><em>Eunice C.</em></strong>, a 44-foot, oil screw, for William Cruso. &nbsp;</span></span><span style="font-family:georgia,serif; font-size:14px">It was powered by a 24 HP Lathrop engine.(The Daily Herald, August 17, 1929, p. 1)</span></p>

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<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif; font-size:14px"><strong>A.I. Fountain</strong> finished the <strong><em>Thelma B</em></strong>., a 44 foot x 15 foot x 4 foot oiler powered by a 24 HP Lathrop engine at North Biloxi for N. Byrd.(The Daily Herald, August 17, 1929, p. 1)</span></p>

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<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif; font-size:14px"><strong>Peter Skrmetti </strong>was delivered On Time from a Pascagoula shipyard.</span><span style="background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255); color:rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family:georgia,serif; font-size:14px">(The Daily Herald, August 17, 1929, p. 1)</span></p>

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<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>Mike Halat </strong>(1879-1929) drowned in Lake Borgne when fell off the <u><strong><em>Arcadia</em></strong></u> run by Captain Steve Rodolfich. &nbsp;Halat's body was found near the Rigolets by Captain Vincent Kuluz of the <u><em><strong>Annie Long</strong></em></u>.(The Daily Herald, August 31, 1929, p.1)</span></span></p>
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<div class="rtecenter"><span style="font-size:12px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>1930</strong></span></span></div>

<div class="rtejustify"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">The <strong><em>Mercedes Williams</em></strong>, a Biloxi launch, was captured near Galveston, Texas in April 1930 by the USCG and charged with engaging in illicit trade and failing to heave to when challenged after 14 shots were fired. &nbsp;The vessel was built Biloxi by Ed Lebatard and was licensed at Gulfport in September 1928 in the name of DeJean Packing Company. &nbsp; The <strong><em>Mercedes Williams</em></strong> was found <strong>stranded on a reef in Galveston Bay circa 1929 with liquor valued at $75,000 in her hold.</strong> &nbsp;The vessel was sold by the Federal government on December 23, 1929.(The Daily Herald, April 21, 1930, p. 2)</span></span></div>

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<div class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The&nbsp;</span><strong><em>Jennie Johnson</em></strong><span style="font-size:14px">, an auxiliary schooner, owned by Louis O. Johnson received fire damage amounting to $150 on April 20, 1930.&nbsp; Captain Hub Terrell was burned on his arm and torso from the fire which emanated from the ignition of gasoline vapors in the vessel’s cabin when Terrell lit a match.&nbsp; The&nbsp;</span><strong><em>Jennie Johnson</em></strong><span style="font-size:14px">&nbsp;had just returned from the outside oyster reefs with a hold laden with mollusks and was moored at the Johnson Canning Company wharf.&nbsp; Biloxi firemen were called to the vessel and performed admirably saving the boat and its cargo.&nbsp; The cabin was burned as well as some of the decking and the mainsail was badly damaged by the conflagration. (The Daily Herald, April 21 1930, p. 2)</span></span></div>

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<div class="rtejustify"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">On May 17, 1930, the <strong><em>Indian Girl</em></strong> owned by Kuluz Brothers Packing Company&nbsp;while&nbsp;fishing in Louisiana waters&nbsp;blew up and burned near Mitchell [sic] Island.&nbsp; <strong>Captain Vincent [Visco] Kuluz</strong> (1899-1987) was badly burned and the crew rescued by the USCG. &nbsp;Loss estimated at $5000.(Matthew Kuluz M.D on July 26, 2016, The Biloxi Daily Herald, July 19, 1904, p. 5 , The Daily Herald, May 18, 1930 and August 17, 1929, p. 1)</span></span></div>

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<div class="rtecenter"><span style="font-size:12px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>1931</strong></span></span></div>

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<div class="rtecenter"><span style="font-size:12px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>1932</strong></span></span></div>

<div class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><u><strong><em>Whilomena</em></strong></u>, a power boat. owned by Marko Skrmetti of the Deer Island Fish &amp; Oyster Company, and operated by Captain Henry Green, ran aground off West Beach between Fayard and Caillavet Streets.(The Daily Herald, May 6, 1932, p. 2)</span></span></div>

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<div class="rtecenter"><span style="font-size:12px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>1933</strong></span></span></div>

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<div class="rtecenter"><span style="font-size:12px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>1934</strong></span></span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">In June, the <u><strong><em>Albatross</em></strong></u>, a $75,000, sailing yacht that had been designed and <strong>built for the USCG</strong>, was making daily trips to <strong>Ship Island from the Buena Vista </strong>pier. &nbsp;The <strong>recreation center on Ship Island owned by the Joe Graham Post of the American Legion </strong>at Gulfport, had a <strong>restaurant, casino, beer garden located on the parapet walls</strong> and in the interior of old Fort Massachusetts. &nbsp;There were also sleeping quarters in the fort.(The Daily Herald, June 26, 1934, p. 2) &nbsp;</span></span></div>

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<p><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">On August 12, 1934, <strong>J.J. “Ben” O’Keefe</strong> (1894-1954) christened the <strong>‘</strong><em><strong>Big Ben O’Keefe’</strong></em>, a 40-foot fishing vessel, built for the <strong>Cruso Canning Company of William Cruso.</strong>&nbsp; The boat was built by<strong> Adolph Toche</strong> (1900-1988) at the Parker Shipyard on Back Bay and was the seventeenth of the Cruso fleet.&nbsp; Big Ben O’Keefe had a 17-foot beam and could haul 175 barrels of oysters.&nbsp; Captain Pete Wescovich chose to honor Mr. O’Keefe.(The Daily Herald, August 13, 1934, p. 8)</span></span></p>
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<div class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>Adolph Toche</strong> commenced building boats on Biloxi's East Beach.</span></span></div>

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<div class="rtecenter"><span style="font-size:12px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>1936</strong></span></span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">About 100 boats were built at Biloxi in 1936. &nbsp;On <strong>Back Bay</strong>,&nbsp;<strong>Jules Galle</strong> built twelve boats. &nbsp;Among these, his ship carpenters built one for Visko Viskorich of Empire, Louisiana and one for John Mixad. &nbsp;</span><span style="font-size:14px">At the Fred Moran boatyard <strong>Joe and Hypolite Fountain</strong> built the <u><strong><em>Golden Hope</em></strong></u>, a 45-foot trawler. &nbsp;At the foot of Holley Street&nbsp;<strong>Ursand A. Parker</strong>&nbsp;(1878-1960) launched a 57-foot lugger for John Evonich. &nbsp;On Lee Street near Back Bay, Benney Yeager and J.C. Yeager, his son, completed the <u><em><strong>Elda Louise</strong></em></u>, for James Powell and W.K. Skinner. &nbsp;A 40-foot trawler for Lyman Yeager was to be launched in ten days. &nbsp;J.C. Yeager was building a 26-foot trawler for himself. &nbsp;The Yeagers were starting a 42-foot craft for P.E. Lamey and a pleasure craft for W.G. Gerrard was being built. &nbsp;</span><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>Oral 'Fatty Jack' Covacevich </strong>on Back Bay at the foot of Crawford Street launched the <u><strong><em>Eva Marie</em></strong></u>, a 53-foot fishing boat, for Grego Taliancich (1912-1988) and Matteo Taliancich of 3rd Street and working for the Kuluz Brothers. &nbsp;On <strong>EAST BEACH</strong>, the Toche Brothers boatyard situated between Cedar and Pine Street was the largest shipyard on the Mississippi Coast. &nbsp;Presently building three shrimp-oyster boats. &nbsp;Maitre Pitalo was expected his 49-foot boat in mid-September and about the same time, Mavar Fish &amp; Oyster Company would get a 47-foot lugger. &nbsp;William Cruso had a two month wait for his 55-foot shrimp boat. &nbsp;The Toche Brothers had just completed the <u><strong><em>Buda</em></strong></u>, a 52-foot fishing boat for Peter Sekul, the <u><strong><em>Anna Williams</em></strong></u>, a 47-footer, for 'Peck' Williams, and the <u><strong><em>Antonia Margare</em></strong>t</u>, a 52-foot boat, for the Mavar Fish &amp; Oyster Company. &nbsp;Louis and Sydney Manuel built a work-pleasure vessel on the lawn of Louis Manuel on Roy Street. &nbsp;It was launched into Back Bay at Holley Street.(The Daily Herald, August 29, 1936, p. 1) &nbsp; &nbsp;</span></span></div>

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<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">Collector Lewis Curtis, US Customs, registered the following boats at Biloxi in the first eight months of 1936: <strong><em><u>Annie</u> <u>L</u>.</em></strong>, Dudley Lang; <em><strong>Cecile</strong></em>, Miss Elizabeth Misko; <u><strong><em>Cal Williams</em></strong></u>, DeJean Packing Company; <u><em><strong>Doris M.</strong></em></u>, Martin Fountain Sr.; <em><strong><u>Dorothy T</u>.</strong></em>, Mrs. H.M. Toche; <u><em><strong>Della Moore</strong></em></u>, Mr. and Mrs. L.B. Moore; <u><strong><em>Evelyn K</em></strong></u>., P.F. Pevrie of Gulfport; <u><em><strong>Iris-Beverly</strong></em></u>, Dubaz Brothers; <u><em><strong>Lucky Bill</strong></em></u>, Henry Green; <em><strong>Mary B.</strong></em>, Mrs. Mary Braneki; <u><em><strong>Miss Roumania</strong></em></u>, John Cocojar; <u><em><strong>Milna</strong></em></u>, Philipich Brother;<u> <em><strong>Progress</strong></em></u>, Arthur Baker; <u><em><strong>Pearl S</strong></em></u><strong>.</strong>, Pearl Stanovich; <u><em><strong>Pete Pitalo</strong></em></u>, Mateo Pitalo; <u><em><strong>Queen Mary</strong></em></u>, Antonio Pitalo; <em><strong>Rose</strong></em>, Joe Berry; <em><strong><u>Ronald Boy</u></strong></em>, Ophelia Williams; <u><em><strong>Rose Marie</strong></em></u>, Mrs. Lillian Krohn; <u><em><strong>Rose Mar</strong></em>y</u>, Roland Creel; <u><em><strong>Sea</strong></em> <em><strong>Queen</strong></em></u>, Ralph Baker; <u><em><strong>Silver King</strong></em></u>, John E. Graham of Coden, Alabama; <u><em><strong>Wallace S.</strong></em></u>, Steve C. Sekul; <u><em><strong>Buda</strong></em></u>, Peter Sekul; <strong><em><u>Anna Williams</u></em></strong>, Carroll Williams Jr.; <u><em><strong>Anthony Boy</strong></em></u>, Tony Baricev; <u><strong><em>Antonia Margaret</em></strong>,</u> Mavar Fish &amp; Oyster Company; <u><em><strong>Eva Marie</strong></em></u>, Grego and Matthew Taliancich; <u><em><strong>Elda Louise</strong></em></u>, James F. Powell and William K. Skinner; and <u><strong><em>Golden Hope</em></strong></u>, Mrs. Agnes Fountain.</span><span style="font-size:14px">(The Daily Herald, August 29, 1936, p. 1) &nbsp;</span></span></div>

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<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">In late August, he <em><strong>Liberty Bell</strong></em>, a 38-foot by 11.4-foot, power boat, which took three months to build by Sydney Manuel and Louis Manuel, was launched and put into service for the <strong>Dorgan-McPhillips Packing</strong> Company. &nbsp;The <em><strong>Liberty Bell</strong></em> was powered by a Red Seal Continenetal motor equipped to burn parafin. &nbsp;She had a top&nbsp;speed of&nbsp;10 mph and hed the capacity to carry 80 barrels of shrimp and 150 barrels of oysters.[The Daily Herald, September 2, 1936, p. 5]</span></span></div>

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<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The <strong>DeJean Packing Company launched</strong> a new type vessel, the <em><u><strong>Eustis McManus</strong></u></em>&nbsp;.&nbsp; The boat was built at the Covacevich Shipyard and was&nbsp;48-feet long with 15-foot beam</span><span style="font-size:14px">&nbsp;and was powered by a 24 horsepower Lathrop engine.(The Daily Herald, November 2, 1936, p. 5)</span></span></div>

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<div class="rtecenter"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>1937</strong></span></span></div>

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<div class="rtecenter"><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/inline/images/Pan%20American%20Clipper-May%201937.jpg" style="height:400px; width:291px" /></div>

<div class="rtecenter"><span style="font-size:12px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">[The Daily Herald, May 29, 1937]</span></span></div>

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<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif; font-size:14px">The&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong><u><em>Pan American Clipper</em></u></strong></span><span style="font-family:georgia,serif; font-size:14px">, a $15,000, diesel powered, excursion boat, recently completed by Toche Brothers Shipyard on East Beach, has been operating for several weeks between Biloxi and Ship Island with Captain Peter Skrmetta at the helm. &nbsp;The vessel <strong>was built for the Mavar Fish and Oyster Company</strong> and runs at 12 mph. &nbsp;The boats runs from her main landing at the foot of Delaunay Street [Baltar Pier?] and makes stops at the Buena Vista, Hotel Biloxi, and White House piers&nbsp;</span><strong>on its regular schedule of three trips daily</strong><span style="font-family:georgia,serif; font-size:14px">.(The Daily Herald, March 30, 1937, p. 3, May 29, 1937, p. 6, and June 25, 1938, p. 3)</span></div>

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<div><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">On June 19th,&nbsp;</span></span><span style="font-family:georgia,serif; font-size:14px">the&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>Covacevich Ship Yard lauched the <u><em>Seawanhaka II</em></u>&nbsp;</strong></span><span style="font-family:georgia,serif; font-size:14px">for Eddie Keep, a retired NOLA banker. &nbsp;The vessel was 30 feet in&nbsp;length with a 7 foot beam. &nbsp;Buckingham of Biloxi made the sails for the Marconi rigged sloop which was to compete in local regattas.(The Daily Herald, June 19, 1937, p. 6)</span></div>

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<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>Francis Brander</strong> (1886-1965) launched the <u><strong><em>Catherine Pitalo</em></strong></u> for Alex Pitalo. &nbsp;The vessel was 54 feet long; 16.4 feet at the beam; and powered by a 36 horsepower Lathrop engine. &nbsp;This was the twelfth boat constructed at the Brander yard on Back Bay adjacent to the Southern Shell Packing Company factory. &nbsp;Mr. Brander and Willie Bowen are now laying the keel for a 54 foot by 16 foot power boat for John Mixad. &nbsp;They are also building a 40 foot by 12 foot vessel for T. Creel, which will be launched in ten days.(The Daily Herald, July 12, 1937, p. 5)</span></span></div>

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<div class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">In September, the <strong>Covacevich Ship Yard began work on a new 64-foot yacht for E.W. Reed </strong>of Magnolia, Mississippi.&nbsp; The vessel to be called <u><strong><em>Mary Ellen II </em></strong></u>had a 17-foot beam and 5-foot draft and was powered by a 200 h.p. diesel.&nbsp; Mr. Reed sold the <u><em><strong>Mary Ellen </strong></em></u>to B.S. D'Aantonio.&nbsp; Captain Eddie Cannette will sail and maintain the vessel for E.W. Reed.(The Daily Herald, September 30, 1937, p. 2)</span></span></div>

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<div class="rtejustify"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>Henry Fountain</strong> completed the <u><strong><em>Jean Fountain</em></strong></u>, a 56.5-foot by 16.4-foot, motor vessel, for the Biloxi Canning Company. &nbsp;The <strong><em>Jean Fountain&nbsp;</em></strong>was to dredge oysters with her 36 HP engine.[The Daily Herald, November 16, 1937, p. 2]</span></span></div>

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<div class="rtecenter"><span style="font-size:12px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>1938</strong></span></span></div>

<div class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>Ingalls Shipbuilding was organized by Robert Ingersoll Ingalls Sr</strong>. (1882-1951), Robert I. Ingalls Jr. (1906-1968), Monro Bannister Lanier (1887-1970), and W.R. Guest. The Ingalls' yard was situated at the mouth of the East Pascagoula River on the site of the 1917 International Shipbuilding yard of Henry Piaggio (1874-1921) et al.(The Daily Herald, February 25, 1959, p. s10)</span></span></div>

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<div class="rtecenter"><span style="font-size:12px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>1940</strong></span></span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">On New Year's Day, <strong>Felix Olier</strong> (1907-1940), native of Lafayette, Louisiana, <strong>drowned when he fell</strong> from the <u><em><strong>Clara Lopez</strong></em></u>, owned by Jack Lopez and working for the Cruso Canning Company.(The Daily Herald, January 2, 1940, p. 1)</span></span></div>

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<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">On February 7th, <strong>a fire at the J.D. Covacevich Shipyard on Back Bay</strong>, which was investigated by Alonzo L. Gabrich, police chief, and Evon Swetman, asst. fire chief, and determined to be arson<strong> caused $6000 damage to the hull and deck of a 64-foot, freight boat. </strong>&nbsp;The vessel was under<strong> construction for the Burwood Packing Company.</strong> &nbsp;The frame of a <strong>boat being built for Stamps Farrar</strong>, NOLA attorney, received about $100 from the conflagration.(The Daily Herald, February 8, 1940, p. 1)</span></span></div>

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<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The <strong>Seajoy Corporation was operating three vessels from the Riviera Hotel pier</strong> for deep-sea fishing, boat rides, and swimming parties to the barrier isalnds. &nbsp;<strong>Captain L. J. Herrman</strong> ran the <strong><u><em>Sea Queen</em></u></strong>, a 58-foot long, watercraft which could sleep fourteen. &nbsp;Two Chris Craft deluxe clippers were also used for charters.(The Daily Herald, May 13, 1940, p. 3) &nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></div>

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<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>August Carl Hartman</strong> (1912-1940) died suddenly on May 13th while aboard the <strong><em><u>June Rose</u></em></strong>, a 42-foot trawler owned by Laz Quave and Roy Rosalis. &nbsp;The vessel was located between Main Pass and Chandeleur Island when Hartman expired.(The Daily Herald, May 14, 1940)&nbsp;</span></span></div>

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<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">On June 8th,&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>Ingalls Shipbuilding&nbsp;</strong></span><span style="font-size:14px">at Pascagoula launched the</span><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>&nbsp;<u><em>Exchequer</em></u>,&nbsp;</strong></span><span style="font-size:14px">an 18,000 ton, an &nbsp;</span><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>all-welded ship</strong></span><span style="font-size:14px">.(The Daily Herald, June 8, 1945, p. 1)</span></span></div>

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<div class="rtecenter"><span style="font-size:12px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>1941</strong></span></span></div>

<div class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">In early February, the<strong><em> <u>Louis Goldman</u></em></strong> with Captain Joseph Spanner (1899-1980) at the helm <strong>caught fire and sank in the Biloxi Channel west of the Biloxi Lighthouse.</strong> &nbsp;The vessel valued at $4000 was enroute to the Pass Christian oyster reefs with a crew of six. &nbsp;It had left the Biloxi Canning Company on Back Bay. &nbsp;The captain and crew were rescued from the water by <u><em><strong>Nettie</strong></em></u>, a boat that also belonged to the Biloxi Canning Compnay.(The Daily Herald, February 3, 1941, p. 1)</span></span></div>

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<div class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">Captain Eddie Ford and the<u> <em><strong>Bonnie Yvonne</strong></em></u><em><strong>,</strong></em> a power boat, again <strong>brought artifacts from a sunken vessel</strong> that he had disocvered <strong>fifteen miles south of Bay St. Louis in the St. Joe's Channel</strong>. Captain Ford had recovered in his trawl,<strong> a musket, 3" cannon balls, and other relics</strong>, which he brought to Biloxi.(The Daily Herald, February 12, 1941, p. 8)</span></span></div>

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<div class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>Corbett Summerlin</strong> (1892-1941), native of Theodore, Alabama and crewman on the <strong><u><em>Lillian Holley</em></u></strong> which was run by Captain Joe Wilson,</span><strong><span style="font-size:14px"> drowned on March 7th </span></strong><span style="font-size:14px">near the Southern Shell Fish Company factory</span><strong><span style="font-size:14px"> on Back Bay</span></strong><span style="font-size:14px">.(The Daily Herald, March 8, 1941, p. 1)</span></span></div>

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<div class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/u4/Westergard Boat Works-aerial-.jpg" style="height:168px; width:250px" /></span></div>

<div class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>WESTERGARD SHIPYARD</strong> [far left]</span></div>

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<div class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong><span style="font-size:14px">The Biloxi Port Commission accepted the $43,322 bid of general contractor, Currie &amp; Corley of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, to erect a steel building </span></strong><span style="font-size:14px">[$18,486]</span><strong><span style="font-size:14px"> to be used as a boat plant </span></strong><span style="font-size:14px">at the foot of Holly Street [sic] on </span><strong><span style="font-size:14px">East Back Bay. &nbsp;Albert J. Ragusin </span></strong><span style="font-size:14px">was awarded the</span><strong><span style="font-size:14px"> plumbing contract [$3549]; Ray V. Pisarich, electrical </span></strong><span style="font-size:14px">[$1522]; </span><strong><span style="font-size:14px">and roofing</span></strong><span style="font-size:14px"> [$1365]</span><strong><span style="font-size:14px"> to &nbsp;Biloxi Roofing and Sheet Metal.</span></strong><span style="font-size:14px">(The Daily Herald, April 16, 1941, p. 1)</span></span></div>

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<div class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong><span style="font-size:14px">Elmo Kates </span></strong><span style="font-size:14px">(1917-1941), son of Malisso Kates, </span><strong><span style="font-size:14px">drowned five miles southwest of Bay St. Louis when he fell from the<u><em> Maybelle</em></u>, </span></strong><span style="font-size:14px">a 12-ton, oyster schooner, <strong>working for the Johnson Canning Company. </strong>&nbsp;The crew consisted of Captain Jack Shoemaker, Walter Barnes, Carl King, and Edwin King.(The Daily Herald, April 21, 1941, p. 1)</span></span></div>

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<div class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong><span style="font-size:14px">Ernest Lee Jahncke </span></strong><span style="font-size:14px">(1877-1960),</span><strong><span style="font-size:14px"> native of NOLA, former asst. Secretary of the Navy and former Biloxi summer resident</span></strong><span style="font-size:14px">&nbsp;and well-known Gulf Coast yachtman,<strong> has accepted the post of special representative</strong> of the <strong>Bureau of Ships, Gulf area, for the US Navy</strong>.(The Daily Herald, May 19, 1941, p. 8)&nbsp;</span></span></div>

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<div class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>Ingalls</strong> launched the <u><strong><em>SS African Comet </em></strong></u>on June 28th. &nbsp;The <strong>$4,099,000 vessel was four hundred eighty-nine feet long</strong>, had a sixty-nine foot beam, and a twenty-seven foot draft. &nbsp;It was built for the<strong> American South African Lines</strong>.(The Daily Herald, June 14, 1941, p. 1)&nbsp;</span></span></div>

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<div class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">A <strong>twelve mile match race </strong>between the&nbsp;<u><em><strong>Bill Cruso</strong></em></u> sailed by Larney Summerlin (1897-1955) for the C.C. Canning Company against the&nbsp;<u><strong><em>Cal Williams </em></strong></u>with&nbsp;Captain Thornton of Dejean Packing at the helm, was contested on August 11th. The two hour contested ended with <strong>the Bill Cruso winning by 20 seconds.</strong>(The Daily Herald, August 12, 1941, p. 5)</span></span></div>

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<div class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>Ingalls Ship Building </strong>[A.J. Grassick, general manager]&nbsp;at Pascagoula <strong>contracted with the US Maritime Commission for $150,000,000 to build thirty-one ships </strong>in the next two years. &nbsp;The <strong>all-welded, steel vessels would be cargo, passenger, and a combination cargo-passenger ship</strong>s and finished by the end of 1943.(The Daily Herald, September 13, 1941, p. 1)</span></span></div>

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<div class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">In early September, the <strong>US Navy awarded Westergard Boat Works a contract to build two wooden vessels.</strong>(The Daily Herald, September 19, 1941, p. 1)</span></span></div>

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<div class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>By mid-September, the 16-month efforts of the Biloxi Port Commission and from city officials and leading Biloxi citizens, were nearly realized with the completion of the Westergard Boat Works on Back Bay at the foot of Lee Street. </strong>&nbsp;<strong>I. Daniel Gehr</strong> (1895-1959), local architect supervised the construction of the warehouse, fabricating buiulding, loft and drafting buildings, general offices, and work sheds. &nbsp;The larger strutures were of fabricated steel construction with concrete foundations while the smaller buildings were modern, frame structures. &nbsp;</span><strong><span style="font-size:14px">Currie &amp; Corley of Hattiesburg, Mississippi was the general contractor while other employed to erect the shipyard were: Iron Steel Products Company; </span></strong><strong><span style="font-size:14px">Albert J. Ragusin-</span></strong><strong><span style="font-size:14px">plumbing</span></strong><span style="font-size:14px">;&nbsp;</span><strong><span style="font-size:14px">Ray V. Pisarich, electrical</span></strong><span style="font-size:14px">;&nbsp;</span><strong><span style="font-size:14px">and roofing-</span></strong><strong><span style="font-size:14px">Biloxi Roofing and Sheet Metal. &nbsp;</span></strong><span style="font-size:14px">The Jackson County dredge built the channel into the boatyard which had a 400-foot frontage on Back Bay</span><strong><span style="font-size:14px">.</span></strong><span style="font-size:14px">(The Daily Herald, September 20, 1941, p. 3)</span></span></div>

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<div class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">In early October, a </span><strong><span style="font-size:14px">strike at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula was averted when AFL union welders walked off the job due </span></strong><span style="font-size:14px">to a disagreement in the pay scale. </span><strong><span style="font-size:14px">&nbsp;Shipyard management and the AFL union reached a quick agreement</span></strong><span style="font-size:14px"> and the shipyard lost little time working on</span><strong><span style="font-size:14px"> all-welded, cargo-passenger vessels for the American South African Line and the US Maritime Commission.</span></strong><span style="font-size:14px">(The Daily Herald, October 2, 1941, p. 1 and October 3, 1941, p.1)</span></span></div>

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<div class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">On October 21st, </span><strong><span style="font-size:14px">Ingalls laid the keel for <u><em>USS Monitor</em></u>, the first of four submarine net layers, to be built at th eyard for $50,000,000. &nbsp;</span></strong><span style="font-size:14px">The vessels were about the same size as the</span><strong><span style="font-size:14px"> C-3 cargo ships</span></strong><span style="font-size:14px"> [496 feet in length with a 69-foot beam].(The Daily Herald, October 21, 1941, p. 1-article acclaimed that this was <strong>the first warship ever built in Mississippi</strong>)</span></span></div>

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<div class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong><span style="font-size:14px">The Westergard Boat Works laid the keel for a US Navy submarine chaser on October 21st. &nbsp;The second submarine chaser&nbsp;</span></strong><span style="font-size:12px"><span style="font-size:14px">of the two boat Navy contract was</span></span><span style="font-size:12px"><span style="font-size:14px">&nbsp;<strong>commenced in early November 1941</strong>. &nbsp;<strong>Frederick D. Lawley</strong> (1878-1953),</span><strong><span style="font-size:14px"> Boston naval architect,&nbsp;</span></strong></span><span style="font-size:12px"><span style="font-size:14px">designed the vessels.(The Daily Herald, October 22, 1941, p. 1 and November 5, 1941, p. 1)</span></span></span></div>

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<div class="rtecenter"><span style="font-size:12px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>1942</strong></span></span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>Ingalls launched </strong>the<strong> <u><em>SS Pass Christian</em></u></strong> on November 20th. &nbsp;It was the 4th vessel named for a Mississippi Coast community. &nbsp;The<strong><em> <u>SS Pass Christian</u> </em></strong><em>was renamed</em><strong><em> <u>USS Fred C. Ainsworth</u></em></strong> in 1943.(The Daily Herald, November 21, 1942, p. 1)</span></span></div>

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<div class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">On December 1, 1942, the</span><span style="font-size:14px">&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>Westergard Boat Works was recognized again for its excellence in building boats</strong></span><span style="font-size:14px">&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size:14px">and barges.&nbsp; 8</span><span style="font-size:14px"><sup>th</sup></span><span style="font-size:14px">&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size:14px">District Naval Headquarters awarded the plant with the Navy ‘E’ Pennant with two white stars.&nbsp; The boatyard was first lauded for its work in February 1942</span><span style="font-size:14px"><em>.(The Daily Herald, November 30, 1942, p. 6)</em></span></span></div>

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<div class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>Ingalls </strong>launched the<strong>&nbsp;<em><u>SS Sea Hound</u>,</em></strong><em> an all welded cargo ship,</em></span><span style="font-size:14px">&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size:14px">on December 19th. &nbsp;It was the 17th C-3 ship vessel built. The <u><em><strong>SS Sea Eagle</strong></em></u> had been recently completed.(The Daily Herald, December 21, 1942, p. 1)</span></span></div>

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<div class="rtecenter"><span style="font-size:12px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>1943</strong></span></span></div>

<div class="rtecenter">
<p class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The <u><strong><em>USS Biloxi</em></strong></u> (CL-80) was<strong> launched 23 February at Newport News, Virginia by Katherine G. Braun&nbsp;</strong>(1892-1983), spouse of Biloxi Mayor, Louis E. Braun (1890-1951). &nbsp;Construction began 9 July, 1941.</span></span></p>

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<p class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">In February 1943,&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size:14px">the Heirs-at-Law of Claudia G. Vick Dacey (1869-1937) and Marguerite Dacey (1900-1942) , <strong>executed a one-year lease with an option to purchase to officials of the Westergard Boat Yard, William P. Kennedy II (1873-1951), Victor B. Pringle (1909-1977), Thomas N. Pringle (1906-1970), James W. Pringle (1914-1971) and W.B. Goodman, a co-partnership, on three tracts of land situated on Rhodes Point on the Back Bay of Biloxi.&nbsp; </strong>These three contiguous tracts which were bisected by Bayview Avenue ran north for over 800 feet to Back Bay and were for the part 185 feet in width.&nbsp; The lease ran from February 20, 1943 to February 20, 1944 and cost $1200 per year.&nbsp; If the option were executed during the lease period, the Dacey Heirs would sell their three parcels for $8000.(Harrison Co. Chancery Court Land Deed Bk. 255, p. 69)</span></span></p>

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<p class="rtecenter"><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/u4/USS Henrico [APA-45]-Ingalls March 1943..jpg" style="height:132px; width:200px" /></p>

<p class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong><em>SS Sea Darter</em></strong>, later renamed <strong><em>USS Henrico</em></strong> [APA-45]-image made during Vietnam era</span></p>

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<p class="rtejustify"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>Ingalls Shipbuilding</strong> at Pascagoula, Mississippi <strong>launched</strong> the <strong><em>SS Sea Corsair </em></strong>and <strong><em>SS Sea Darter </em></strong>on March 31, 1943.(The Daily Herald, March 30, 1943, p. 1)</span></span></p>

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<p class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">On June 18th,&nbsp;<strong>Westergard launched its 2nd, composite oil barge.</strong> &nbsp;The <strong>$2,000,000 contract called for the construction of thirty oil barges</strong> to haul petroleum products from Texas-Louisiana to Jacksonville, Florida via the Intracoastal Waterway. &nbsp;The hydrocarbons were off-loaded to other barges for shipment to cities on the Atlantic Seaboard. &nbsp;The <strong>barges were 160 feet long, 34 feet wide, and 10 1/2 feet deep </strong>with the capacity for 6000 barrels. James W. Pringle was superintendent of the boatyard and Connie Collins supervised construction.(The Daily Herald, June 19, 1943, p. 1)</span></span></p>

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<p class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The <u><em><strong>USS Gulfport</strong></em></u>&nbsp;(PF-20), a 303-foot frigate, was <strong>launched on 21 August at the American Ship Building Company yard in Cleveland, Ohio</strong>. &nbsp;The vessel was christened by Mrs. John C. Chambers, nee Porter, of Gulfport, Mississippi, the ship's sponsor. &nbsp;Mrs. Pat Harrison Sr. was the matron of honor. &nbsp;During WWII, the vessel served convoy duty between America and North Africa. &nbsp;<strong>She was sold for scrap at Seattle, Washington in November 1947</strong>.(The Daily Herald, August 27, 1943, p. 1)</span></span></p>

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<p class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The <u><strong><em>SS Sea Owl</em></strong></u> was launched at Ingalls on October 29, 1943. (The Daily Herald, October 21, 1943, p. 7)</span></span></p>

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<p class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/u4/Ingalls-ship launching-1945 maybe.jpg" style="height:202px; width:250px" /></span></p>

<p class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>INGALLS SHIPYARD-1940s</strong></span></p>

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<p class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The </span><strong>Ingalls Ship Building Company at Pascagoula, Mississippi was praised for its war efforts</strong><span style="font-size:14px"> by the director of the US Maritime Commission.(The Daily Herald, November 4, 1943, p. 3)</span></span></p>

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<p class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>William L. Stallings</strong> (1895-1943), <strong>foreman at the Westergard Boat Works</strong>, died suddenly at his home on December 11th.(The Daily Herald, December 13, 1943, p. 2)</span></span></p>

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<p class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The <u><strong><em>SS Sea Perch</em></strong></u> was&nbsp;christened and <strong>launched at Ingalls on December 17, 1943</strong>.(The Daily Herald, December 16, 1943, p. 10)&nbsp;</span></span></p>

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<p class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>Ingalls Shipyard at Pascagoula was awarded the Gold Star for its production</strong>.(The Daily Herald, December 20, 1943, p. 1)</span></span></p>

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<p class="rtecenter"><span style="font-size:12px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>1944</strong></span></span></p>

<p class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">In late February,<strong> Westergard Boat Works launched</strong> the<strong> <u><em>USS Pehewah</em></u></strong><em>,</em> a<strong> 110-foot Navy tugboat. &nbsp;Miss Elizabeth 'Betty' Eileen Burns sponsored the vessel. &nbsp;</strong>She was a 1940 BHS graduate and was <strong>secretary to Warren B. Goodman</strong>, purchasing agent for the boatyard.(The Daily Herald, February 25, 1944, p. 1)</span></span></p>

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<p class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>Westergard Boat Works launched</strong> another <strong>110-ft harbor tugboat </strong>on March 3rd. &nbsp;Betty Burns again broke the champagne bottle on the bow. &nbsp;<strong>About 75 workings days are required to fully equip these vessels</strong>&nbsp;before they are sent to NOLA for assignement.(The Daily Herald, March 2, 1944, p. 1 and March 4, 1944, p. 6)</span></span></p>

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<p class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>Collen C.&nbsp;Scholtes </strong>(1917-1996), wife of <strong>L.</strong>&nbsp;<strong>Joseph Scholtes </strong>(1917-1994), </span><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>Westergard Boat Works employee, launched</strong></span><span style="font-size:14px">&nbsp;another&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>110-ft Navy harbor tugboat in</strong>&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size:14px">March. &nbsp;Two more boats expected to be launched next month.(</span><span style="font-size:14px">The Daily Herald, March 20, 1944, p. 6)</span></span></p>

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<p class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">On April 8, 1944, the <strong>A.W. Covacevich shipyard on Back Bay launched the <u><em>Matthew Kulu</em>z</u></strong>, a streamlined, cabin, type trawler, <strong>for the Kuluz Brothers</strong>. &nbsp;</span><span style="font-size:14px">A 100 HP Caterpillar engine powered t</span><span style="font-size:14px">he vessel, which was 58-feet in length, had a 16-foot beam, and hold depth of 4 1/2 feet with the capcity of 180 barrels of shrimp. &nbsp;<strong> Marie Kuluz </strong>(b. 1933), daughter of Anthony Kuluz (1891-1956) and Annie Mozaro Kuluz (1901-1979), sponsored the shrimp boat. &nbsp;Covacevich has now has two boats under construction: a <strong>52-foot trawler</strong> for the <strong>Biloxi Canning Company</strong> and a <strong>55-foot vessel</strong> for<strong> Louis Thornton</strong>.&nbsp;<strong>Frank Broussard</strong>, <strong>Alex McCaleb,</strong> and <strong>Gene Ryan</strong> assisted A.W. Covacevich in the vessel's vonstruction.(The Daily Herald, April 10, 1944, p. 7)</span></span></p>

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<p class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">Marjorie Mounger sponsored the<u><em><strong> USS Pitchlynn</strong></em></u> [YTB 283], a 110-foot, 400 ton, <strong>Navy harbor tugboat</strong> launched in May 1944 at the&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size:14px">Westergard Boat Works.(The Daily Herald, May 23, 1944, p. 1)&nbsp;</span></span></p>
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<div class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>1945</strong></span></span></div>

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<div><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>Ingalls Shipbuilding at Pascagoula planned to build a railroad locomotive.</strong>(The States-Item, April 30, 1945, p. 7-B and The Morning Advocate, October 3, 1945, p. 6-A)</span></span>

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<div class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">On its fifth annversary,<strong> Ingalls Shipbuilding </strong>launched its 70th ship, the<strong> <em><u>SS Sea Scorpion</u></em>.</strong></span><span style="font-size:14px">(The Daily Herald, June 8, 1945, p. 1)</span></span></div>

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<div style="font-family: monospace, &quot;lucida console&quot;, &quot;trebuchet ms&quot;; font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></div>
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<div class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>Westergard Boat Works </strong>on Back Bay <strong>launched </strong>the second<strong> 65-foot, all-steel, trawler. &nbsp;Two other similar trawlers are under construction at the yard. &nbsp;</strong>The trawlers are completed in six weeks from keel-laying to delivery. &nbsp;The<strong> shrimp hold </strong>for these vessels<strong> is 14 feet by 24 feet</strong>.(The Daily Herald, June 22, 1945, p. 5)</span></span></div>

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<div class="rtecenter"><span style="font-size:12px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>1946</strong></span></span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The <strong><u><em>SS Mormacdawn</em></u></strong> was <strong>launched on January 4, 1946</strong>, the first ship of the new year, and the <strong>77th ship to be built at Ingalls shipyard. </strong>&nbsp;The <strong><em><u>SS Mormacdawn</u></em></strong> was the <strong>third in a series of seven vessels</strong> for the Moore-McCormack Line to be launched in two months.(The Daily Herald, January 5, 1946, p. 1)&nbsp;</span></span></div>

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<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><u><strong><em>Del Norte</em></strong></u>, a 17,000 ton, all-welded vessel <strong>built for Delta Lines</strong> and the first post-WWII luxury liner, was launched on January 11, 1946.(The Daily Herald, January 7, 1946, p. 1)</span></span></div>

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<div class="rtecenter"><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/inline/images/Screen%20Shot%202020-02-17%20at%209.13.08%20AM.png" /></div>

<div class="rtecenter"><strong><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">[The Daily Herald,April 4, 1946, p. 1.</span></span></strong></div>

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<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">After WWII <strong>Francis A. Brander</strong>&nbsp;(1886-1965), Master Ship Builder, returned to Biloxi from Galveston, Texas where he built many vessels for the US Navy and US Army. &nbsp;With <strong>Homer B. Fayard </strong>(1912-2004), his son-in-law, they began building the Brander Deep Sea Trawlers on East Back Bay and Lee Street in 1946.(The Ocean Springs News, May 30, 1957, p. 8)</span></span></div>

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<div class="rtecenter"><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/inline/images/Screen%20Shot%202019-02-09%20at%2010.12.52%20AM.png" /></div>

<div class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><u><em><strong><span style="font-size:14px">Gulf Clipper</span></strong></em></u></span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The <u><strong><em>Gulf Clipper</em></strong></u> was launched at the Tony Jack Covacevich SY on Back Bay. &nbsp;She was built by Oral Covacevich for <strong>Marko Skrmetta</strong> for the family&nbsp;Ship Island tour&nbsp;business. The boat was 60-feet in length with a beam of 23-feet and of 63 gross tons with&nbsp;the capacity for carrying&nbsp;250-passengers. &nbsp;<strong>Peter Skrmetta</strong> was to captain the vessel. &nbsp;The watercraft&nbsp;was sold to <strong>Captain</strong>&nbsp;<strong>Ben L. Herndon</strong>&nbsp;[1912-2004] of Corpus Christi, Texas in July 1952. It was used to haul tourists&nbsp;to Padre Island from Corpus Christi.[The Daily Herald, June 1, 1946, p. 2 and July 31, 1952, p. 2 and The Corpus Christi Caller-Times. August&nbsp;17,&nbsp;1952, p. 29</span></span></div>

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<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>Kennedy-Moran Enterprises Boat Works moved into the abandon Westergard Shipyard on Back Bay in October 1946 </strong>and had built 830 boats during its first year of operation. Moran had nine basic boat designs ranging in length from eight to seventeen feet. &nbsp;The Joseph Moran et al <strong>built boats were distributed locally by Bel-Bru Sporting Goods</strong> at 112 East Howard Avenue.(The Daily Herald, November 1, 1946, p. 7 and September 13, 1947)</span></span></div>

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<div class="rtecenter"><span style="font-size:12px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>1947</strong></span></span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>Lewis E. Curtis Sr.</strong>, Deputy Collector of Customs, announced that <strong>Biloxi's boat builders had completed 56 watercraft in 1947</strong>, as compared to <strong>68 in 1946</strong>.(The Daily Herald, January 3, 1948, p. 1)</span></span></div>

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<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The <strong><em>Roy Rosalis</em></strong>, a 50-foot fishing boat, <strong>owned by Union Fisheries of Biloxi, burned to the waterline </strong>in a fire which occurred March 22nd about ten miles south of&nbsp; Gulfport.&nbsp; Arthur Landry was captain of the vessel and Mr. Comeaux, his crewman, escaped injury.&nbsp; Roy Rosalis of Union Fisheries said that the boat was built for $11,000 and that its salvage value was estimated at $800.&nbsp; There was no insurance coverage.(The Daily Herald, march 31, 1947, p. 3)</span></span></div>

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<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The <strong>Biloxi Boatwrecking Company owned by B.T. Jones</strong> of Memphis, Tennessee whose business was the dismantling and scrapping an LCI at the Moran Boat Works, Inc. suspended operations in mid-September because of his illness. &nbsp;Jones had purchased about 25 LCIs and 2 LSTs and they were in storage at Lake Charles, Louisiana. &nbsp;He planned to bring them to Biloxi for scrapping. &nbsp;Jones employed about 25 people in his operations</span><span style="font-size:14px">(The Daily Herald, September 13, 1947)</span><span style="font-size:14px">.</span></span></div>

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<div class="rtecenter"><span style="font-size:12px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>1948</strong></span></span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:12px"><strong>Anton 'Brother' Francis Moran</strong> (1882-1948), lifelong <strong>Biloxi boat builder,</strong> died on February 12, 1948. &nbsp;He had been associated with the <strong>Moran Boat Works</strong> founded recently and during WW II was emplyed at the <strong>Westergard &nbsp;Boat Works. </strong>&nbsp;Anton was the brother of <strong>Fred Moran, Eddie Moran</strong> and<strong> Felix Moran </strong>and the spouse of <strong>Frances Bayer </strong>(1887-1967).(The Daily Herald, February 13, 1948, p. 5)</span></span></div>

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<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">In February and March, <strong>Ingalls Shipbuilding acquired a $5 million dollar contract </strong>to convert a 24,000 ton, troop ship into a luxury liner and a $2 million dollar contract for &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; .(The Daily Herald, February 28, 1948 and March 19, 1948)</span></span></div>

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<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The <strong><em><u>Wild Duck</u></em></strong>, a <strong>new 65-foot yacht</strong> owned by William P. Kennedy II, <strong>while on its shake-down cruise exploded</strong> and burned <strong>east of Ship Island about seven miles off Biloxi </strong>in early December. &nbsp;Mr. Kennedy and wife with their guests, <strong>Mr. and Mrs. William C. Gould of Detroit, Michigan, paddled a skiff</strong> from the derelict watercraft to Deer Island and saved themselves.(The Daily Herald, Decemebr 6, 1948, p. 1)</span></span></div>

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<div class="rtecenter"><span style="font-size:12px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>1949</strong></span></span></div>

<div class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The <strong>Arnold V. Walker </strong>(1912-2005) <strong>Shipyard at Pascagoula</strong> which was establised in 1944 has four vessels under construction valued at $700,000.(The Daily Herald, March 17, 1949)</span></span></div>

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<div class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>John Adolph Toche</strong> and <strong>Joseph Adolph Toche</strong>, his son, <strong>proprietors of Quality Boat Works of Biloxi</strong>, have began construction of <strong>all cypress skiffs</strong>.&nbsp; Their boats weigh between 60 and 80 pounds.&nbsp; The 80 pounders have a bait well and are&nbsp; about 8 inches wider than the 60 pound skiff.&nbsp; A.J. 'Tony' Creel, City Commissioner, recently&nbsp;acquired an 80 pound skiff that was nine feet in length and thirty-eight inches wide.&nbsp; Quality Boat Works is also building a $22,000 trawler for A.O. Suarez [probably meant Armindo O. Soares].&nbsp; This vessel is 55-feet long and powered by a 165 HP GM engine.</span><span style="font-size:14px">(The Daily Herald, April 7, 1949, Sec. 2, p. 1)</span></span></div>

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<div class="rtecenter"><span style="font-size:12px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>1951</strong></span></span></div>

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<div class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">In early June, <strong>Brander Shipyard completed</strong> the <u><em><strong>Henry Barnett</strong></em></u>, a 62-foot, deep-sea, trawler powered by a 165 HP GM diesel, for Crawford Packing Company of Palacios, Texas. &nbsp;Branderr</span><strong>&nbsp;planned to soon launch a 72-foot trawler</strong><span style="font-size:14px">&nbsp;and t<strong>wo, 70-foot trawlers</strong> for shrimp packers at Corpus Christi, Texas.(The Daily Herald, June 8, 1951, p. 8)</span></span></div>

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<div class="rtejustify">&nbsp;</div>

<div class="rtejustify"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">In June, the <strong><em>Buccanier</em></strong>, a 42-foot, pleasure boat was <strong>completed for J.H. Rouse</strong>. &nbsp;The <strong>$10,000 vessel was built by Otis Eleuterius</strong> for $10,000 and was powered by a 225 HP diesel ebgine. &nbsp;Anson Holley built the cabin.(The Daily Herald, June 29, 1951, p. 11)</span></span></div>

<div class="rtejustify">&nbsp;</div>

<div class="rtejustify">&nbsp;</div>

<div class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The&nbsp;<em><u><strong>Clara Foutain</strong></u>,<strong>&nbsp;</strong></em>owned by Carey Galle', and&nbsp;<u><strong><em>Warren Galle</em></strong></u>, owned by Cecil Galle', both sank in the Chandeleur Islands in mid-December, victims of a strong nortwester. &nbsp;The water pump on the&nbsp;<em><strong><u>Clara Fountain</u></strong></em>, which was manned&nbsp;by&nbsp;<strong>Carey Galle'</strong></span><span style="font-size:12px"><span style="font-size:12px"><span style="font-size:14px">&nbsp;and&nbsp;<strong>Cecil Galle'</strong>,&nbsp;broke and the&nbsp;<em><strong>Warren Galle</strong></em>, with&nbsp;<strong>Moze Hebert</strong>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<strong>Nickie Hebert&nbsp;</strong>aboard, went to her aid when both vessels got caught in a winter storm and sank in shallow water. &nbsp;The fishermen were rescued by the&nbsp;<strong><em>Nike</em></strong>, a USCG cutter.(The Daily Herald, December 17, 1951, p. 1)</span></span></span></span></div>

<div class="rtejustify">&nbsp;</div>

<div class="rtecenter">&nbsp;</div>

<div class="rtecenter">&nbsp;</div>

<div class="rtecenter"><strong><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">1952</span></span></strong></div>

<div>&nbsp;</div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">In October, <strong>the Covacevich Ship Yard contracted to build 7 boats</strong>-two&nbsp;55-foot party boats and and five&nbsp;70-foot deep sea trawlers. &nbsp;The party boats were for Florida and the shrimp boats for an Alabama client.(The Daily Herald, October 4, 1952, p. 6)</span></span></div>

<div class="rtecenter">&nbsp;</div>

<div class="rtecenter">&nbsp;</div>

<div class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>1953</strong></span></div>

<div class="rtejustify"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>Zona W. Carter</strong> (1879-1953), naval arhcitect and designer and a native of NOLA and long time Biloxi resident expired on November&nbsp;20th.(The Daily Herald, November&nbsp;20, 1953, p. 7)</span></span></div>

<div class="rtejustify">&nbsp;</div>

<div class="rtecenter">&nbsp;</div>

<div class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>1956</strong></span></div>

<div class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>Toche Boat Builders and Repair Yard, Inc. chartered in Jackson County, Mississippi</strong> in June 1956.&nbsp; Four hundred shares of stock with a par value of $100 per share.&nbsp; Incorporators: John Adaulph Toche; Joseph Adaulph Toche; William Rogers Toche; and John Anthony Toche.(JXCO, Ms. Charter Bk. 3, pp. 93-98)</span></span></div>

<div class="rtejustify">&nbsp;</div>

<div class="rtejustify">&nbsp;</div>

<div class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>Robert Ingalls' yacht</strong>, <em><u><strong>Rhonda III</strong></u></em>, one of the largest yachts to <strong>dock at the Biloxi Inner Harbor</strong> arrived in early July. &nbsp;The vessel was built at the Ingalls' facilities at Pascagoula and Birmingham, Alabama. &nbsp;The vessel was 96 feet long and had a cruising range of 2500 miles and top speed of 13 knots. &nbsp;The <strong><em><u>Rhonda II </u></em></strong>burned in 1955.(The Daily Herald, July 6, 1956, p. 9)</span></span></div>

<div class="rtejustify">&nbsp;</div>

<div class="rtecenter">&nbsp;</div>

<div class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>1958</strong></span></div>

<div class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The <u><em><strong>Socrates</strong></em></u>, a $40,000, 62-foot long and 19-foot wide, deep sea trawler built for the Liberty Fish and Oyster Company of Galveston, Texas was launched in late February at the Brander SY. &nbsp;This is the first of four vessel to be constructed for Liberty in Mississippi by Mr. Brander, but he had built boats for them in Texas.(The Daily Herald, February 25, 1958, p. 10) &nbsp;</span></span></div>

<div class="rtejustify">&nbsp;</div>

<div class="rtecenter">&nbsp;</div>

<div class="rtecenter"><span style="font-size:12px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>1959</strong></span></span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The <strong><em><u>Savannah</u>,</em> </strong>the <strong>world's first nuclear powered merchant vessel</strong>, was launched by 1st Lady, Mamie Eisenhower (1896-1979), at Camden, New Jersey on July 21st<em>.(The Daily Herald, July 21, 1959, p. 1)</em></span></span></div>

<div>&nbsp;</div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The <u><em><strong>S.S. James Lykes</strong></em></u>, the first of 53 new cargoliners to be built by Ingalls for Lykes Brothers Steamship Company at a cost of $500,000 each, <strong>was launched on December 12th</strong>&nbsp;at Pascagoula, Mississippi.(The Daily Herald, December 12, 1959, p. 1)</span></span></div>

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<div class="rtecenter">&nbsp;</div>

<div class="rtecenter"><span style="font-size:12px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>1960</strong></span></span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">In January 1960, the <strong>Covacevich Shipyard</strong> completed the <strong><em>Char-Ma-Ann</em></strong>, a smack boat built for Cook Fisheries of Panama City, Florida. &nbsp;She was 50 feet long with a 16-foot beam and was a snapper fishing boat. &nbsp;The shipyard also finished the <strong><em>Moreno Queen</em></strong>, a party boat, for C. Kelly of Destin, Florida. &nbsp;She was 65 feet in length with a 24-foot beam.</span></span><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">(The Daily Herald, January 18, 1960, p. 14)&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></div>

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<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">&nbsp;</span></span></div>

<div>&nbsp;</div>

<div class="rtecenter"><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/Biloxi%20boat-Covacevich%20%2522Island%20Belle%2522-DH%2C%20march%2016%2C%201960%2C%20p.%2019..jpg" style="height:327px; width:400px" /></div>

<div>&nbsp;</div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">In March, <strong>Covacevich Shipyard completing the <em>Island Belle</em></strong>, a <strong>57-foot snapper boat</strong>, for Charles E. Hawkins of Palmetto, Florida .(The Daily Herald, March 16, 1960, p. 19)</span></span></div>

<div>&nbsp;</div>

<div>&nbsp;</div>

<div>&nbsp;</div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The <strong>Maritime Administration was studying the bid of Ingall's Shipbuilding Company to construct four cargo</strong> <strong>vessels for Lykes Brothers Steamship Company at an estimated cost of $36 million</strong>. &nbsp;Bethelem Steel Corporation of Sparrows Point, Maryland &nbsp;was the other bidder.(The Daily Herald, June 17, 1960, p. 2)</span></span></div>

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<div>&nbsp;</div>

<div class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong><span style="font-size:14px">1962</span></strong></span></div>

<div class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">In July, <strong>Cabana Club Inc.</strong>, a Jake Mladinich family enterprise that operated the <strong>Fiesta</strong>, <strong>Sea &amp; Sirloin Restaurant</strong>, <strong>Trader John's</strong> and the <strong>Cabana Beach Motel</strong> on West Beach, acquired for $8600, a river boat from the US Corps of Engineers at Tuscaloosa, Alabama. &nbsp;The 158-foot long with a 30-foot beam, paddle-wheeler was built in 1925 at Charleston, S.C. &nbsp;The Mladinichs planned to use the vessel as a floating museum or touring boat.(The Daily Herald, July 23, 1962, p. 5)</span></span></div>

<div class="rtejustify">&nbsp;</div>

<div class="rtejustify">&nbsp;</div>

<div class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>1964</strong></span></span></div>

<div class="rtejustify">
<div><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>Mrs. Joe W. Brown, nee Dorothy Dorsett&nbsp;</strong>(1896-1989)<strong>, had her new $100,000, 56-foot long, luxury yacht brought down the Mississippi River to her new $3.5 million Broadwater Marina in late August</strong>. &nbsp;The vessel was built by <strong>Roamer Yachts of the Chris-Craft Corporation at Holland, Michigan</strong>.(The Daily Herald, August 25, 1964, p. 21)</span></span></div>

<div>&nbsp;</div>
</div>

<div class="rtejustify">&nbsp;</div>

<div class="rtejustify"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">The <em><strong>Gemini</strong></em>, a 71-foot, snapper boat built by the Covacevich Yard for <strong>Quality Foods of Bayou LaBatre</strong>, Alabama was launched in late August.(The Daily herald, September 2, 1964, p. 9 with photo)</span></span></div>

<div class="rtejustify">&nbsp;</div>

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<div class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>Ingalls to build four cargo ships </strong>costing $55 million for American President Lines.(The Daily Herald, December 23, 1964, p. 1)</span></span></div>

<div class="rtecenter">&nbsp;</div>

<div class="rtecenter">&nbsp;</div>

<div class="rtecenter"><span style="font-size:12px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>1965</strong></span></span></div>

<div class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>Francis A. Brander </strong>(1886-1965), Master Boat Builder, expired on May 18, 1965. &nbsp;Burial in the Biloxi City Cemetery.(The Daily Herald, May 18, 1965, p. 2)</span></span></div>

<div class="rtejustify">&nbsp;</div>

<div class="rtejustify">&nbsp;</div>

<div class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>Ingalls Shipbuilding Corporation planned to build for Litton Industries Leasing Corporation, six, super-container ships of 910-foot length</strong> with a speed of 27 knots.(The Daily Herald, October 27, 1965, p. 39)</span></span></div>

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<div class="rtecenter">&nbsp;</div>

<div class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>1967</strong></span></div>

<div class="rtecenter">
<div>&nbsp;</div>

<div class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif; font-size:14px">Three vessels have recently been launched at Toche Boat Builders in Ocean Springs. &nbsp;All three boats are 72 feet long and 22 feet wide and are steel, shrimp trawlers. &nbsp;Owners of these watercraft are: L.E. and Fuller Childress of Fairhope, Alabama; Alton Fabre of Barataria, Louisiana; and the George Engine Company of Harvey, Louisiana. A 45-foot, wooden shrimp boat was also launched for John Martinez of St. Bernard, Louisiana. &nbsp;Two keels are being laid at Toche for two 75-foot steel trawlers and another 72-foot steel trawler is being built for Clarence Billiot of Marrero, Louisiana. &nbsp;W.W. Swan of New Orleans is having the shipyard build a 50-foot yacht.(The Daily Herald, August 3, 1967, p. 24)</span></div>

<div class="rtejustify">&nbsp;</div>
</div>

<div class="rtecenter">&nbsp;</div>

<div class="rtecenter">&nbsp;</div>

<div class="rtecenter"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>1968</strong></span></span></div>

<div class="rtejustify">&nbsp;</div>

<div class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/u4/Toche steel-hull%2C shrimp boat-march 14%2C 1968.jpg" style="height:186px; width:250px" /></span></div>

<div class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>TOCHE INDUSTRIES-</strong><u><em>Cumberland Trail</em></u></span></div>

<div class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">[from <em>The Daily Herald, March 14, 1968</em>]</span></div>

<div class="rtejustify">&nbsp;</div>

<div class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">On June 12th. Toche Industries released the <u><strong><em>Blue Angel</em></strong></u>, a <strong>73-foot, $86,000 steel hull, shrimp trawler</strong>, to Stewart &amp; Stevenson of Palacios, Texas. &nbsp;She was the sixth vessel completed by Toche in 1968 with eight steel vessels and two wooden boats under construction in the shipyard.</span><span style="font-size:14px">(The Daily Herald, June 13, 1968, p. 23)</span></span></div>

<div class="rtejustify">&nbsp;</div>

<div class="rtejustify">&nbsp;</div>

<div class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The</span><strong>&nbsp;intial site work and dredging to build the new $130 million West Bank Shipyard for Ingalls at Pascagoula</strong><span style="font-size:14px">, Mississippi commenced in June.(The Daily Herald, June 14, 1968, p. 1)</span></span></div>

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<div class="rtecenter">&nbsp;</div>

<div class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong><span style="font-size:14px">1969</span></strong></span></div>

<div class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>A.W. "Tony Jack' Covacevich</strong> (1907-1997) launched two steel-hulled, vessels on March 1st. &nbsp;The <u><em><strong>David Hall</strong></em></u>, a 75-foot trawler, was built for the DeJean Packing Company, while <strong><em><u>Big Bill,</u></em></strong> an 85-foot fishing boat, was built for the Kennedy family.(The Daily Herald, March 3, 1969, Sec. II, p. 15)</span></span></div>

<div class="rtejustify">&nbsp;</div>

<div class="rtejustify">&nbsp;</div>

<div class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>Ingalls</strong> [a Litton subsidary] <strong>planned to enter the business of overhauling submarines</strong>.(The Daily Herald, April 16, 1969, Sec. II, p. 21)</span></span></div>

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<div class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong><span style="font-size:14px">1970</span></strong></span></div>

<div class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>Jules Jerome Galle'</strong> (1882-1970), master boat builder of commercial fishing watercraft, died on July 16, 1970. &nbsp;Some of his vessels were: <em><strong>Deborah</strong></em> built in 1929 of 38-feet and ten tons for, Ronald B. Broussard; <em><strong>Miss Linda</strong></em> in 1946 for Henry L. Windham of 50-feet and 38 tons; <em><strong>Paw Paw</strong></em> in 1949 of 52-feet and 28 tons for Waletr Venoit Folse.</span></span></div>

<div class="rtecenter">&nbsp;</div>

<div class="rtecenter">&nbsp;</div>

<div class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>1975</strong></span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>Ingalls Shipbuilding Company announced the laying off of 600 management and production personnel </strong>commencing November 14th.(The Daily Herald, November 7, 1975, p. A2)</span></div>

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<div class="rtecenter">&nbsp;</div>

<div class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong><span style="font-size:14px">1976</span></strong></span></div>

<div class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>Oral V. Covacevich&nbsp;</strong>(1902-1976), Biloxi boat builder, expired on April 11, 1976.</span></span></div>

<div class="rtecenter">&nbsp;</div>

<div class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong><span style="font-size:14px">1977</span></strong></span></div>

<div class="rtecenter">&nbsp;</div>

<div class="rtecenter">&nbsp;</div>

<div class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong><span style="font-size:14px">1980</span></strong></span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The <strong><em>Mr. Cheramie, </em></strong>a 65-foot tug boat with a 22-foot beam and powered by two, 400 HP engines, and built for Manny J. Cheramie, Inc., Golden Meadow, Louisiana by Toche Boat Builders, Ocean Springs, Mississippi was delivered in early August.(The Daily Herald, August&nbsp;13, 1970, p. 25)</span></span></div>

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<div class="rtecenter">&nbsp;</div>

<div class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong><span style="font-size:14px">1984</span></strong></span></div>

<div class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>Jim H. McManus</strong>&nbsp;(1929-2000) acquired a <strong>60-ft, cypress shrimp boat</strong>, which had been built in the 1940s by Jake Mladinich Sr. and called <u><strong><em>Freda May</em></strong></u>. &nbsp;McManus renamed the vessel, <em><u><strong>Jefferson Davis I</strong></u></em>, and planned to put it in service to conduct tours up the Biloxi and Tchoutacabouffa River.(The Daily Herald, June 3, 1984, p. C3)</span></span></div>

<div class="rtecenter">&nbsp;</div>

<div class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>1988</strong></span></span></div>

<div class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>John Adaulph Toche</strong> (1900-1988)</span><span style="font-size:14px">, Biloxi and Ocean Springs boat builder and the son of Joseph A. Toche (1872-1960) and Olevia Ryan (1872-1953), died</span><span style="font-size:14px">&nbsp;October 16, 1988.&nbsp; Buried at&nbsp;</span></span><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">Biloxi</span></span><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">&nbsp;</span></span><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">City</span></span><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">&nbsp;</span></span><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">Cemetery</span></span><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">. (The Ocean Springs Record, November 22, 1972, p. 7 and The Ocean Springs Record, October 20, 1988, p. 3)&nbsp;</span></span></div>

<div class="rtecenter">&nbsp;</div>

<div class="rtecenter">&nbsp;</div>

<div class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>1997</strong></span></span></div>

<div class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>Anthony W. 'Tony Jack' Covacevich</strong> (1907-1997), long time <strong>Biloxi ship carpenter</strong>, expired on February 3rd.(The Sun Herald, February &nbsp;1997, p. )</span></span></div>

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<div class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong><span style="font-size:14px">2011</span></strong></span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>Nelious Clarence "Neil' Covacevich&nbsp;</strong></span><span style="font-size:14px">(1920-2011), last of a long time family of Biloxi boat builders, expired on April 6th. &nbsp;Neil's last vessel was the</span><span style="font-size:14px">&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size:14px"><strong><em>Mike Sekul</em></strong></span><span style="font-size:14px">, a Biloxi schooner, created for the Biloxi Seafood and Maritime Museum.(The Sun Herald, April 10, 2011, p. A and April 11, 2011, p. A4)</span><span style="font-size:14px">&nbsp;</span></span></div>

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<div>&nbsp;</div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The <strong><em><u>Sandy Point</u></em></strong>, a 163-foot menhaden fishing boat, working for <strong>Omega Protein</strong>, Moss Point, Mississippi sank in 25-feet of water off the west end of Ship Island after colliding with the&nbsp;<u><strong><em>Eurus London</em></strong></u>, a 660-foot container ship en route to Freeport, Texas. &nbsp;Three seamen from the fishing vessel were missing after the tragedy.(The Sun Herald, May 20, 2011, p. A1)</span></span></div>

<div>&nbsp;</div>

<div>&nbsp;</div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><u><strong><em>Final Fantasy</em></strong></u>, a 54-foot, sports fisherman <strong>caught fire and sank in the Gulf of Mexico </strong>about 150 miles off of Biloxi and <strong>7 miles north of the Ursa oil platform</strong>. &nbsp;Ursa Field is located in Mississippi Canyou Block 854 at N 28.154 latitude and W 89.103 longitude in about 4000 feet of water and is<strong> operated by Shell Oil</strong> from a tension-legged platform.&nbsp;<strong>Edison Chouest Offshore Company rescued </strong>Jamie Sablich, his two sons, and Jordy Pitalo and his son.(The Sun Herald, June 20, 2011, p. A4)</span></span></div>

<div class="rtejustify">&nbsp;</div>

<div class="rtejustify">&nbsp;</div>

<div class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">Both the <u><strong><em>Glenn L. Swetman </em></strong></u>and the <u><strong><em>Mike Sekul </em></strong></u>were not sailing Biloxi's waters as they were both in dry dock for repairs.(The Sun Herald, June 24, 2011)</span></span></div>

<div class="rtejustify">&nbsp;</div>

<div class="rtejustify">&nbsp;</div>

<div class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>Huntington-Ingalls was awarded a $98 million cost-plus, fixed-fee advance procurement contract modification for long lead materials for LPD 27, the 11th amphibious transport dock ship</strong> of the USS San Antonio (LPD 17) class. &nbsp;The first contract was awarded in October 2010.(The Sun Herald, July 15, 2011, p. D6)</span></span></div>

<div class="rtejustify">&nbsp;</div>

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<div class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">Built in the early 1970s by Gene Weems and family and Bill Ross, the owner, and all Biloxians, the <u><em><strong>Lady Vera</strong></em></u> is being restored by <strong>Dale Nelson</strong> (b. 1929) and <strong>Miral Nelson, his son,</strong> with the idea of <strong>putting the 'old lady' back to work</strong> in the Gulf.(The Sun Herald, July 28, 2011, p. B7)</span></span></div>

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<div class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>Huntington-Ingalls was awarded a $698 million contract to build an Arleigh Burke-class, Aegis, guided missile destroyer. &nbsp;Shipyard has work to keep workers busy into 2016.</strong></span><span style="font-size:14px">(The Sun Herald, September 27, 2011, p. A1 and October 5, 2011, p. A9)</span></span></div>

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<div class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The National Security Cutter 3, the <strong><em><u>USCG NSC 3 Captain Dorothy Stratton,</u></em> was delivered</strong> to the <strong>US Coast Guard by Ingalls Shipbuilding&nbsp;</strong>on October 7, 2011.(The Sun Herald, October 8, 2011. p. A4)</span></span></div>

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<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>VT Halter Marine dedicates first of four Egyptian</strong> [fast missle craft) ships, (The Sun Herald, October 26, 2011, p. A5)</span></span></div>

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<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>Bill Holland</strong>, master wooden boat builder, launched the <strong><em>Miss Ashley</em></strong>, a 15-foot, Biloxi catboat, on May 17, 2013.&nbsp; The boat was built for a NOLA man.(The Sun herald, May 16, 2013, p. A1</span></span><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">)</span></span></div>

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<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>Cat boats</strong>, once work boats in the seafood industry are coming back to Mississippi Sound. Jerry Ellis, Bill Holland, Glenn Ellis, Jeff Broussard and Buddy Jumonville are making it happen in Biloxi. A race will be organized, the first cat boat race in 26 years.(The Sun Herald June 9, 2013 &nbsp;p. 10-F)</span></span></div>

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<div id="cke_pastebin"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:16px"><strong>REFERENCES:</strong></span></span></div>

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<div class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">&nbsp;</span></span></div>

<div class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-size:14px">The Biloxi Herald, "Latest City News", August 22, 1896.</span></span><span style="font-size:14px">The Biloxi Daily Herald, "City News", March 29, 1902.</span></span></div>
</div>
</div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The Biloxi Daily Herald, "Shipbuilding", November 17, 1903.</span></span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The Biloxi Daily Herald, "Aftermath of Great Storm, September 28, 1906.</span></span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The Biloxi Daily Herald, "Big Storm in Gulf, 1907.</span></span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The Biloxi Daily Herald, "City News", August 12, 1908.</span></span></div>

<div id="cke_pastebin"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The Daily Herald, "New boat measured", September 9, 1909</span></span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The Daily Herald, "Crew of Biloxi boat saw corpse in marsh", September 6, 1911.</span></span></div>

<div id="cke_pastebin"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The Daily Herald, "New schooner makes good showing", July 8, 1912.&nbsp;</span></span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The Daily Herald, "Maritime News", March 7, 1913.&nbsp;</span></span></div>

<div id="cke_pastebin"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The Daily Herald, "Brander funeral this afternoon", June 16, 1913.</span></span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The Daily Herald, "Captain Johnson goes to beyond", June 26, 1914..&nbsp;</span></span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif; font-size:14px">The Daily Herald, "New boat built at Biloxi yard", December 18, 1916.&nbsp;</span></div>

<div id="cke_pastebin"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The Daily Herald, "Fifty boats built in winter months", January 31, 1917.&nbsp;</span></span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The Daily Herald, "The Charter of Incorporation of the International Shipbuilding Company", February 3, 1917.&nbsp;</span></span></div>

<div id="cke_pastebin"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The Daily Herald, "To build schooners", July 7, 1917.&nbsp;</span></span></div>

<div id="cke_pastebin"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The Daily Herald, "New schooner built at Biloxi", July 12, 1917.&nbsp;</span></span></div>

<div id="cke_pastebin"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The Daily Herald, "Brander Shipyard at Biloxi may be used to build submarine chasers", April 5, 1917.&nbsp;</span></span></div>

<div id="cke_pastebin"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The Daily Herald, "", September 13, 1917.&nbsp;</span></span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The Daily Herald, "Trustee's Sale", April 23, 1918.</span></span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-size:14px">The Daily Herald, "Biloxi schooner [<em>Joseph Leopold</em>]&nbsp;measure bu U.S.", January 23, 1919.</span></span></span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The Daily Herald, "City of Biloxi launched". April 22, 1919.</span></span></div>

<div id="cke_pastebin"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The Daily Herald, "Schoners for entering Regattat", July 1, 1920.&nbsp;</span></span></div>

<div id="cke_pastebin"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The Daily Herald, "Biloxi shipyard sued as bankrupt", June 16, 1921.&nbsp;</span></span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The Daily Herald, "Henry Piaggio answers summons", December June 20, 1921.&nbsp;</span></span></div>

<div id="cke_pastebin"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The Daily Herald, "Handsome boat launched", June 20, 1922.&nbsp;</span></span></div>

<div id="cke_pastebin"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The Daily Herald, "Schooner will be launched tomorrow in Bay of Biloxi", May 28 1929.&nbsp;</span></span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The Daily Herald, "New Biloxi Boat ready", May 6, 1928.</span></span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:15px">The Daily Herald, "Boat released", January 19, 1932.</span></span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The Daily Herald, "To start daily boat service to [Ship] Island", June 26, 1934.</span></span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The Daily Herald, "Boat Building industry is working overtime in Biloxi", August 29, 1936.&nbsp;</span></span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The Daily Herald, "[DeJean Packing Company] Launch new boat", November 2, 1936.</span></span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The Daily Herald, "Launches new boat", July 12, 1937.</span></span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-size:15px">The Daily Herald, "<u><em>Mary Ellen </em></u>No. 2 being built by Reed", Jeptember 30, 1937.</span></span></span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The Daily Herald, "$6000 loss to big boat on Back Bay", February 8, 1940.</span></span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The Daily Herald, "Schooner [Louis] <u><em>Goldman </em></u>destroyed by fire in Biloxi Channel", February 3, 1941.</span></span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The Daily Herald, "Biloxi boats in a romance story [written by Elmer Wescovich]", February 19, 1941.</span></span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The Daily Herald, "Boatman [Corbett Summerlin (1892-1941)] drowns in Back Bay", March 8, 1941.</span></span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The Daily Herald, "Biloxian [Elmo Kates] drowns in fall from boat", April 21, 1941.</span></span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The Daily Herald, "Launch all-welded passenger ship", June 14, 1941.</span></span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The Daily Herald, "<u><em>Bill Cruso</em></u> wins Biloxi match race", August 12, 1941.</span></span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The Daily Herald, "To christen ship", October 21, 1943.</span></span>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="background-color:rgb(241, 237, 224); font-size:14px">The Daily Herald, "Ingalls Yard comes in for praises by Maritime Director", November 4, 1943.</span></span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The Daily Herald, "William Stallings died suddenly", December 12, 1943.</span></span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The Daily Herald, "To launch Sea Owl at Ingalls on Friday", December 16, 1943.</span></span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The Daily Herald, "First ship of 1946 launched at Ingalls Pascagoula shipyard", January 5, 1946.</span></span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">The Daily Herald, "Ingalls to launch new line Friday", January 7, 1946.</span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">The Daily Herald, "33-foot craft [<u><em><strong>Janalyce</strong></em></u> of Charles Gaskin]is launched at Ingalls", October 31, 1946, p. 13.</span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">The Daily Herald, "Moran Boat Works makes 830 boats during past year", September 13, 1947.</span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">The Daily Herald, "Suspending scrapping of boats at Biloxi", September 13, 1947.</span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">The Daily Herald, "Fifty-six boats completed in Biloxi", January 3, 1948.</span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">The Daily Herald, "4 Biloxians escape as yacht burns", December 6, 1948.</span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">The Daily Herald, "A.V. Walker shipyard has big backlog of orders", March 17, 1949.</span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">The Daily Herald, "Build all-cypress skiff at Quality Boat Works in Biloxi", April 7, 1949.</span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">The Daily Herald, "62-foot shrimp trawler built for Texas duty", June 8, 1951, p. 2.</span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">The Daily Herald, "Four fishermen rescued after two boats sink", December 17, 1951.</span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">The Daily Herald, "Ingalls' yacht at Biloxi port during cruise", July 6, 1956.</span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">The Daily Herald, "Brander launches Deep Sea Trawler for Texas waters", February 25, 1958, p.10.</span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">The Daily Herald, "Ingall's SY-Mississippi's largest industry", February 25, 1959, p. s10.</span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">The Daily Herald, "Biloxi's Oldest Shipyard [W.N. Johnson-J.D. Covacevich] one of busiest on Coast", February 25, 1959, p. s12.</span></div>

<div>
<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">The Daily Herald, "Brander's Shipyard in Biloxi", February 25, 1959, p. 20.</span></div>
<span style="font-family:georgia,serif">The Daily Herald, "Toche boat builders operate only travel lift on Gulf Coast", February 25, 1959, p. s24.</span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">The Daily Herald, "Build two boasts at Covacevich's", January 18, 1960.</span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">The Daily Herald, "Ingalls bid on Lykes ships being studied", June 8, 1960, p. 1.</span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">The Daily Herald, "Ingalls to build four cargo ships of $55 million", December 23, 1964.</span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">The Daily Herald, "Francis A. Brander", May 18, 1965.</span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">The Daily Herald, "Sign contract to start new shipyard [Ingall's West Bank]", June 14, 1968.</span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">The Daily Herald, Two steel hull trawlers join shrimping fleet", March 3, 1969, Section II, p. 15.</span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">The Daily Herald, "Jefferson Davis I open for river tours", June 3, 1984.</span></div>

<div>&nbsp;</div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">The Ocean Springs News, "Brander's Ship Yard at Biloxi aid in proseprity of this area specializes in deep sea trawlers", May 30, 1957.</span></div>

<div>&nbsp;</div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">The Sun Herald, "Tony Jack looks back on lifetime of boat building", January 3, 1993.</span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">The Sun Herald, "Homer B. Fayard Sr.", May 20, 2004, p. A5.</span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">The Sun Herald, "Nellus C. Covacevich", April 10, 2011 and April 11, 2011.</span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">The Sun Herald, "Biloxi schooners in dry dock", June 24, 2011.</span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">The Sun Herald, "Huntington-Ingalls wins $98 million Navy contract", July 15, 2011, p. D6.</span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">The Sun Herald, "Looking beyond [Ingalls using composites to build deckhouses] SHIPBUILDING", July 17, 2011, p. C10.</span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">The Sun Herald, "The lugger<em> <u>Lady Vera</u></em><u> </u>poised to make a comeback", July 28, 2011, p. B7.</span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">The Sun Herald, "The Last Schooner [<em>Helen-Lavengro</em>]", August 10, 2011, p. C9.</span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">The Sun Herald, "Ingalls awarded $697 million destroyer contract", September 27, 2011. p. A1.</span></div>

<div>
<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="background-color:rgb(241, 237, 224); font-size:12px">The Sun Herald, "Ingalls Shipbuilding will have work to 2016", October 5, 2011, p. A9.</span></span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">The Sun Herald, "Ingalls delivers first cutter to Coast Guard", October 8, 2011, p. A4.</span>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">The Sun Herald, "Ingalls Shipyard workforce earns praise", October 19, 2011, p. A7.</span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="background-color:rgb(241, 237, 224)">The Sun Herald, "VT Halter dedicates first of four Egyptian ships", October 26, 2011, p. A5.</span></span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="background-color:rgb(241, 237, 224)">The Sun Herald, "Management issues cost Ingalls", November 11, 2011, p. A5.</span></span></div>

<div><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="background-color:rgb(241, 237, 224)">The Sun Herald, "Sailing Miss Ashley", May 17, 2013, p. A1.</span></span></div>
</div>
</div>

<div>&nbsp;</div>

<div class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">________________________________________________________________________________________________________</span></div>

<div class="rtecenter">&nbsp;</div>

<div>
<p class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong><span style="font-size:18px">SHIPYARDS</span></strong></span></p>

<p class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>The Westergard Biloxi Boatyard, Incorporated</strong> [1941-1945]</span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">The Westergard Biloxi Boatyard, Incorporated, known locally as the Westergard Shipyard, was chartered by the State of Mississippi in March 1941.&nbsp;&nbsp;Axel M. Westergard, Rockport, Texas; Rob Roy Rice Sr., Aransas Pass, Texas; and William P. Kennedy Jr., Biloxi, Mississippi were its original founders.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The shipyard was located on Biloxi’s Back Bay at the head of Lee Street and initially comprised about one-acre with a Back Bay frontage of 205 feet.[The Daily Herald, March 28, 1941, p. 9 and Harrison Co., Mississippi Land Deed Bk. 244, p. 177]</span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">The&nbsp;Westergard Shipyard was one of the many military-industrial complexes that were created prior to America’s entry into World War II against Japan and the Axis Powers in early December 1941. Keesler Field and Gulfport Field, both US Army Air Corps facilities, were commenced in 1941.</span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">This shipyard was created to build and repair watercraft for the US Maritime Commission, an entity of the Federal government, which&nbsp;funded and administered the largest and most successful&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merchant_ship" title="Merchant ship">merchant shipbuilding</a>&nbsp;effort in world history, producing thousands of ships, including&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberty_ship" title="Liberty ship">Liberty ships</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victory_ship" title="Victory ship">Victory ships</a>, and others, notably&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_C1_ship" title="Type C1 ship">Type C1</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_C2_ship" title="Type C2 ship">Type C2</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_C3_ship" title="Type C3 ship">Type C3</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_C4-class_ship" title="Type C4-class ship">Type C4</a>&nbsp;freighters and&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T2_tanker" title="T2 tanker">T2 tankers</a>. Most of the C2s and C3s were converted to Navy auxiliaries, notably&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attack_cargo_ship" title="Attack cargo ship">attack cargo ships</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attack_transport" title="Attack transport">attack transports</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Escort_aircraft_carrier" title="Escort aircraft carrier">escort aircraft carriers</a>&nbsp;and many of the tankers became&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:World_War_II_tankers_of_the_United_States" title="Category:World War II tankers of the United States">fleet replenishment oilers</a>. The Commission also was tasked with the construction of many hundred "military type" vessels such as&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landing_Ship,_Tank" title="Landing Ship, Tank">Landing Ship, Tank</a>&nbsp;(LSTs) and&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tacoma-class_frigate" title="Tacoma-class frigate"><em>Tacoma</em>-class</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frigate" title="Frigate">frigates</a>&nbsp;and large&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Transports_of_the_United_States_Navy" title="Category:Transports of the United States Navy">troop transports</a>. By the end of the war, U.S. shipyards working under Maritime Commission contracts had built a total of 5,777 oceangoing merchant and naval ships.&nbsp;[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States/wiki/United_States_ Maritime_Commission]</span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>Ingalls</strong></span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">The only other shipyard of consequence in regards the military on the Mississippi Gulf Coast was the&nbsp;Ingalls Shipbuilding Corporation.&nbsp;&nbsp;In 1938, it was organized by Robert Ingersoll Ingalls Sr. (1882-1951), Robert I. Ingalls Jr. (1906-1968), Monro Bannister Lanier (1887-1970), and W.R. Guest. The Ingalls' yard was situated at the mouth of the East Pascagoula River on the site of the 1917 International Shipbuilding yard of Henry Piaggio (1874-1921) et al.(The Daily Herald, February 25, 1959, p. 10)</span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">In October 1940, Ingalls delivered the first, all-welded, watercraft to the Maritime Commission.&nbsp;&nbsp;It was the SS Exchequer and she was transferred to the Norfolk Navy Yard as a seaplane tender by a Pascagoula crew and renamed the USS Pocomoke [AV9].&nbsp;&nbsp;By late December 1940 Ingalls had been awarded a $50,000,000, US Navy contract to build four, 500-foot, vessels that were also all-welded, rivetless ships.&nbsp;</span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Before WW II and ended in 1945, Ingalls Shipbuilding Corporation had launched&nbsp;more than 70 ships.[The Daily Herald, December 20, 1940, p. 1 and R.F. Couch,&nbsp;&nbsp;Journal of Mississippi History, 1964, pp. 192-200]</span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p class="rtecenter">&nbsp;</p>

<p class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/inline/images/Westergard%2C%20Axel%20M..jpg" style="height:300px; width:240px" /></span></p>

<p class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>A.M. Westergard</strong></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>Axel Munch Westergard </strong>[1889-1954] was born in Halden [Frederikshald], Viken County, Norway on April 3, 1889.&nbsp;&nbsp;He entered the United States in January 1907 at El Paso, Texas and found his way to San Pedro, California were he made his livelihood as an independent boat builder at Terminal Island, California.&nbsp;&nbsp;Here Axel married Addie Armida McVay [1867-1941], a native of Atlanta, Georgia and the widow of Mr. Hart, and mother of Olive M. Hart.[WW I Draft Registration-Los Angeles, 1917]</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">In addition to his involvement with the Biloxi shipyard, A.M. Westergard was associated with the Westergard-Rice Brothers and Company shipyard at Rockport, Texas and the Brownsville Shipbuilding Corporation at Brownsville, Texas.&nbsp;</span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>Brownsville, Texas</strong></span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Before February 1942, Mr. Westergard had resigned from Westergard-Rice Brothers and Company to devote his full time with his Westergard Boatworks in Brownsville, Texas.[The Aransas Pass Progress, February 19, 1942, p. 1]</span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">At Brownsville, A.M. Westergard was called Captain Westergard and titled naval architect and marine engineer.&nbsp;&nbsp;This shipyard’s first military contract was for $400,000 and let by the US Army Air Corps to build four, triple screw, offshore aircraft rescue ships.&nbsp;&nbsp;These watercraft were 105-feet in length and drew 6-feet of water.&nbsp;&nbsp;Power was supplied by 600 hp gasoline engines.[The Brownsville Herald, November 22, 1941, p. 1]</span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Ocean Springs, Mississippi was selected as a “Crash Boat’ Base site by the US Army Air Corps.&nbsp;&nbsp;The facility was a sea-going emergency, rescue operation located on the south side of Hellmer's Lane and on the northwest shore in the Inner Harbor at Ocean Springs, during the final years of WW II.&nbsp; It was manned by personnel of Squadron V, 3rd Air Force Bomber Command, US Army Air Corps from the Gulfport Army Air Field at Gulfport, Mississippi.&nbsp; The base was erected in early 1944, to house crash boat officers and crews as well as ancillary personnel who manned the small post.&nbsp; The mission of the local boat base was to rescue downed aviators, tow targets, and patrol bombing ranges in the Mississippi Sound and Gulf of Mexico.[US Air Force Historical Agency, Maxwell AFB, Alabama and The Jackson County Times, January 15, 1944]</span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>R. R. Rice</strong></span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Rob Roy Rice [1896-1972] was born in Apalachicola, Florida to Captain Stephen E. Rice [1838-1919] and Emily Irvine Pickett [1848-1938], both Alabama natives.&nbsp;&nbsp;He married Emily Clara Buzhardt [1887-1944] a South Carolinian, in Franklin County, Florida in December 1909.&nbsp;&nbsp;Four sons were born from this union: Rob Roy Rice Jr. [1910-1989];&nbsp;John Chapman Rice [1914-1993]; Steppie Irving Rice [1915-1985] m. Joseph F. House and Bryson M. Filbert [1915-1990]; and Joel Key Rice [1924-2005].&nbsp;&nbsp;The Rice children were all born at Apalachicola, Florida.&nbsp;&nbsp;In Florida, R. R. Rice was an oyster canner.&nbsp;&nbsp;Circa 1926, the family relocated to Rockport, Texas, near Corpus Christi, and opened a seafood cannery specializing in shrimp processing.</span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">R.R. Rice with his son, Rob Roy Rice Jr., Judge J.A. Steele and A.F. Buchanan of Rockport, Texas formed Rice Brothers and Company after the departure of Mr. Westergard for his Brownsville shipyard.&nbsp;&nbsp;Their success at Rockport was assured in early 1942, when the US Maritime Commission ordered an additional eight, submarine chasers.&nbsp;&nbsp;At this time, the Navy Department also laude the Rice Brothers boat works by awarded them the Navy Blue “E” Pennant for their progress, quality of workmanship, safety, and general morale.[The Aransas Pass Progress, February 19, 1942, p. 1]</span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>W. P. Kennedy Jr.</strong></span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">William Patrick Kennedy Jr. [1905-1967] was a native Biloxian and the son of William P. Kennedy Sr. [1873-1951] and Fantie Wright Kennedy [1876-1969].&nbsp;&nbsp;He married Beatrice Hardisty [1906-1995], a native of Illinois.&nbsp;&nbsp;Their children were: Mabel ‘Patti’ Kennedy [1924-2015] m. William E. Courson [1922-1989] and Edward J. Bellman [1920-2009]; William P. Kennedy III [1926-1975] m. Josephine Kelly [1930-2008]; Thomas Morgan Kennedy [1928-2010] m. Jane Vickery [1930-1998]</span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Mr. Kennedy was an early Biloxi entrepreneur having experience in real estate, as well as animal husbandry and gardening with the Bay Flour and Seed Company.&nbsp;&nbsp;He is perhaps more familiarly associated with the Kennedy Brothers Engine Company and Kennedy Engine Company.[The Daily Herald, June 30, 1967, p. 2 and&nbsp;http://kennedyengine.com/history]</span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p class="rtecenter"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>Biloxi Boatyards</strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Although Biloxi was never a major shipbuilding center, it has been noted for its wooden boat construction since Colonial times.&nbsp;&nbsp;In&nbsp;December 1720, Jean-Baptiste&nbsp;Le Bouteux, French artist, created a sketch of Nouveau Biloxy [New Biloxi] illustrating the camp of the John Law Concession.&nbsp;&nbsp;Among the many activities of the French colonists is wooden boat construction.&nbsp;&nbsp;A small barge or skiff and a chaloupe or biscayenne are two of the watercraft depicted by Le Bouteux.[Copy Biloxi Public Library]</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">As Biloxi grew from a village to become ‘the Sea Food Capitol of the Planet’ in the dawn of the 20th century, fishing schooners and ancillary watercraft were in demand.&nbsp;&nbsp;19th century Spanish immigrant families from Spain and the Balearic Islands had established shipyards on Back Bay’s north shore.&nbsp;&nbsp;Among them were: Foretich, Sanchez, Taltavull, Quave, Perez, Santa Cruz, and Cannette.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Fountain and Harvey [Hervai] families of French descent also proved to be capable craftsmen for Biloxi’s shipbuilding industry.&nbsp;&nbsp;In later times, Herman Kelly and the Brasher brothers, Henry and Isom, made valuable contributions to the local fishing fleet with their swift schooners.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">By the 1920s, the majority of&nbsp;Biloxi’s boatbuilding industry had located to the Biloxi&nbsp;Peninsula with shipyards on Back Bay and Point Cadet.&nbsp;&nbsp;Back Bay from Lameuse Street to Oak Street featured ship carpenters like Fred Moran; Henry and Martin Fountain Jr.; Anson Holley; J.C. and Francis Brander; Jules Galle; the Frentz Brothers; and U.A. Parker. On Point Cadet, the Toche Brothers, were the primary boat builders.&nbsp;&nbsp;Louis Gorenflo and Zona Carter on West Beach were building specialty watercraft on a small scale on land lots.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">During and after WW l, probably the largest wooden boats ever built at Biloxi were constructed on Back Bay.&nbsp;&nbsp;The&nbsp;<em>Elizabeth Ruth</em>, a&nbsp;193-foot schooner, was launched&nbsp;on&nbsp;15 June 1918. Catherine Lopez, daughter of Julius Lopez had the honors. &nbsp;The large vessel was built&nbsp;by the&nbsp;Mississippi Shipbuilding Corporation&nbsp;and&nbsp;designed by&nbsp;Zona W. Carter&nbsp;(1879-1953), a Biloxi resident, and named for the daughter of Englishman&nbsp;William Hasketh Lever&nbsp;(1851-1925),&nbsp;Lord Lever, founder of soap manufacturers, Lever Brothers.(The Daily Herald,&nbsp;June 12, 1918, p. 1,&nbsp;June 15, 1918, p. 1. and &nbsp;June 17, 1918, p. 3)</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">In&nbsp;January 1919, the&nbsp;<strong><em>Joseph Leopold</em></strong>, a four-masted, schooner built for J.F. Stewart of Gulfport was measure by Customs Agent Lewis Curtis as follows: length-180 feet; beam-38 feet; and depth-13 feet; gross weight-668 tons; net weight-573 tons.&nbsp;&nbsp;The&nbsp;<strong><em>Joseph Leopold&nbsp;</em></strong>was built by J.D. Covacevich at the Biloxi Shipyard and Box factory on Back Bay.(The Daily Herald,&nbsp;January 23, 1919, p. 1)</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p class="rtecenter"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>Biloxi Port Commission-founded 1940</strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Before any military watercraft could be built at Biloxi, obviously for our entry into WW II or for loan to our European allies, England and France, it was necessary that a Port Commission be created to manage the erection and supervision of port facilities and insure that a deep-water channel be dredged to provide sufficient water depth for naval vessels to operate.&nbsp;&nbsp;A $100,000 bond issue to finance the deepening of the present Back Bay channel was a salient issue in regards winning future military contacts.[The Daily Herald, April 25, 1940, p. 1]</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">To establish a Port Commission, it was necessary for the Mississippi State Legislature to adopt a resolution submitted by local representation.&nbsp;&nbsp;At this time, Howard A. McDonnell [1909-1992], a Biloxi attorney, criminologist, and recently elected Floater Representative for Harrison County and Jackson County, was delegated this task.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">The&nbsp;newly created Biloxi Port Commission&nbsp;had its first meeting on September 25, 1940 at the Baltar Realty office. &nbsp;Members were:&nbsp;John E. Swetman [1867-1958];&nbsp;R. Hart Chinn, appointed by Paul B. Johnson, Governor; and&nbsp;Jacinto Baltar, appointee of the Harrison County Board of Supervisors.(The Daily Herald, September 25, 1940, p. 2)&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p class="rtecenter"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>New Management Team</strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">In March 1941, although retaining the name Westergard, the management of the nascent shipyard came under local control when Axel M. Westergard, Rob Roy Rice and Frank Kennedy resigned and relinquished their stock holdings.&nbsp;&nbsp;The new officers of the imminent Biloxi shipyard were: William P. Kennedy Jr., president;&nbsp;Thomas Pringle, vice-pres.; and Victor B. Pringle, secretary-treasurer.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p class="rtecenter"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>Growth and Inflation</strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">With the news of a potential US Army Air Corps field to be located in the Naval Reserve Park and the Westergard Biloxi Boat Works in the process of initiating construction, Biloxi’s small town atmosphere began a metamorphosis.&nbsp;&nbsp;Was an uber boom about to commence?&nbsp;&nbsp;With a population of about 17,000 people, Biloxi could soon expect a large work force approaching 12,000 people to descend and change it forever.&nbsp;&nbsp;A US Army engineer from Ohio was quoted as: “In the face of present situation, Biloxi hasn’t got enough saws and hammers in its hardware stores.&nbsp;&nbsp;No matter how much stock its other stores have it is not going to be adequate.&nbsp;&nbsp;I don’t care how many cots your hotels have they haven’t enough.”&nbsp;&nbsp;In anticipation of the coming flow of people and dollars, local barbers on April’s Fools Day raised the price of adult haircuts to 50 cents and 35 cents for children.&nbsp;&nbsp;The tonsorial aficionados were no fools![The Daily Herald, March 26, 1941, p. 7]</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p class="rtecenter"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>Building the Boat Yard</strong></span></span></p>

<p class="rtecenter"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/inline/images/WESTERGARD%20SHIPYARD.jpg" style="height:500px; width:695px" /> </span></span></p>

<p class="rtecenter"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong><span style="background-color:rgb(253, 253, 253)">Westergard Biloxi Boat Works</span></strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:12px"><span style="background-color:rgb(253, 253, 253)">This local shipyard was created from bare ground in the spring of 1941 with local management and labor and was able to produce for the "Splinter Fleet", wooden boats, for the US Navy and lend lease Allies, France and England. &nbsp;Located on Biloxi's Back Bay near Lee Street, the yard produced Sub Chasers, Sea going Tug Boats and Mine Sweepers before it closed in&nbsp;</span><span style="color:darkblue">August 1945</span><span style="background-color:rgb(253, 253, 253)">. From&nbsp;</span><span style="color:darkblue">October 1941</span><span style="background-color:rgb(253, 253, 253)">, the boat yard had built for the&nbsp;US Navy: two submarine chasers-$300,000;&nbsp;ten mine sweepers-$4,000,000; and&nbsp;four harbor tugs-$1,500,000. &nbsp;For the&nbsp;US Army, the shipyard had built&nbsp;eighteen oil barges-$1,020,000. &nbsp;In addition,&nbsp;three, steel, trawlers were erected for the seafood industry-$25,000. &nbsp;During its almost four years of production, the facility had a&nbsp;payroll exceeding $4,000,000 and employed about 500-700 Biloxians who worked on construction contracts exceeding $7.5 million.&nbsp;&nbsp;William P. Kennedy Jr. [1907-1967], Biloxi native, was president of the organization.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">In early April 1941, the preparation and clearing of the site for Biloxi’s newest shipyard was hampered by large blocks of concrete left there when the 1926 Biloxi-D’Iberville was erected.&nbsp;&nbsp;Dynamite was used to demolish and reduce the size of the relic materials leaving the air vibrating with loud and obnoxious noise![The Daily Herald, April 10, 1941, p. 2]</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">The Biloxi Port Commission accepted the $43,322 bid of general contractor, Currie &amp; Corley of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, to erect a steel building&nbsp;[$18,486]&nbsp;to be used as a boat plant&nbsp;at the foot of Holly Street [sic] on&nbsp;East Back Bay. &nbsp;Albert J. Ragusin&nbsp;was awarded the&nbsp;plumbing contract [$3549]; Ray V. Pisarich, electrical&nbsp;[$1522];&nbsp;and roofing&nbsp;[$1365]&nbsp;to Biloxi Roofing and Sheet Metal.(The Daily Herald, April 16, 1941, p. 1)</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">&nbsp;By mid-September, the 16-month efforts of the Biloxi Port Commission and from city officials and leading Biloxi citizens were nearly realized with the completion of the Westergard Biloxi Boat Works on Back Bay at the foot of Lee Street.&nbsp;&nbsp;I. Daniel Gehr&nbsp;(1895-1959), local architect, supervised the construction of the warehouse, fabricating building, loft and drafting buildings, general offices, and work sheds. &nbsp;The larger structures were of fabricated steel construction with concrete foundations while the smaller buildings were modern, frame structures. &nbsp;Currie &amp; Corley of Hattiesburg, Mississippi was the general contractor while other employed to erect the shipyard were: Iron Steel Products Company; Albert J. Ragusin-plumbing;&nbsp;Ray V. Pisarich, electrical;&nbsp;and roofing-Biloxi Roofing and Sheet Metal. &nbsp;The Jackson County dredge dug the channel into the boatyard, which now had a 400-foot frontage on Back Bay.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Port Commission had paid Currie &amp; Corley $43,322 for their efforts.&nbsp;(The Daily Herald, April 16, 1941, p. 1 and September 20, 1941, p. 3)</span></span></p>

<p class="rtecenter">&nbsp;</p>

<p class="rtecenter"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>US Navy Contracts</strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">In early&nbsp;September 1941, the&nbsp;US Navy awarded Westergard Boat Works a contract to build two wooden vessels, both Submarine Chasers. They would be named USS PC 650 and USS PC 651(The Daily Herald,&nbsp;September 19, 1941, p. 1)</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p class="rtecenter"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>Union Contract</strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">On&nbsp;22 October 1941, William P. Kennedy Jr., president of the Westergard Boat Works of Biloxi, Incorporated completed a two-year, closed shop, all-union contract with officials of the American Federation of Labor.&nbsp;&nbsp;This agreement set pay scales as follows: skilled craftsmen-$1.07 per hour; labors-$.50 per hour; apprentices-$.54 cents per hour for the initial year and an increase of $.05 cents per hour every 6 months thereafter.&nbsp;&nbsp;The work week was 40 hours and overtime payment was 1 and ½ times regular wages.[The Daily Herald,&nbsp;October 23, 1941, p. 6]</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p class="rtecenter"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>Labor Force</strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">The majority of the workmen who built ships, harbor tugs and oil barges at the Westergard Biloxi Boatyard were native Biloxians and from surrounding communities.&nbsp;&nbsp;Many were ship carpenters and fishermen who in a show of patriotism joined the cause to defeat the Axis threat in Western Europe.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">James Briley “J.B.” Richmond Sr. [1925-2014], Biloxi entrepreneur, published a thorough study of the </span></span>Westergard Biloxi Boat Works in 2009 titled, “World War II Combat Wooden Boats Built at Biloxi Westergard Boat Works of Biloxi, Inc.”&nbsp;&nbsp;Researched in detail it is the salient, historical source for this shipyard.&nbsp;&nbsp;Thank you Mr. Richmond for your contribution to Biloxi’s maritime chronology.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Per Mr. Richmond, the Westergard Boat Yard was organized as follows:</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>General Superintendent: Anthony&nbsp;&nbsp;W. ‘Tony Jack’ Covacevich [1907-1997].&nbsp;&nbsp;Assistant, Neil Covacevich [1920-2007].</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Paint Shop: Bowman Brodnax [1907-1991] and Mack Hall [1917-1952]</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Machine Shop: William ‘Bill’ Hubbell [1902-1983] and assistants: George Williams; Willie Dale [1899-1990]; Joe Scholtes [1917-1994]; and Frank Duvic [1900-1974]</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Caulkers: Fred Frentz [1895-1964] and assistants: Anthony Fountain; Joe Ables; Leon Dalgo [1896-1953]; Joe Montgomery [1892-1972]; and Eddie Moran [1886-1960].</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Loft Hull Layout: Zona W. Carter [1879-1953] and Kenneth P. Trochesset [1918-1990]</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Electrical: C. Arnold ‘Skinny’ Davidson [1901-1971]; J. Wesley Compton [1920-1995]; and James ‘Jimmie’ Cook [1920-1997]</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Heavy Timbers, Keels, Beams, Stringers and Clamps: J.D. ‘Jack’ Covacevich [1875-1962]; Martin Fountain Jr. [1882-1963 Earlis Champaigne [1928-1981]; Joe Trochessett; and Louis Manuel.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Mill Cabinet: Henry Manuel [1896-1968]; Jesse Wells [1910-1963]; Willie Crabtree [1903-1972]; L. B. Camp; Uriel Ray Kennedy [1917-1995]; and Frank Broussard.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Planking:&nbsp;&nbsp;Henry Fountain Sr,; Charles Trochessett;&nbsp;&nbsp;Jerry Burdine; George Burton; Curtis Fountain; Fitz Fountain; Elvin Cannette; Anthony Pickich Jr.; Melvin Roberts; “Sox” Fountain; Wilfred Fountain; “Son” Moore.</strong></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Tool Shop:&nbsp;&nbsp;Eddie Thomas</strong></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Planner: Randolph Fountain</strong></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Lumber Checkers: Percy Garner</strong></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Security: Pop Walker</strong></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>First Aid: William P. Kennedy Sr. and Dr. Riley Burnett.</strong></p>

<p class="rtecenter">&nbsp;</p>

<p class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>Keels Laid</strong></span></p>

<p>The Westergard Biloxi Boat Works laid the keel for a US Navy submarine chaser on&nbsp;21 October 1941. &nbsp;The second submarine chaser&nbsp;of the two-boat Navy contract was&nbsp;commenced in early&nbsp;November 1941.&nbsp;&nbsp;Frederick D. Lawley(1878-1953),&nbsp;Boston naval architect,&nbsp;designed the vessels.&nbsp;&nbsp;The work was supervised by Navy Commander G.W. Thompson from the Ingalls Shipbuilding Corporation [Pascagoula].&nbsp;&nbsp;Biloxi resident supervisor was Leonard Mallory, formerly Captain of the North Wind, yacht of NOLA cinema magnate F.V. Richards.(The Daily Herald,&nbsp;October 22, 1941, p. 1 and&nbsp;November 5, 1941, p. 1)</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>1942</strong></span></p>

<p class="rtecenter">&nbsp;</p>

<p class="rtecenter"><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/inline/images/FD%20LAWLEY.jpg" style="height:200px; width:147px" /></p>

<p class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>Frederick D. Lawley</strong></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12px">By&nbsp;May 1942, Frederick Damon Lawley, a naval architect and 1900 graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology [MIT], had arrived at Biloxi with his spouse, Minnie Josephine Cole [1879-1965].&nbsp;&nbsp;Both Boston natives, they settled into the Tivoli Hotel.&nbsp;&nbsp;Mr. Lawley was of the third generation of prominent Massachusetts boat builders.&nbsp;&nbsp;George F. Lawley Sr. [1823-1915], English grandfather, and George W. Lawley [1862-1940], father, had started the George Lawley &amp; Son Shipbuilding in 1866.&nbsp;&nbsp;The yard closed in 1945.&nbsp;&nbsp;Of note is that the Lawley’s built two defenders of the America Cup, Puritan [1885] and Mayflower [1886].[The Boston Herald,&nbsp;December 24, 1953 and The Boston Traveler,&nbsp;January 7, 1965]</span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>USS SC 650</strong></span></p>

<p>Westergard launched its first combat craft, the USS SC 650, a 110-foot, Submarine Chaser, on&nbsp;April 30, 1942.&nbsp;&nbsp;Victor B. Pringle, Master of Ceremonies, related that this Navy vessel was the first combat ship ever constructed at Biloxi.&nbsp;&nbsp;The traditional champagne bottle was cracked across the bow officially send the ship down the ways into Back Bay. Mrs. William P. Kennedy Jr. was the honored launcher. Biloxi dignitaries present were Mayor Louis Braun and R. Hart Chinn of the Port Commission. The Navy was represented by :&nbsp;&nbsp;[The Daily Herald,&nbsp;May 1, 1942, pp. 1-3]</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>The keel for the first of ten minesweepers was laid on&nbsp;30 April 1941.[The Daily Herald,&nbsp;May 1, 1942, p. 1]</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>USS SC 651</strong></span></p>

<p>The second, 110-foot, Submarine Chaser the USS SC 651 was launched on&nbsp;May 14, 1942 in a low-key ceremony by Minnie J. Cole Lawley [1879-1965], spouse of Frederick ‘Fred’ Damon Lawley [1878-1953], naval architect and superintendent of construction at the Biloxi shipyard.&nbsp;&nbsp;Victor B. Pringle was master of ceremonies. Biloxi dignitaries present were Mayor Braun and R. Hart Chinn of the Port Commission. The Navy was represented by Lt. Commander G. C. Whiting of Pascagoula and Captain L.S. Border.&nbsp;&nbsp;Superintendent F.D. Lawley gave a short speech. [The Daily Herald,&nbsp;May 15, 1942, p. 5]</p>

<p class="rtecenter">&nbsp;</p>

<p class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/inline/images/Westergard%20April%201941-Launch%20SC%20650.jpg" style="height:500px; width:693px" /> </span></p>

<p class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong><span style="background-color:rgb(253, 253, 253)">Launching USS PC 650</span></strong></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="background-color:rgb(253, 253, 253)">On&nbsp;</span><span style="color:darkblue">April 30</span><span style="background-color:rgb(253, 253, 253)">, 1942, this 110-foot, submarine chaser was first combat ship to be constructed at Biloxi. &nbsp;It was sent down the ways into Back Bay from the Westergard Biloxi Boat Works by Beatrice Hardisty Kennedy [1906-1995], spouse of the companies president, William 'Big Bill' &nbsp;P. Kennedy Jr. [1907-1967]. &nbsp;This small but industrious boat yard would by 1945 build submarine chasers, minesweepers, harbor tug boats and oil barges for the American armed forces and their European allies. &nbsp;Manned chiefly by indigenous boat carpenters and fishermen, Westgard's laborers and management &nbsp;would be recognized by the USN several times with its "E" Pennant, in recognition for its excellent construction. [L-R: Victor B. Pringle; Frederick Damon Lawley; Minnie J. Cole Lawley; Lt. Lindholm; Col. Arthur E. Brock Jr.; R. Hart Chinn; Thomas Pringle; Lt. Comm. F.F. Daly; Col. William J. Hanlon; Col. Robert M. Goldrick; Lt. Comm. G.C. Whiting; Beatrice H. Kennedy; William P. Kennedy Jr.; Biloxi Mayor Louis Braun.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p class="rtecenter"><strong>1942</strong></p>

<p class="rtecenter"><strong>The Navy ‘E’ Pennant</strong></p>

<p>Westergard Biloxi Boat Works was recognized by the 8<sup>th</sup>&nbsp;District Naval Headquarters on several occasions for its excellence in constructing naval combat vessels and oil barges with efficiency and celerity.&nbsp;&nbsp;The first kudo from the US Navy occurred in February 1942 when Frank Knox, Navy Secretary, telegrammed the management that&nbsp;<strong><em>“on this occasion of the award of a special recognition of your outstanding accomplishment in war time shipbuilding for the United States permit me to offer congratulations and profound thanks to the men and management of the plant.”&nbsp;</em></strong>&nbsp;The Navy ‘E’ Pennant was sparsely awarded because of its high standards.&nbsp;At this time, only 16&nbsp;companies of the US Navy's 174 defense contractors had&nbsp;received the honor.[The Daily Herald, February 16, 1942, p. 9 and February 19, 1942, p. 1 and p. 6]</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>On December 1, 1942, the&nbsp;Westergard Boat Works was again recognized by the US Navy for its excellence in building boats&nbsp;and barges.&nbsp; 8th&nbsp;District Naval Headquarters awarded the plant with the Navy ‘E’ Pennant with two white stars.&nbsp; Each white star affirmed that the shipyard had continued their excellence an additional six months.[The Daily Herald, November 30, 1942, p. 6 and December 8, 1942, p. 1]</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>In February 1943, Victor B. Pringle [1909-1977], Westergard’s secretary and perennial master of company held ceremonies, proudly related to the audience that the plant again had been recognized by the US Navy for its efficiency and workmanship and presented with another US Navy ‘E’ Pennant. The occasion was the launching of BYMS 2059, its fifth minesweeper.[The Daily Herald, February 9, 1943, p. 1]</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The work force at Westergard continued its excellent wok and the Navy ‘E’ Award arrived again in August.&nbsp;&nbsp;Admiral C.C. Block wrote to W.P. Kennedy Jr. as follows:&nbsp;<strong><em>“The men and women have received a signal honor by continuing their splendid production record.&nbsp;&nbsp;The management and employees of the plant have indicated their solid determination and abilities to support our fighting forces by supplying equipment needed for the ultimate victory.”</em></strong>[The Daily Herald, August 26, 1943, p. 1]</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>In May 1944, the fourth star was added to Westergard’s US Navy ‘E’ Pennant for meritorious services and high standards in shipbuilding.[The Daily Herald, May 13, 1944, p. 1]</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p class="rtecenter"><strong>Biloxi Defense Vocational School</strong></p>

<p>On&nbsp;July 4, 1942, the new vocational school was dedicated at the Porter Avenue campus.&nbsp;&nbsp;The intent was to provide youths 18 years and older with the opportunity to learn manual skills needed at the Westergard Biloxi Boat Works.&nbsp;&nbsp;Initially, three disciplines were taught pro bono:&nbsp;&nbsp;carpentry, sheet metal fabrication and marine pipefitting.&nbsp;&nbsp;Ship carpentry classes with the capacity for 80 students per day were held in the Biloxi High School gym and the discipline taught by F.A. Moran and R.F Chambers.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Sheet metal shop was led by D.C. Rutledge.&nbsp;&nbsp;It could accommodate 60 men daily for instruction.&nbsp;&nbsp;Marine pipefitting was under the supervision of A.F. Cauzabon and A.L. Jacquet.&nbsp;&nbsp;The course was limited to 72 men daily.&nbsp;&nbsp;These courses were held on Porter Avenue in what had once been the West End School, but now used by the American Legion.[The Daily Herald,&nbsp;July 3, 1942, p.&nbsp;&nbsp;2]</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>For an unknown reason, this initial effort at Biloxi’s manual training school did not work.&nbsp;&nbsp;In early&nbsp;September 1942, Leonard Mallory [1899-1970], Navy inspector, W.P. Kennedy Jr., Westergard, president, George W. Ditto [1895-1975] Biloxi school superintendent, and C.L. Charbonneau of the State Department and foremen and leaders from the shipyard met and discussed and planned to reorganize the vocational training effort.&nbsp;&nbsp;A new school was planned with the following courses of instruction: ship carpentry and blue printing reading as related to carpentry, shipboard electrical circuits and pipefitting. Classes were open to Biloxians&nbsp;&nbsp;and current Westergard employees who wanted to learn another manual discipline.&nbsp;&nbsp;Mr. Charbonneau left the group with this caveat;&nbsp;equipment now in Biloxi has a value of $6000.&nbsp;&nbsp;If it is not utilized immediately it will be shipped to another location.[The Daily Herald,&nbsp;September 10, 1942, p. 7]</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Response to the re-opening of the vocational school was very positive.&nbsp;&nbsp;More than 50 interested individuals, most of them employees of Westergard, demonstrated an interest in enrolling in the program.&nbsp;&nbsp;Registration was held on 15 September with classes meeting 2 1/2 hours in the evening three nights each week.[The Daily Herald,&nbsp;September 14, 1942, p. 10]</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>In mid-September Director Leonard Mallory announced that the Defense Vocational School would now offer women, eighteen years and older, the opportunity to learn a skill associated with the war effort.&nbsp;&nbsp;Blueprint reading, a special course in tracing and blueprint interpretation, would be taught three nights each week at the Lopez Elementary School on West Howard Avenue.&nbsp;&nbsp;A minimum of 15 applicants were required to commence a new class.&nbsp;&nbsp;Jesse L. Weeks, an employee of Westergard, would instruct the ladies. In addition Mr. Mallory related that school had 42 men engaged in the ship carpentry class and 47 in the advanced blueprint reading class for shipboard pipefitter and electricians.[The Daily Herald, September 17, 1942, p. 6 and September 25, 1942, p. 19]&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>In early&nbsp;December 1942, Leonard Mallory [1899-1970], director of the school, announced that a new class, ‘Machine Shop Practice’, would be offered.&nbsp;&nbsp;He cautioned the public that with the paucity of interest in this facility that this might be the last attempt to provide a free vocational education to young Biloxians.&nbsp;&nbsp;Instructors selected were Leon Joseph ‘Joe’ Scholtes [1917-1994] and James R. McElroy [1886-1963], both local and well-respected machinists, and also in the employ of Westergard.&nbsp;&nbsp;The instructions were presented at the American Legion Hall on Porter Avenue in such a manner that any student after completing the 75 hours of class time could be hired as a machinist helper.&nbsp;&nbsp;McElroy and Scholtes intents was to share their extensive knowledge of the following: tool handling; how to set up machinery in the shop; sharpening and grinding of cutters; measuring as applied to machines; pipefitting and fabrication; boiler making; and blueprint interpretation.[The Daily Herald,&nbsp;December 5, 1942, p. 3]</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Only 11 people enrolled in the ‘Machine Shop Practice’ class at the Legion Hall on Porter Avenue.&nbsp;&nbsp;More students were anticipated as entry level positions in the machine shop at Westergard and elsewhere were in demand.&nbsp;&nbsp;Among the enrollees were: L.E. Capuano; Otis Cates; R.P. Cox; E.J. DeRouen; R.P. Eskald; Curtis R. Harrison; Herron Kennedy; Elliot Miller; Norman Schonewitz; Albert Strangi; and Rambaut Williams.&nbsp;&nbsp;The classroom was equipped with lathes, grinders, drill presses and other machine shop tools germane to the education of an apprentice in this field of endeavor.&nbsp;&nbsp;Westergard furnished rough stock and other materials to the school in appreciation for the efforts of local educators to provide this service to the community.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;[The Daily Herald, December 8, 1942, p. 8]</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>When the boat building class, also situated in the American Legion Hall, finished its first project, the Legionaires donated it to the local Boy Scouts.[December 8, 1942, p. 8]</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p class="rtecenter"><strong>Plant Expansion</strong></p>

<p>In September 1942, with continued development at the shipyard, Westergard petitioned the Army Corps of Engineers at Mobile to erect two boat launching ways.&nbsp;&nbsp;The se structures were 12 feet wide and extended about 150 feet in Biloxi’s Back Bay.[The Daily Herald, September 18, 1942, p. 7]</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p class="rtecenter"><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/inline/images/Westegard%20minesweeper%20_1.jpg" style="height:300px; width:444px" /></p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:12px">The Navy ‘E’ Pennant-Westergard Biloxi Boat Works was recognized by the 8<sup>th</sup>&nbsp;District Naval Headquarters on several occasions for its excellence in constructing naval combat vessels and oil barges with efficiency and celerity.&nbsp;&nbsp;The first kudo from the US Navy occurred in&nbsp;February 1942&nbsp;when Frank Knox, Navy Secretary, telegrammed the management that&nbsp;<em>“on this occasion of the award of a special recognition of your outstanding accomplishment in war time shipbuilding for the United States permit me to offer congratulations and profound thanks to the men and management of the plant.”&nbsp;</em>&nbsp;The Navy ‘E’ Pennant was sparsely awarded because of its high standards. At this time, only 16&nbsp;companies of the US Navy's 174 defense&nbsp;contractors&nbsp;had&nbsp;received the honor. &nbsp;Note the Navy 'E' Pennant&nbsp;drapped across the bow of J 858, a minesweeper, almost ready for launching into Back Bay. &nbsp;Workmen are preparing the dedication platform in anticipation of the future occasion.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p class="rtecenter"><strong>Third Boat Launching</strong></p>

<p>The first anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor saw Margaret Woodley Pringle, [1911-1997], wife of Victor B. Pringle, Biloxi attorney, Westergard investor and master of ceremonies at the shipyard’s public functions, christen BYMS 2055, the first of ten minesweepers built at the Westergard plant.&nbsp;&nbsp;These wooden watercraft participated in Operation Overlord, the June 1944 invasion of Normandy, by clearing the English Channel of German mines.[The Daily Herald, December 8, 1942, p. 1]</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p class="rtecenter"><strong>Mayor Braun appreciated</strong></p>

<p>In mid-December, outgoing&nbsp;Mayor Louis J. Braun&nbsp;(1890-1951), was&nbsp;presented a 1941 Plymouth coupe and war bonds&nbsp;by James S. Love Jr., manager of the Buena Vista and White House Hotels, in appreciation for his outstanding service&nbsp;to the City of Biloxi during his recent term. &nbsp;During&nbsp;Braun's four years as Biloxi's Mayor the citizens saw the following accomplished: &nbsp;Keesler Field;&nbsp;Biloxi Community House;&nbsp;USO Building;&nbsp;Westergard Boat Works; a&nbsp;two-lane Beach Drive; a&nbsp;new sewer and water works&nbsp;system; and the&nbsp;filling-in of low lands in eastern Biloxi&nbsp;with channel spoil.(The Daily Herald,&nbsp;December 16, 1942, p. 1)</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>Twin Launching</strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">Westergard experienced its first dual launch on 15 January 1943.&nbsp;&nbsp;Sponsors for the watercraft were Nell Goodman [1905-1995], spouse of Warren B. Goodman [1901-1971], and Marjorie Robertson of Chicago.&nbsp;&nbsp;She was the sister of Lt. Hugh Robertson Jr., USN.[The Daily Herald, January 16, 1943, p. 1</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>1943</strong></span></span></p>

<p class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>Minesweeper Launched and Navy ‘E’ Pennant</strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">Westergard had its fifth minesweeper launched in early February.&nbsp;&nbsp;Victor B. Pringle, perennial master of ceremonies, proudly related to the audience that the plant again had been recognized by the US Navy for its efficiency and workmanship and presented with another US Navy ‘E’ Pennant.&nbsp;&nbsp;Helen Harvey Hubbell [1905-1989], a schoolteacher and spouse of William F. Hubbell [1902-1983], supervisor of the yards machine shop, was the honoree of the champagne bottle.[The Daily Herald, February 9, 1943, p. 1]</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>Oil Barges</strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">In mid-April 1943, a $2 million dollar boat contract was announced by Westergard’s management.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Army Engineers at Philadelphia had requested that 30 composite oil barges be built by the Biloxi yard.&nbsp;&nbsp;These vessels were utilized to transport gasoline from Texas and Louisiana refineries via the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway to Florida’s west coast where a pipeline would carry the refined products to Jacksonville.&nbsp;&nbsp;Here barges would be reloaded and deliver their hydrocarbon contents to the Atlantic seaboard via the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway.&nbsp;&nbsp;The project required five additional boat ways and the construction would be under the aegis of the Army District Engineer at Mobile.[The Daily Herald, April 14, 1943, p. 1]</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The oil barge contract called for an additional 800-feet of Back Bay frontage.&nbsp;&nbsp;The new plant would be managed by James W. Pringle and Connie Collins was named construction superintendent.&nbsp;&nbsp;[The Daily Herald, April 14, 1943, p. 1]</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">In addition, the Moss Point Shipyard was also awarded a US Army barge contract in April.&nbsp;&nbsp;They were asked to build 20 wooden barges, 169 feet by 34 feet with a depth of ten feet.&nbsp;&nbsp;Four new boat ways were needed as well as an additional work force of between 70 and 175 men.&nbsp;&nbsp;The shipyard had 325 men on the payroll before the new barge work was ordered.[The Daily Herald, April 17, 1943, p. 7]</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p class="rtecenter">&nbsp;</p>

<p class="rtecenter">&nbsp;</p>

<p class="rtecenter"><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/inline/images/USS%20PC%20651-Westegard-1941.png" /></p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>USS PC 651</strong>-was the second vessel completed by Westergard Biloxi Boat Works.&nbsp;&nbsp;She was launched&nbsp;<span style="color:darkblue">14 May 1942</span>&nbsp;only 2 weeks after her sister ship, USS PC 650, slid down the ways in Back Bay.&nbsp;&nbsp;The keel was laid&nbsp;<span style="color:darkblue">14 November 1941</span>&nbsp;for this 110-foot, wooden combat vessel. The crew consisted of three officers and 25 sailors.&nbsp;&nbsp;After commissioning in&nbsp;<span style="color:darkblue">August 1942</span>, PC 651 was given to the British Royal Navy and participated in D-Day, the Allied invasion of France in&nbsp;<span style="color:darkblue">June 1944</span>.</span></span></p>

<p class="rtecenter">&nbsp;</p>

<p class="rtecenter">&nbsp;</p>

<p class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>Barge Yard Land Acquisition-Leases</strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">In order to procure the necessary acreage to build the US Army oil barges, the Biloxi Port Commission began acquiring leases west of the existing plant on Back Bay.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>Dacey Lease</strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">In February 1943,&nbsp;the Heirs-at-Law of Claudia G. Vick Dacey (1869-1937) and Marguerite Dacey (1900-1942), executed a one-year lease with an option to purchase to officials of the Westergard Boat Yard, William P. Kennedy II (1873-1951), Victor B. Pringle (1909-1977), Thomas N. Pringle (1906-1970), James W. Pringle (1914-1971) and W.B. Goodman, a co-partnership, on three tracts of land situated on Rhodes Point on the Back Bay of Biloxi.&nbsp; These three contiguous tracts which were bisected by Bayview Avenue ran north for over 800 feet to Back Bay and were for the part 185 feet in width.&nbsp; The lease ran from&nbsp;February 20, 1943 to&nbsp;February 20, 1944 and cost $1200 per year.&nbsp; If the option were executed during the lease period, the Dacey Heirs would sell their three parcels for $8000.(Harrison Co. Chancery Court Land Deed Bk. 255, p. 69)</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>Fountain Lease</strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">In early&nbsp;March 1943, Frances Fountain Roberts, Ethel Fountain, Helen Fountain Fluker and Gussie E. Fountain Jr., the Heirs of Gussie Fountain Sr. entered into a lease agreement with the Westergard Boat Works.&nbsp;&nbsp;This lot had 62 feet on Back Bay and ran south 600 feet to Bayview Avenue.&nbsp;&nbsp;It was bounded on the east by the Braun Canning Company and the west by the Biloxi Port Commission and the People’s Bank of Biloxi.&nbsp;&nbsp;The rent was $400 for the first year with the lessee given a purchase option of $3600 after that had been concluded.(Harrison Co. Chancery Court Land Deed Bk. , p. 73)</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>People’s Bank of Biloxi Lease</strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The People’s Bank ease to Westergard Boat Works was very generous and extremely patriotic as it was a mere $20 per month. With 62 feet on Biloxi’s Back Bay and ran south across Bay View Avenue 450 feet to the property of Oris Danice.&nbsp; The Gussie Fountain Heirs were to the east and the Dacey Heirs to the west.(Harrison Co. Chancery Court Land Deed Bk. , p. 73)</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>Braun Lease</strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The Braun Canning Company entered into a lease with the Westergard Boat Works late&nbsp;March 1943.&nbsp;&nbsp;The rent was $500 each month until&nbsp;October 1943&nbsp;when it decreased to $400 per month.&nbsp;&nbsp;The tract had 114 feet on Back Bay; east by City of Biloxi; south by Bay View Avenue; and west by the Heirs of Gussie Fountain.[Harrison Co. Chancery Court Land Deed Bk.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;p. 76]</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The&nbsp;Braun Canning Company and shell crushing plant has been closed&nbsp;and the property&nbsp;leased&nbsp;to the Westergard Boat Works.&nbsp;&nbsp;The&nbsp;company moved to another location&nbsp;on Back Bay.[The Daily Herald,&nbsp;May 4, 1943, p. 2]</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The&nbsp;Braun Canning Company and shell crushing plant has been closed&nbsp;and the property&nbsp;leased&nbsp;to the Westergard Boat Works.&nbsp;&nbsp;The&nbsp;company moved to another location&nbsp;on Back Bay.[The Daily Herald, May 4, 1943, p. 2]</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>Barge Launch</strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">On June 18th,&nbsp;Westergard launched its 2nd, composite oil barge.&nbsp;&nbsp;The&nbsp;$2,000,000 contract called for the construction of thirty oil barges&nbsp;to haul petroleum products from Texas-Louisiana to Jacksonville, Florida via the Intracoastal Waterway. &nbsp;The hydrocarbons were off-loaded to other barges for shipment to cities on the Atlantic Seaboard. &nbsp;The&nbsp;barges were 160 feet long, 34 feet wide, and 10 1/2 feet deep&nbsp;with the capacity for 6000 barrels. James W. Pringle was superintendent of the boatyard and Connie Collins supervised construction.(The Daily Herald, June 19, 1943, p. 1)</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>Employee Housing</strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">As Biloxi was witnessing exponential population growth at this time, public and residential housing was in demand.&nbsp;&nbsp;In late July, the Federal Housing Authority approved that 100 family dwellings be erected at Biloxi for civilian defense employees at Keesler Field and the Westergard Biloxi Boat Works.&nbsp;&nbsp;Bay View Homes, a Biloxi public housing complex, had 50-units allotted for Keesler laborers.&nbsp;&nbsp;As the airbase work declined, 40-units at Bay View Homes were to be occupied by Westergard employees.&nbsp;&nbsp;The new construction [sixplexes] was to be south of Harrison Court.&nbsp;&nbsp;I. Daniel Gehr, Biloxi architect, was involved in the project.[The Daily Herald, July 26, 1943, p. 1 and August 4, 1943, p. 1]</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>Barge Reduction</strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">In early September, the management of the US Army Corp of Engineers at Philadelphia reassessed their oil barge construction progam and determined that they had overestimated the number of vessels needed.&nbsp;&nbsp;Their contract with Westergard Biloxi Boat Works was reduced.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Corps District office at Mobile related that this act was no reflection upon the quality of the watercraft that had been built by the Biloxi shipyard.&nbsp;&nbsp;Three oil barges under construction would terminate this program.[The Daily Herald, September 21, 1943, p. 2]</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">[TO BE CONTINUED]</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p class="rtecenter">[To Be Continued]</p>

<p class="rtecenter">_____________________________________________________________________________________________</p>

<p class="rtecenter"><strong><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">BOAT BUILDERS</span></span></strong></p>

<p class="rtecenter">&nbsp;</p>

<p class="rtecenter"><strong><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">North Biloxi [D'IBERVILLE]</span></span></strong></p>

<div>&nbsp;</div>

<div>
<p class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>MANUEL SANCHEZ</strong></span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The Federal Census, Circuit Court and Chancery Court land deed records of Harrison County, Mississippi indicate that <strong>Manuel Sanchez</strong> (1806-1877), a Spanish immigrant, arrived in the United States circa 1823. He probably came through the port of New Orleans and married a Louisiana woman, Phillipine or Phillipa (1791-1879), before settling at Back Bay (D’Iberville), probably in 1833 or 1834. Manuel Sanchez was naturalized on March 4, 1846. It can be deduced from the deed records that he bought three arpents, fronting 576 feet, on the north shore of the Back Bay of Biloxi from Dominique Ladner prior to October 1834. (HARCO, Ms. Circuit Court Natutalization Bk. 1, p. 126)</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">Manuel Sanchez was a ship carpenter and probably was the first to operate a shipyard at what became known as Shipyard Point at Back Bay. Bill Holland’s unique wooden boatyard on Central Avenue in D’Iberville is at or near the same location today. The other Sanchez land on the Back Bay was the site of the former St. Theresa Catholic School, just east of Bill Holland and south of the old Catholic Church.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">Manuel Sanchez built the first Catholic chapel at Back Bay during the War of the Rebellion (1861-1865). He erected a large wooden crucifix on the shoreline, which was later replaced with an iron cross, forged at Handsboro. It became a local legend that this cross was planted by Iberville (1671-1706), the French-Canadian soldier of fortune who landed on Biloxi Bay in February 1699. (Bremer, 1931)</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The Sanchezs apparently had no children of their own, but appear to have left their land to Charles Manuel-Sanchez (1845-1897), a Black man who was probably their slave until Immancipation. Charles Sanchez sold a lot of land (89'x160') to Bishop Francis Janssen of the Diocese of Natchez in April 1884 (HARCO, Ms. Land Deed Book 20, pp. 88-89). This sale resulted in the construction of St. Theresa's Catholic Church (1884-1979).</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">Charles Sanchez appears to have reared Israel Sanchez, who he may have adopted emotionally, if not legally. When Charles Sanchez passed in July 1897, he legated his estate to Israel Sanchez. In his will, Charles Sanchez averred that he had "raised (Israel) from a child". (HARCO, Ms. Chancery Court Will Bk. 2, p. 43)</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">In March 1927, Mrs. Victoria R. Sanchez sold her ½ acre of land at Bayou Puerto situated in the NE/C of Lot 2, Section 13, T7S-R9W, to W.J. Engbarth (1887-1957) and H. Gladney (1900-1978). She was residing in Harrison County at the time of the conveyance. Mrs. Sanchez had moved to the Back Bay section of Biloxi about 1921, and found work in the seafood industry. She expired in July 1961, and her remains were interred in the Martin Ryan Memorial Cemetery on Bayou Puerto. (JXCO, Ms. Land Deed Bk. 60, p. 237 and&nbsp;<em>The Daily Herald, July 24, 1961, p. 2)</em></span></span></p>

<p class="rtecenter">&nbsp;</p>

<p class="rtecenter">&nbsp;</p>

<p class="rtecenter">_________________________________________________________________________________________________</p>

<p class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>JOSEPH SANTA CRUZ</strong></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p class="rtecenter">&nbsp;</p>

<p class="rtecenter">&nbsp;</p>

<p class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>JOHN SANTA CRUZ</strong></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>JOHN FORETICH</strong></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p class="rtecenter">&nbsp;</p>

<p class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>ANTOINE FOUNTAIN</strong></span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>Antpoine Fountain(1848-1916)</strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;Ship carpenter in 1900.&nbsp; Son of Francois Fountain and Julienne Ladner.&nbsp; Married Willamine Young (1848-1910) in 1870.</span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p class="rtecenter">&nbsp;</p>

<p class="rtecenter"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>CASMIR&nbsp;J. Harvey&nbsp;</strong><span style="background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255); color:rgb(51, 51, 51)">(1845-1904)&nbsp;</span></span></span></p>

<p class="rtecenter">&nbsp;</p>

<p class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>Casimir "Boy" Jacob Harvey Jr.</strong></span></span></p>

<p class="rtecenter">&nbsp;</p>

<p class="rtecenter">&nbsp;</p>

<p class="rtecenter">________________________________________________________________________________</p>

<p class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>MARTIN FOUNTAIN</strong></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Probably one of the most acclaimed boat builders of the Mississippi coast, <strong>Martin Fountain </strong>(1856-1938), got his start at Point St. Martin.&nbsp;&nbsp;He was born in the area, the last child of Francois Fountain (c.1798-c.1885) and Julienne Ladner (1815-c. 1876).&nbsp;&nbsp;In 1882,&nbsp;<em>The Biloxi Herald</em>&nbsp;of May 7, 1892, announced that, "Martin Fountain and S. Ladnier, of Jackson County, are building a fine shipyard for their own use, though outsiders can also be accommodated".&nbsp;&nbsp;Fountain built many Biloxi schooners.&nbsp;&nbsp;His home was located on what later became known as Birdsell's Hill, after Charles M. Birdsell.[The Biloxi Herald, May 7, 1892, p. 4]&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Martin Fountain moved to Biloxi about 1903 and continued his shipbuilding skills there.&nbsp;&nbsp;Other boat builders of note in the area were Willie Fountain (1882-1963), J. Henry Cannette (1887-1969), who was known for his catboat construction, and Herman Kelly (1881-1948), who built shrimp trawlers on the Fountain Beach after WW II.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>REFERENCES:</strong></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">The Biloxi Herald, "Point St. Martin", May 7, 1892.</span></span></p>

<p class="rtecenter">______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________</p>
</div>

<p class="rtecenter"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>Casimir J. Harvey</strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia">&nbsp;<strong>Casimir Jacob Harvey</strong> (1845-1904) was the son of <strong>Pierre Harvey</strong>&nbsp;(1810-1893) and <strong>Zeline Moran</strong> (1811-1883).&nbsp; Both French appellations have been slightly anglicized-Harvey from Hervais or Herve and Moran from Morin.&nbsp; The 20th Century A.P. Moran (1897-1967) family of Ocean Springs can trace its roots here via Back Bay (D'Iberville) and Biloxi.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia">Casmir J. Harvey was reared at Back Bay on "Harvey Hill", an area north of present day Goodman Road.&nbsp; Several current "historians" obviously do not realize that this was the homestead of sailor, Pierre Harvey, not the Bayshore Drive location of his son, Casimir, which is often given in error.&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia">Living at Back Bay in the mid-19th Century, were some of the pioneer shipwrights of the Mississippi coast: Dalmatian, John Baptiste Foretich (1813-1875), Spanish born, Nicholas Voivedich (1822-1896), and Spaniards, Manuel Sanchez (1806-1871), Bernard Taltavull (1829-1870+), and Jose Santa Cruz (1809-1886).&nbsp; Young Casimir chose marine carpentry as his trade and probably apprenticed himself to Senor Santa Cruz.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia">In October 1867, Casimir J. Harvey married Rosina Hosli (1852-1937), an 1856 immigrant from Canton Glarius, Switzerland.&nbsp; The Casimir J. Harvey home and shipyard were located on the waterfront of Back Bay, just west of the I-110 Bridge.&nbsp; Here the Harveys reared their family: Casimir J. Harvey, Jr. (1868-1957), Margaret H. Mulholland&nbsp;(1870-1900+), Maria R. Harvey (1873-1876), Caroline H. Saujon (1875-1918), Pauline H. Clifford (1878-1967), Claurine H. Holloway (1881-1940), Peter Harvey (1885-1904+), Emma Agnes Harvey (1889-1968), and Ida H. Santa Cruz (1892-1964).</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia">Hurricane Camille (1969) destroyed the Harvey home, which was a one-story, wood frame Acadian cottage.&nbsp; Its three-bay front was capped by a hip roof.&nbsp; Casimir J.&nbsp; Harvey's granddaughter, H. Mercedes Holloway Guffey (1910-1998), resides today on the old home site at 3387 Bay Shore Drive, with her daughter, Joan Guffey.&nbsp; The second "post office" at Back Bay may have been located here as Casimir Harvey succeeded Annie Mallette Quave (1828-1904) as postmaster in April 1886.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia">Casimir J. Harvey operated his shipyard a few hundred feet west of his home.&nbsp; Casimir's skill as a boat builder was boldly exhibited in his "white winged queens", the Biloxi schooner.&nbsp; He and Casimir J. Harvey, Jr. built many of these sleek fishing vessels for the pioneer seafood operators of Biloxi.&nbsp; Among their schooners were:&nbsp;<em><strong>Emily Montross</strong></em>&nbsp;(1878),&nbsp;<em><strong>H.T. Howard</strong></em>&nbsp;(1889),&nbsp;<em><strong>Fairy Queen</strong></em>&nbsp;(1890),&nbsp;<em><strong>Emma Harvey</strong></em>&nbsp;(1891), <strong>Ida Mae Harvey</strong>,&nbsp;<em><strong>Carroll Clifford</strong></em>,&nbsp;<em><strong>Wyandotte</strong></em>, and&nbsp;<em><strong>White Wing</strong></em>&nbsp;(all 1904),&nbsp;<em><strong>Algonquin</strong></em>&nbsp;(1905),&nbsp;<em><strong>Tuscarora</strong></em>&nbsp;(1905), and&nbsp;<em><strong>Sioux</strong></em>&nbsp;(1906).&nbsp; The&nbsp;<em><strong>Emma Harvey</strong></em>&nbsp;and crew were lost in the July Storm of 1916, at Schooner Harbor in the Chandeleur Islands (see&nbsp;<em>The Ocean Springs Record,&nbsp;The Emma Harvey:&nbsp; A Tale of the July Storm, July 7-July 21, 1994)</em></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia">For nearly three decades, the&nbsp;<em><strong>Fairy Queen</strong></em>&nbsp;was a familiar sight to residents of coastal West Jackson County as it plied the waters of Fort Bayou and Back Bay.&nbsp; W.W. Branigar, brother of Harvey W. Branigar (1875-1953), a founder of Gulf Hills in 1926, organized the Fairy Queen Ship Company in 1927.&nbsp; It served that verdant resort as a pleasure craft to entertain guests.&nbsp; In March 1890, a reporter for&nbsp;<em>The Biloxi Herald&nbsp;</em>visiting Back Bay, related in that venerable journal:&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia">&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:14px"><em><strong><span style="font-family:georgia">Casmere Harvey's store is the first place that one strikes (when disembarking the ferry), and it is one that everybody can feel at home at.&nbsp; He carries a good stock of groceries and general merchandise as well as ship chandlery.&nbsp; Casmere has a tamed wild goose, and it is a beauty, for its kind.&nbsp; This web-footed customer follows Cass around like a dog, and when Cass is annoyed too much with its company he says:&nbsp; "Go home and don't make a goose of yourself".&nbsp; The goose goes.</span></strong></em></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia">With the shipyard busy and a prosperous retail store in operation, Casimir Harvey appears to have needed a place to relax and celebrate his success with his neighbors and in-laws.&nbsp; In December 1890, the Harrison County Board of Police granted him a license to retail vinous and spirituous liquors in quantities less than one gallon.&nbsp; The license was good for twelve months "in his barroom situated at the south end of Wells Road (now Boney Avenue) about where said road intersects the Back Bay of Biloxi".(Harrison County, Ms. Board of Police Minute Book 4, p. 80)</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia">Casimir J. Harvey and his young brother, Philip Harvey (1851-1918), were involved in local horse racing and trading.&nbsp; Phil Harvey especially developed a reputation as a knowledgeable horseman at Back Bay and Point St. Martin where he later resided and operated a store.&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia">There appears to have been two excellent horseracing tracks in the North Bay area at the turn of the Century.&nbsp; Present day Race Track Road owes its descriptive appellation to the "Sport of Kings".&nbsp; Several reports in&nbsp;<em>The Biloxi Herald</em>&nbsp;of March 1890, related the Harvey brothers involvement in this activity:&nbsp;&nbsp;<em><strong>Casmere Harvey is proud in the possession of one of the fleetest horses on the coast, and Clara P., for symmetry and beauty of proportion in limb and length is hard to beat.</strong></em>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<em><strong>Casmere Harvey has sold his celebrated racer "Cannon Ball".</strong></em>&nbsp;<em><strong>&nbsp;In horse trading, Mr. Phillip Harvey has no rival.&nbsp; No equine beauty passes his critical eye without a bid; and he invariably, like the notorious Eli, gets there.</strong></em>&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<em><strong>Phil Harvey had a good trip of over thirty-five miles in the country in the early part of the week after a runaway horse.&nbsp; He got his strayed animal and did some profitable horse trading at the same time.&nbsp; Nothing slow about Phil.</strong></em></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia; font-size:14pt">&nbsp;</span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p class="rtecenter">&nbsp;</p>

<p class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/u4/Biloxi schooner-Emma Harvey_0.JPG" style="height:271px; width:640px" /></span></span></p>

<p class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The <strong><u><em>Emma Harvey</em></u></strong></span></span></p>

<p class="rtejustify"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">According to the indigenous people of coastal Mobile County, Alabama, the high tides and strong winds of Hurricane Frederick on September 12, 1979, blew this Casmir Harvey built schooner into the wide expanses of the Mon Island Marsh or Portersville Bay to the west of Cedar Point.&nbsp; The fate or position of the&nbsp;<strong><em>Emma Harvey</em></strong>&nbsp;is presently unknown, but it is generally held that the Biloxi built schooner was destroyed by Hurricane Frederick.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p class="rtecenter"><strong><span style="font-family:georgia; font-size:12pt">"EMMA HARVEY":&nbsp; A TALE OF THE JULY STORM, 1916</span></strong></p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia; font-size:12pt">The recent near miss of Tropical Storm Alberto on July 3, 1994 reminded me of an incident that happened on the Mississippi Coast seventy-eight years ago almost to the day. It is a true story well documented in the journals and lives of the people of that time.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p>

<p class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:arial; font-size:12pt">&nbsp;</span></p>

<p class="rtecenter"><strong><span style="font-family:georgia; font-size:12pt">Ocean Springs</span></strong></p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia; font-size:12pt">In the humid morning of July 6, 1916, railroad agent, John Drysdale (1869-1934), walked slowly across the L&amp;N Railroad Bridge from Ocean Springs towards Biloxi.&nbsp; Soon he would announce to the world the fate of his little town on the eastern shore of the Bay of Biloxi.&nbsp; During the early morning hours a hurricane struck the Mississippi Coast roaring through Ocean Springs with wind gusts up to 125 mph.&nbsp; Destruction wrought by the tempest was manifested in roof,&nbsp;fence, chimney, tree, and shed damage.&nbsp;</span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:arial; font-size:12pt">&nbsp;</span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia; font-size:12pt">No one was seriously injured, but plumber, George Dale (1872-1953), got a good scare when the Knights of Pythias Hall, which he was occupying during the storm got blown off its foundation.&nbsp; The colored Baptist Church was heavily hit by the strong wind force, and had to be demolished in the days following the storm.&nbsp;In the country, the Rose Farm north of Fort Bayou reported severe damage.&nbsp; At the C.E. Pabst (1851-1920) pecan orchards some of the older trees were damaged.&nbsp; More fortunate was Theo Bechtel (1863-1931) reporting only slight ruin to his potential crop.</span></p>

<p class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:arial; font-size:12pt">&nbsp;</span></p>

<p class="rtecenter"><strong><span style="font-family:georgia; font-size:12pt">Biloxi</span></strong></p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia; font-size:12pt">At Biloxi, L&amp;N Agent Drysdale found that city in great suffering.&nbsp; The hurricane had struck there also with unrelenting fury.&nbsp; The Back Bay and Point Cadet areas were especially hit hard.&nbsp; It would be days and even weeks before all the news of the great natural disaster would be known.&nbsp;At the time many ships were operating in the Mississippi Sound.&nbsp; These vessels weren't outfitted with the communication and weather reporting devices we have today.&nbsp; Consequently, most of the sailors and their vessels were caught unprepared.&nbsp; Many of the Biloxi schooners were fortunate in that they were working near the partially sheltered Louisiana marshes.&nbsp; Other mariners sought haven in the lee of the offshore barrier islands.&nbsp; Those not so fortunate rode the storm out at sea.&nbsp; Most seamen made it home to their port.&nbsp; One small Biloxi schooner wasn't so fortunate. &nbsp;It was the&nbsp;<em><strong>Emma Harvey</strong></em>&nbsp;and her story follows.</span></p>

<p class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:arial; font-size:12pt">&nbsp;</span></p>

<p class="rtecenter"><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/inline/images/Screen%20Shot%202020-09-24%20at%203.43.05%20PM.png" style="height:300px; width:514px" /></p>

<p class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">[courtesy of Russell Barnes-September 2020]</span></p>

<p class="rtecenter">&nbsp;</p>

<p class="rtecenter"><strong><span style="font-family:georgia; font-size:12pt">The Emma Harvey</span></strong></p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia; font-size:12pt">The&nbsp;<em><strong>Emma Harvey</strong></em>&nbsp;was a Biloxi schooner utilized in the tourist, shrimp and oyster industry of the Mississippi and Louisiana marshes in the early years of the 20<sup>th</sup>&nbsp;century.&nbsp; She was built by Casimir J. Harvey (1845-1904) at his Back Bay, now D'Iberville, shipyard probably in 1891, and was named for his youngest daughter, Emma Agnes Harvey (1889-1968).&nbsp; &nbsp;The physical dimensions of the Emma Harvey as reported on its Master Carpenter's Certificate of Novemebr 1891 are as follows: length=37 feet, beam= 14 feet; and hole depth 6 feet.</span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia; font-size:12pt">It &nbsp;is also documented that Casimir Harvey conveyed a schooner on May 25, 1889, to H.T. Howard.&nbsp; The boat was called the&nbsp;<em>H.T. Howard</em>, and was thirty six feet in length, fourteen and two sixteenth feet in breadth, three feet deep, and weighed eight and thirteen one hundredths tons.&nbsp;&nbsp;From Biloxi regatta entries, the Emma Harvey competed as a schooner in the under 40-foot class.[Chancery Court, Harrison Co., Mississippi Chattel Book 2, p. 232 and The Biloxi Daily Herald, August 19, 1900, p. 8]&nbsp;</span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia; font-size:12pt">&nbsp;</span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia; font-size:12pt">The&nbsp;<em><strong>Emma Harvey</strong></em>&nbsp;participated in some of the early Biloxi schooner races.&nbsp; In the 1901 Biloxi Regatta, she withdrew before finishing the first round because of heavy seas. After the days of the White Winged Queens had passed, the&nbsp;<em><strong>Emma Harvey</strong></em>&nbsp;was converted to a charter boat and trawler.&nbsp; She was last seen about 1978 in a canal at Cedar Point, Alabama north of Dauphin Island.&nbsp; Every ship has a tale to tell.&nbsp; The&nbsp;<em><strong>Emma Harvey</strong></em>&nbsp;has many and is an unusual craft as will be demonstrated.[The Biloxi Daily Herald, July 7, 1901, p. 1]</span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:arial; font-size:12pt">&nbsp;</span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia; font-size:12pt">On Tuesday morning, the Fourth of July 1916, the&nbsp;<em><strong>Emma Harvey</strong></em><strong>&nbsp;</strong>owned by Ulysses (Lel) Desporte (1861-1927), a Biloxi, commercial, oyster dealer, departed Back Bay on a shrimping trip to Chandeleur Island.&nbsp; Unknown to Captain George Duggan and his crew who consisted of Arthur Duggan, Lawrence Bennett, John Helm [1893-1916], John McDuffy, and Jack Atkinson, an Englishman, a category three hurricane was poised to strike the Mississippi Gulf Coast the following afternoon (July 5th).</span></p>

<p class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:arial; font-size:12pt">&nbsp;</span></p>

<p class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:arial; font-size:12pt">&nbsp;</span><strong><span style="font-family:georgia; font-size:12pt">The July Storm</span></strong></p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia; font-size:12pt">The July Storm as it is known in the annals of Gulf Coast meteorology came ashore between Ocean Springs and Pascagoula, Mississippi.&nbsp; During this tropical cyclone, several barometers in Biloxi registered 28.08" of mercury.&nbsp; Although this was the lowest barometric pressure ever recorded to this date, it was relatively high when compared to the tornado-like Camille of August 1969, which had a record low pressure for any storm to that time of 26.58" of mercury.&nbsp;Hurricane Wilma [2005] is now the record holder with a pressure of 26.05” of mercury.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia; font-size:12pt">&nbsp;</span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia; font-size:12pt">In the early hours of the tempest, the wind direction of the July Storm was northeast, but shifted to the west where it remained until it abated in the early hours of the morning of July 6.&nbsp; A wind velocity of 90 miles/hour was recorded at Biloxi.</span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:arial; font-size:12pt">&nbsp;</span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia; font-size:12pt">The&nbsp;<em><strong>Emma Harvey</strong></em>&nbsp;reached Chandeleur Island and was at anchor in Schooner Harbor on the west side of the island. This fact was corroborated by Captain Robert Williams of the schooner,&nbsp;<em><strong>Lagoda</strong></em>, also a victim of the furious storm. Other ships in the immediate area were the schooners:&nbsp;<em><strong>Laguna</strong></em><strong><em>&nbsp;</em></strong>(Lagonia), and the&nbsp;<em><strong>Beulah D</strong></em><strong>.</strong>&nbsp; The crews of these vessels were rescued in the days immediately following the hurricane by boats from Biloxi.</span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:arial; font-size:12pt">&nbsp;</span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia; font-size:12pt">A vivid description of the harrowing experience in the Chandeleurs aboard the<strong>&nbsp;</strong><em><strong>Beulah D</strong></em>&nbsp;is given by Louis Largilliere (1861-1950) in the July 10th, 1916,&nbsp;<em>The Daily Herald</em>&nbsp;(pp. 1 and 3).&nbsp;</span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:arial; font-size:12pt">&nbsp;</span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia; font-size:12pt">He stated that:&nbsp;<strong>&nbsp;</strong><em><strong>he never wanted to go through such an experience again and he is grateful that he reached the mainland again.&nbsp; The</strong></em><strong><em>&nbsp;</em></strong><em><strong><u>Beulah D</u></strong></em><strong><em>&nbsp;</em></strong><em><strong>was caught in the storm while at anchor in Chandeleur Sound near North Keys.&nbsp; After the blow had overtaken them they put out two anchors but they were of no avail and the schooner was carried about the Gulf for a distance of thirty five miles after the masts had&nbsp;&nbsp; both blown out by the gale.&nbsp; During the drifting of the boat the members aboard were compelled to remain below most of the time as the wind was so strong that had they attempted to walk on deck they would have been blown overboard and lost forever.&nbsp; The hatches of the boat were blown away and canvas had to be tacked down to keep out the torrents of rain.</strong></em></span></p>

<p class="rtecenter">&nbsp;</p>

<p class="rtecenter">&nbsp;</p>

<p class="rtecenter">&nbsp;</p>

<p class="rtecenter"><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/inline/images/Wyandotte%2C%20Casimir%20Harvey-1904_0.jpg" style="height:300px; width:556px" /></p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong><em>Wyandotte</em></strong>-Another Casimer Harvey [1845-1904] built schooner depicted in this vintage postcard was the <strong><em>Wyandotte</em></strong>.&nbsp;&nbsp;The&nbsp;<em>Wyandotte</em>&nbsp;was constructed in 1904 for William F. Gorenflo [1844-1932], pioneer Biloxi seafood magnate and philanthropist.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Gorenflo factory was situated on Back Bay near Main Street.&nbsp;&nbsp;Like the&nbsp;<strong><em>Emma Harvey</em></strong>, the&nbsp;<strong><em>Wyandotte</em></strong>, was a victim of the 1916 July Storm.&nbsp;&nbsp;She was capsized and beat to pieces in Back Bay.[The Biloxi Daily Herald, January 27, 1904, p. 6 and The Daily Herald, July 7, 1916, p. 7]</span></span></p>

<p class="rtecenter">&nbsp;</p>

<p class="rtecenter"><strong><span style="font-family:cambria; font-size:12pt">Search</span></strong></p>

<p><span style="font-family:cambria; font-size:12pt">In the days and weeks following the great blow, Lel Desporte sent out motor vessels, primarily the&nbsp;<em><strong>Ursula C</strong></em>, captained by Johnny Duggan or Boy Bennett.&nbsp; With other relatives of the missing crew, they made a complete search of Cat Island, the Chandeleurs, Cryhoe Bay, Point Comfort, Earl Island, Bird Island, Breton Island, Taylor's Pass, North Keys, Battle Door, Southwest keys, and Neptune, Louisiana.&nbsp; This valiant search of the western sector discovered the abandoned schooner,<strong>&nbsp;</strong><em><strong>Segura</strong></em>, and the schooner barge,&nbsp;<em><strong>Hussler</strong></em>, both from Biloxi at Cryhoe Bay in the Louisiana marshes.&nbsp; At Taylor's Pass, they located a drowned fisherman.</span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:cambria; font-size:12pt">&nbsp;</span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:cambria; font-size:12pt">The only physical sign of the&nbsp;<strong><em>Emma Harvey</em></strong>&nbsp;after the great storm in the Chandeleurs was reported by Captain G.L. Fields of the schooner,&nbsp;<em><strong>Beulah D</strong></em>, who stated that when his crew went ashore on the island to search for signs of the&nbsp;<em><strong>Emma Harvey</strong></em>, they found nothing but a small meat board and small pieces of rope that had drifted ashore from some boat during the gale.&nbsp; They could see in the sand where the&nbsp;<em><strong>Emma Harvey</strong></em>&nbsp;was believed to have dragged her two anchors in her&nbsp;journey across the island to the east during the blow.</span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:cambria; font-size:12pt">&nbsp;</span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:cambria; font-size:12pt">By late July, the hunt for the missing schooner continued aboard the&nbsp;<em><strong>Ursula C</strong></em><strong>&nbsp;</strong>now captained by Floyd Lanius [1886-1936].&nbsp; Henry and Fred Duggan, son of Captain George Duggan, were&nbsp;also aboard.&nbsp; The search party now concentrated its relentless efforts to the east combing Horn, Petit Bois, Dauphin, and lesser islands in that area.&nbsp; They also went to Pascagoula, Mobile, and the west Florida coast seeking information and leads.&nbsp;There were some sightings in the eastern Gulf, which gave hope for locating the missing crew and boat.&nbsp; The Coast Guard cutter,&nbsp;<em><strong>Tallapoosa</strong></em>, reported on July 11 that it had passed a schooner's mast twelve feet out of the water at Latitude 29.18 N and Longitude 86.55 W (approximately 100 miles southeast of Pensacola).&nbsp; About the same time, the private yacht,&nbsp;<em><strong>Shirin</strong></em>, of New Orleans passed a vessel within six miles of Grant's Pass (near Dauphin Island) with its right side up.</span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:cambria; font-size:12pt">&nbsp;</span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:cambria; font-size:12pt">An unusual event occurred on August 2, when Martin Lomax, a teenage lad from Biloxi, found a bottle with a note in it on the south side of Deer Island.&nbsp; The note read:&nbsp;<strong><em>"Help.&nbsp; Help. On an unknown island"</em></strong>.&nbsp; Signed George Duggan and crew.&nbsp; Some thought the note a hoax while others believed John Helm had written it since he always carried an empty flask in his pocket when at sea to be prepared for the emergency of a shipwreck.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p>

<p class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:cambria; font-size:12pt">&nbsp;</span></p>

<p class="rtecenter"><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/inline/images/Helm%20on%20Emma%20Harvey.jpg" style="height:300px; width:196px" /></p>

<p class="rtecenter"><strong>John Henry Helm</strong><span style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:cambria; font-size:medium">&nbsp;</span><span style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:cambria; font-size:medium">[1893-1916]</span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>John Henry Helm</strong><span style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">&nbsp;</span><span style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">[1893-1916]-Young Helm was a crewman on the ill-fated</span><span style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">&nbsp;</span><strong><em>Emma Harvey</em></strong><span style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">&nbsp;</span><span style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">on that July 5</span><sup>th</sup><span style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">&nbsp;</span><span style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">day of 1916.</span><span style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">&nbsp;</span><span style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">&nbsp;</span><span style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">He was a NOLA native of German ancestry.</span><span style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">&nbsp;</span><span style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">&nbsp;</span><span style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">John Helm had the reputation of carrying a vial or bottle to sea.</span><span style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">&nbsp;</span><span style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">&nbsp;</span><span style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">He envisioned that in an emergency situation, a message could be written, placed in the sealed vial and thrown overboard to be carried by winds and tides hopefully to be discovered someday revealing his fate.</span><span style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">&nbsp;</span><span style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">&nbsp;</span><span style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">In August 1916, the overturned hull of the ravaged</span><span style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">&nbsp;</span><strong><em>Emma Harvey</em></strong><span style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">&nbsp;</span><span style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">was found south of Santa Rosa Island near Pensacola, Florida.</span><span style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">&nbsp;</span><span style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">&nbsp;Helm’s remains of those of his shipmates have never been located.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p class="rtecenter">&nbsp;</p>

<p class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:cambria; font-size:12pt">&nbsp;</span><strong><span style="font-family:cambria; font-size:12pt">Found</span></strong></p>

<p><span style="font-family:cambria; font-size:12pt">The destiny of the vanished&nbsp;<em><strong>Emma Harvey</strong></em>&nbsp;was revealed to the world on August 12, when the lost schooner was located by two fishing boats from Pensacola.&nbsp; She was found floating bottom&nbsp;side up about twenty-five miles from Pensacola (other reports point to a location of seventy five miles).&nbsp; No sign of Captain Duggan or any members of his crew were ever found.&nbsp; The derelict vessel was towed to a mooring point near the Perdido Wharf in Pensacola by the tug,&nbsp;<em><strong>William Flanders</strong></em>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:cambria; font-size:12pt">&nbsp;</span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:cambria; font-size:12pt">Mr. Bruce S. Weeks, Deputy Collector of Customs at Pensacola, stated in his report of the incident the following:<strong>&nbsp;</strong><em><strong>There are absolutely no indications that the crew of the</strong></em><strong><em>&nbsp;</em></strong><em><strong><u>Emma Harvey&nbsp;</u></strong></em><em><strong>was saved and he expressed the opinion that the men from Biloxi, who went to the Chandeleur Islands on July 5, were lost in the hurricane, which swept over the Gulf on that date.&nbsp; No indication of crew and there does not seem to be much probability that they ever got away in the boats.&nbsp; The crew evidently cut away the rigging on the starboard side, but failed to cut it on the lee side first, and apparently, the rigging went over the port side, hung and the vessel simply turned over.&nbsp; The anchors appear to have been out, but only a short length of chain.&nbsp;</strong></em></span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:cambria; font-size:12pt">&nbsp;</span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:cambria; font-size:12pt">The Biloxi schooner,&nbsp;<em><strong>Emma Harvey</strong></em>, was deemed worth saving by Captain Rocheblane of the towing vessel,&nbsp;<em><strong>William Flanders</strong></em>, but because of the great salvage and towing expense, Lel Desporte decided to dispose of her in Pensacola.</span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:cambria; font-size:12pt">&nbsp;</span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:cambria; font-size:12pt">The precedent information was assimilated from&nbsp;<em>The Daily Herald</em>&nbsp;in the issues July 7, 1916 through August 29, 1916.&nbsp;</span></p>

<p class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:cambria; font-size:12pt">&nbsp;</span></p>

<p class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:cambria; font-size:12pt">&nbsp;<strong>Frank J. Duggan</strong></span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:cambria; font-size:12pt">A personal perspective of the incident is given by Frank J. Duggan (1912-2000) who is the sole surviving son of the skipper of the&nbsp;<em>Emma Harvey</em>, George Duggan.&nbsp; Frank Duggan resides at 344 Fayard Street in Biloxi on the site that his family moved to circa 1905.&nbsp; Previously the Duggans lived at 747 Reynoir.&nbsp; As Frank Duggan was only four years of age when his father, George, brother, Arthur, and cousin, Lawrence Bennett drowned that stormy July 5th evening east of the Chandeleurs, it wasn't until years later at the dinner table or while drinking beer with his older brothers, Charlie and Fred Duggan, that he would hear the familial version of the&nbsp;<em>Emma Harvey&nbsp;</em>disaster.&nbsp; The following narrative is a summary of the tale of the&nbsp;<em>Emma Harvey</em>&nbsp;as told to me by Frank J. Duggan on December 17, 1990.</span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:cambria; font-size:12pt">&nbsp;</span></p>

<p><em><strong><span style="font-family:cambria; font-size:12pt">The voyage to Chandeleur commenced as a suggestion from Johhny McDuffy when he told George Duggan, "hey, Cap, they're slaughtering shrimp out there and getting redfish with them in the seine".&nbsp; Captain Duggan mustered his crew, but son, Fred had disappeared to parts unknown.&nbsp; When the anchor was weighed, Fred Duggan was replaced by his brother, Arthur, a newly wed.&nbsp; Arthur was eager to earn good wages for his new family situation.</span></strong></em><span style="font-family:cambria; font-size:12pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;<em><strong>Fred Duggan who had sailed on the</strong></em><strong><em>&nbsp;</em></strong><em><strong><u>Emma Harvey</u></strong></em><strong><em>&nbsp;</em></strong><em><strong>many times with his father never liked the little vessel, and thought it unsafe in rough weather.&nbsp; He referred to it as a "deathtrap" and admonished Charlie Duggan to never sail on her.&nbsp; Fred preferred the larger schooner,</strong></em><strong><em>&nbsp;</em></strong><em><strong><u>Cavalier</u></strong></em><em><strong>, and could never understand his dad's love for the smaller boat.&nbsp; The tragedy of the July Storm of 1916 has remained with the Duggan Family through the years as one would expect from such a sudden loss of loved ones</strong></em><strong>.</strong></span></p>

<p><strong><em><span style="font-family:cambria; font-size:12pt">&nbsp;</span></em></strong></p>

<p><strong><em><span style="font-family:cambria; font-size:12pt">After the</span></em></strong><strong><em><span style="font-family:cambria; font-size:12pt">&nbsp;</span></em></strong><strong><em><u><span style="font-family:cambria; font-size:12pt">Emma Harvey</span></u></em></strong><strong><em><span style="font-family:cambria; font-size:12pt">&nbsp;</span></em></strong><strong><em><span style="font-family:cambria; font-size:12pt">was towed into Pensacola and salvaged, a Miami man bought it from salvagers.&nbsp; He had it towed to southern Florida, and refurbished it with a new cabin, engine, and trawls.&nbsp; The US Coast Guard became suspicious of the vessel since it never seemed to utilize it fishing gear.&nbsp; When they boarded the craft, a cargo of illicit Cuban spirits was discovered in the hole.&nbsp; The rum runner was confiscated and sold at a sealed bid auction in Miami as a victim of the Prohibition enforcement years (1919-1933).&nbsp; The purchaser, an Alabama man, returned the</span></em></strong><strong><em><span style="font-family:cambria; font-size:12pt">&nbsp;</span></em></strong><strong><em><u><span style="font-family:cambria; font-size:12pt">Emma Harvey</span></u></em></strong><strong><em><span style="font-family:cambria; font-size:12pt">&nbsp;</span></em></strong><strong><em><span style="font-family:cambria; font-size:12pt">to the Gulf Coast, probably to Bon Secour, Alabama</span></em></strong><em><span style="font-family:cambria; font-size:12pt">.</span></em></p>

<p class="rtecenter">&nbsp;</p>

<p class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>Cedar Point, Alabama</strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">A trip by the author, to Cedar Point and Dauphin Island, Alabama on December 31, 1990 resulted in telephone conservations with Sadie Mae Collier Serra and John Henry Lamey.&nbsp; Sadie Serra is the daughter of Frank Collier.&nbsp; According to her, Frank Collier obtained the <strong><em>Emma Harvey</em> </strong>from a Bon Secour man in a trade.&nbsp; The man may have been John Steiner or Budgey Plash.&nbsp; Collier gave $800 worth of fine oysters for the vessel.&nbsp;Mrs. Serra, the tenth of eleven Collier children, told of her father's success as a business man in Mobile County.&nbsp; Frank Collier and two associates owned twenty-five boats, a canning factory and grocery store on Dauphin Island, and an ice plant at Mobile.&nbsp; A disastrous fire at the ice plant and the Great Depression combined to bring the Colliers to financial chaos.&nbsp; They moved to Cedar Point circa 1933 with only 75 cents in the family treasury.&nbsp; Frank Collier began life anew by oystering in the bay.&nbsp; His wife opened the mollusks and sold them.&nbsp; This "mom and pop" operation&nbsp;slowly grew, and the Collier children were integrated into the operation as their age allowed.&nbsp; Sadie Mae Serra said that the Collier fortunes improved rapidly after the <strong><em>Emma Harvey</em></strong> acquisition.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">Initially, the old Biloxi schooner was put to work as a ferryboat transporting people, mail, automobiles, and cattle from Cedar Point to the island.&nbsp; The Colliers ran a herd on the west end of Dauphin Island.&nbsp;Prior to World War II, the <strong><em>Emma Harvey</em></strong> would take day charters to the snapper banks.&nbsp; During the war years, fear of German submarines caused Captain Collier to ply the coastal and bay waters for trout.&nbsp; He would take as many as twenty people out for $30 per day and give them a delicious fish fry after the trip.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">During the September 1947 Hurricane, the <strong><em>Emma Harvey</em></strong> was trapped by low tide at her mooring in the Cedar Point canal.&nbsp; The Collier family left for higher ground.&nbsp; When they returned the next morning, they found the valiant little lady on high ground adjacent to their store.&nbsp; During the night of fierce winds and violent seas, the vessel had stood as a barrier to protect the Colliers' building from storm tossed flotsam and other debris.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">John Henry Lamey, a neighbor to Sadie Mae Serra, at Alabama Port worked as a deckhand on the <strong><em>Emma Harvey</em></strong> in the 1940s and 1950s with Weldon "Doc" Collier, the brother of Sadie Serra.&nbsp; He vividly recalls the search and discovery of the wreckage of a National Airlines DC-6 airliner, which crashed into the Gulf about twelve miles south of Fort Morgan.&nbsp; The accident occurred in February 1953.&nbsp; The commercial aircraft was en route to Moissant Airport, now Louis Armstrong International, at New Orleans from Tampa when it went down as the result of turbulent weather.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p class="rtecenter"><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/inline/images/Emma%20Harvey.%20Cedar%20Point%2C%20Alabama.jpg" style="height:400px; width:705px" /></p>

<p class="rtecenter"><em><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>Emma Harvey</strong> </span></em><span style="font-size:14px">[July 1971]</span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">&nbsp;In&nbsp;<span style="color:darkblue">July 1971</span>, Lottie Duggan Foretich [1905-1994] visited this canal site at Cedar Point, Alabama, where the schooner Emma Harvey was moored. Her father, George Duggan, and brother, Arthur Duggan, died in the 1916 July Storm and their corporal remains were never found.&nbsp;&nbsp;According to the indigenous people of coastal Alabama, the high tides and strong winds of Hurricane Frederick on&nbsp;<span style="color:darkblue">September 12</span>, 1979, blew the Casimir Harvey built schooner into the wide expanses of the&nbsp;<span style="color:darkblue">Mon</span>Island marsh or Portersville Bay to the west of Cedar Point.&nbsp; The fate or position of the&nbsp;</span><em>Emma Harvey</em><span style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0)">&nbsp;is presently unknown, but it is generally held that the Back Bay, Biloxi built schooner was destroyed by Hurricane Frederick.[image from H. John Gutierrez &lt;myfamilyinfo.info&gt;]</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">After the Dauphin Island Causeway was completed in the 1950s, the <strong><em>Emma Harvey</em> </strong>plied the bay and Gulf waters as a shrimp trawler.&nbsp; According to the indigenous people of coastal Alabama, the high tides and strong winds of Hurricane Frederick on September 12, 1979, blew the Casmir Harvey built schooner into the wide expanses of the Mon Island marsh or Portersville Bay to the west of cedar Point.&nbsp; The fate or position of the <strong><em>Emma Harvey</em></strong> is presently unknown, but it is generally held that the Biloxi built schooner was destroyed by Hurricane Frederick.</span></span></p>

<p class="rtecenter">&nbsp;</p>

<p class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>Cedar Point, Alabama</strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">A trip by the author, to Cedar Point and Dauphin Island, Alabama on December 31, 1990 resulted in telephone conservations with Sadie Mae Collier Serra and John Henry Lamey.&nbsp; Sadie Serra is the daughter of Frank Collier.&nbsp; According to her, Frank Collier obtained the&nbsp;<em><strong>Emma Harvey</strong></em>&nbsp;from a Bon Secour, Alabama man in a trade.&nbsp; The man may have been John Steiner or Budgey Plash.&nbsp; Collier gave $800 worth of fine oysters for the vessel.&nbsp;Mrs. Serra, the tenth of eleven Collier children, told of her father's success as a business man in Mobile County.&nbsp; Frank Collier and two associates owned twenty-five boats, a canning factory and grocery store on Dauphin Island, and an ice plant at Mobile.&nbsp; A disastrous fire at the ice plant and the Great Depression combined to bring the Colliers to financial chaos.&nbsp; They moved to Cedar Point circa 1933 with only 75 cents in the family treasury.&nbsp; Frank Collier began life anew by oystering in the bay.&nbsp; His wife opened the mollusks and sold them.&nbsp; This "mom and pop" operation&nbsp;slowly grew, and the Collier children were integrated into the operation as their age allowed.&nbsp; Sadie Mae Serra said that the Collier fortunes improved rapidly after the&nbsp;<em><strong>Emma Harvey</strong></em>&nbsp;acquisition.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">Initially, the old Biloxi schooner was put to work as a ferryboat transporting people, mail, automobiles, and cattle from Cedar Point to the island.&nbsp; The Colliers ran a herd on the west end of Dauphin Island.&nbsp;Prior to World War II, the&nbsp;<em><strong>Emma Harvey</strong></em>&nbsp;would take day charters to the snapper banks.&nbsp; During the war years, fear of German submarines caused Captain Collier to ply the coastal and bay waters for trout.&nbsp; He would take as many as twenty people out for $30 per day and give them a delicious fish fry after the trip.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">During the September 1947 Hurricane, the&nbsp;<em><strong>Emma Harvey</strong></em>&nbsp;was trapped by low tide at her mooring in the Cedar Point canal.&nbsp; The Collier family left for higher ground.&nbsp; When they returned the next morning, they found the valiant little lady on high ground adjacent to their store.&nbsp; During the night of fierce winds and violent seas, the vessel had stood as a barrier to protect the Colliers' building from storm tossed flotsam and other debris.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">John Henry Lamey, a neighbor to Sadie Mae Serra, at Alabama Port worked as a deckhand on the&nbsp;<em><strong>Emma Harvey</strong></em>&nbsp;in the 1940s and 1950s with Weldon "Doc" Collier, the brother of Sadie Serra.&nbsp; He vividly recalls the search and discovery of the wreckage of a National Airlines DC-6 airliner, which crashed into the Gulf about twelve miles south of Fort Morgan.&nbsp; The accident occurred in February 1953.&nbsp; The commercial aircraft was en route to Moissant Airport, now Louis Armstrong International, at New Orleans from Tampa when it went down as the result of turbulent weather.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">After the Dauphin Island Causeway was completed in the 1950s, the&nbsp;<em><strong>Emma Harvey</strong></em>&nbsp;plied the bay and Gulf waters as a shrimp trawler.&nbsp; According to the indigenous people of coastal Alabama, the high tides and strong winds of Hurricane Frederick on September 12, 1979, blew the Casmir Harvey built schooner into the wide expanses of the Mon Island marsh or Portersville Bay to the west of cedar Point.&nbsp; The fate or position of the&nbsp;<em><strong>Emma Harvey</strong></em>&nbsp;is presently unknown, but it is generally held that the Biloxi built schooner was destroyed by Hurricane Frederick.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>Pierre Hervai</strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">Pierre Harvey (1810-1893) was born in France about 1810.&nbsp; He is the patriarch of the Harvey family of the Mississippi Gulf Coast.&nbsp; It is not known precisely when Pierre Harvey came to the United States or from which French city or department that he immigrated.&nbsp; It is very likely that he arrived in the Back Bay (North Biloxi) community in the 1830s.&nbsp; Here, the young French seaman met and married Celina Morin (1811-1883) on February 20, 1840.&nbsp; The name Morin is now spelled Moran.&nbsp; The marriage of Pierre Harvey and Celina Moran was recorded in the Book of Marriages, Volume 8 (1840-1842), Folio 103 of the Archives of the St. Louis Cathedral at New Orleans.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">Pierre Harvey and spouse had settled on the 46 acres in Section 17, T7S-R9W he had acquired from his father-in-law, Joseph Moran II, in 1842.&nbsp; He sold 37 acres to J.L. Lastinger reserving 9-acres which was probably the Harvey homestead.&nbsp;&nbsp; As one can see from the topographic map of the area, it was well named as it was called "Harvey Hill".&nbsp; The City of D’Iberville recently placed a historical marker for “Harvey Hill”.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">On March 2, 1846, Monsieur Harvai made the following statement in the Circuit Court of Harrison County: &nbsp;<em><strong>This day being a day of the term of said court the second day of March A.D. 1846 personally came and appeared in open court, Pier (sic ), who being duly sworn, and solemnly acclaim that it was his bonafied intention to become a citizen of the United States of America and to renounce forever all allegiance to any foreign state, prince, or sovereignty whatsoever and particularly to Louis Phillip King of the French he has heretofore been a subject.</strong></em>(Minutes of the HARCO, Ms. Circuit Court-Book 1, p. 116)</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">Pierre Harvey became a citizen of the United States of America on March 6, 1848.&nbsp; This act took place at the Harrison County Circuit Court at Mississippi City and was recorded in the Minutes of the HARCO, Ms. Circuit Court-Book 1, page 183.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">Pierre and Celina Harvey lived on the Back Bay of Biloxi near her father, Joseph Moran II.&nbsp; Here he made his livelihood as a seaman and fisherman.&nbsp; Harvey probably toiled in the coastal schooner trade.&nbsp; Naval stores, salt, lumber and charcoal were produced locally and shipped to New Orleans and Mobile.&nbsp; The traders returned with food staples, tools, and cloth.&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The Morin (Moran) Family of the Mississippi Coast originated at St. Pierre-du-Sud, Quebec, Canada.&nbsp; Here Joseph Morin, was born of Denis Morin and Madeleine Boulet.&nbsp; He settled at Cat Island and married Louise Ladner, the daughter of Nicolas Ladner and Marie Anne Pacquet, in 1778.&nbsp; All of their children were born and reared at Cat Island.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">Pierre Harvey died on September 30, 1893.&nbsp; Celina Moran Harvey preceded him in death.&nbsp; She expired on September 21, 1883.&nbsp; Their remains were probably interred in the Moran Cemetery at D’Iberville, Mississippi.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">To my present knowledge, Ocean Springs and Jackson County residents with direct familial connections to the&nbsp;<em><strong>Emma Harvey</strong></em>&nbsp;through its builder, Casimir J. Harvey (1845-1904), are: former Ward IV Alderman, Philip ‘Phil’ I. Harvey [1941-2012] and family; Carroll L. Clifford Jr. [1925-2006], former Jackson County Board of Supervisor from Gautier, and family; and myself.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p class="rtecenter">&nbsp;</p>

<p class="rtecenter">&nbsp;</p>

<p class="rtecenter">&nbsp;</p>

<p class="rtecenter">&nbsp;</p>

<p class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>Epilogue-</strong>Ocean Springs, Mississippi-July 7, 1994</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">Today I receive a telephone call from Bobbie Bond Helm who resides at 309 Live Oak in Ocean Springs.&nbsp; She tells me that her husband, Joseph O. Helm, Jr., is the nephew of John Henry Helm (1893-1916) who was a crew member of the <strong><em>Emma Harvey</em></strong>.&nbsp; Mrs. Helm further details the Helm Family relating that there were four Helm brothers and a sister:&nbsp; Conrad (1890-1914), Martin (1891-1954), John Henry (1893-1916), Joseph O. (1896-1968), and Rita (1898).&nbsp; Their father, John G. Helm (1867-1949), of German ancestry was born at New Orleans while their mother was Josephine Molero (1858-1914) of St. Bernard, Parish.&nbsp; The Moleros were from the Canary Islands.&nbsp; All the Helm men&nbsp;were born at New Orleans, and died at Biloxi, except John who was lost at sea east of the Chandeleurs on July 5, 1916.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">Frank J. Duggan (1912-2000), the son of Captain George Duggan, the skipper of the ill-fated, <strong><em>Emma Harvey</em></strong>, resided at Biloxi and was married to Carrie Mae Voivedich (1913-2001).&nbsp; She spent her formative years at Ocean Springs.&nbsp; Mrs. Duggan's father, Nichcolas Voivedich, owned a store, on Washington Avenue about where Miner's Toys is now located.&nbsp; The Voivedich Brothers store closed in the mid-1920s.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">Familial connections to the <strong><em>Emma Harvey</em></strong> through its builder, Casmir J. Harvey (1845-1904), are: former Ward IV Alderman, Phil Harvey; Carroll Clifford, Jackson County Board of Supervisor from Gautier; and myself.&nbsp; Phil Harvey is as direct descendant of Pierre Harvey, Jr. (1841-1878) and Victoria Koehl (1850-1904). &nbsp;Mr. Clifford descends from the builder, Casmir Harvey and Rosina Husley (1852-1937), and I am a descendant of Marie Harvey (1840-1894), and Antoine Victor Bellande (1829-1918).&nbsp; Marie was the eldest child, of French immigrant, Pierre Harvey (probably Hervais or Herve) (1810-1880+), and Celestine Moran (1811-1883).&nbsp; Casmir, Pierre, Jr., and Marie Harvey, who were born at Back Bay (present day D'Iberville), were siblings.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<div>&nbsp;</div>

<div>
<div style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: sans-serif, Arial, Verdana, &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;; font-size: 13px;">
<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p class="rtecenter">_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________</p>

<p class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>WILLIE FOUNTAIN</strong>&nbsp;(1882-1963)</span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Died June 25, 1963.&nbsp; Married Tamelia Fossier (1879-1963).&nbsp; Located at Harrison County, north of Fountain Cemetery.</span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>REFERENCES:</strong></span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Viola Moore Cannette-August 1996.</span></p>

<p class="rtecenter">______________________________________________________________</p>

<p class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>J. HENRY CANNETTE&nbsp;</strong>&nbsp;(1887-1969)</span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Built catboats on west side of Avery Point.</span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p>

<p class="rtecenter">&nbsp;</p>

<p class="rtecenter">____________________________________________________________</p>

<p class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>HERMAN KELLY</strong>&nbsp;(1890-1948)</span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Built boats on Fountain beach after WW II.</span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p class="rtecenter">__________________________________________________________________</p>

<p class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>WILLIAM T. HOLLAND&nbsp;</strong>(1943-2005+)</span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Boat yard located on the historic site of Manuel Sanchez and John Foretich at 9362 Central Avenue.&nbsp; Graduate of Biloxi High School?</span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>REFERENCE:</strong></span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><em>The Biloxi-D'Iberville Press</em>,&nbsp;<strong>"A part of South Mississippi's History"</strong>, October 4, 1995, p. 13.</span></p>
</div>

<p class="rtecenter">&nbsp;</p>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></p>
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<div>
<p class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">&nbsp;<strong>FRANCIS A. TALTAVULL</strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>FRANCIS A. TALTAVULL</strong>&nbsp;(1851-1930) married Mary Margaret Bertheaud (1860-1904) on March 19, 1879.&nbsp; She was the daughter of Benjamin Bertheaud (d. pre 1866) and Anna Marie&nbsp;Abbley (1842-1917).&nbsp; The Bertheauds were married by Justice of the Peace, Berry Wells (1812-1876), on October 23, 1858, in&nbsp;Harrison&nbsp;County.&nbsp; Their other children were Rosalie Bertheaud (b.1862), and Mary Victorine Bertheaud (b. 1865).&nbsp; After the death of Benjamin Bertheaud, Anna Marie married Joseph Santa Cruz (1809-1886) on July 10, 1866.&nbsp; Anecdotal history relates that there were eight children born to this union, but only four sons survived: Fritz Santa Cruz (1870-1952), Rudolph Santa Cruz (1872-1932), Adolph Santa Cruz (1881-1972), and Randolph Santa Cruz (1882-1971).&nbsp; Joseph Santa Cruz was born at&nbsp;Palma&nbsp;on the&nbsp;island&nbsp;of&nbsp;Majorca.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">In 1880, Francis and Margaret Taltavull were residing at&nbsp;Back Bay&nbsp;(now D'Iberville) next to her mother, Mrs. Joseph Santa Cruz.&nbsp; Both men are ship carpenters.&nbsp; The children of Francis A. Taltavull and Marie Marguerite Bertheaud were: Mary “Maggie” T. Moran (1880-1948), wife of W.E. Moran; William Bernard Taltavull (1882-1948), Francis A. Taltavull (1883-1950), Alphonsine Taltavull (1885-1885?), and Margaret T. Venus (1888-1966), wife of Joseph Venus.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">Frank Taltavull learned the Spanish language and the art of shipbuilding from his father, Bernard, on the shores of&nbsp;&nbsp;North Biloxi.&nbsp; His father took him to&nbsp;Cuba&nbsp;during the Civil War and he later worked for the Brooklyn Boat Works at&nbsp;New York City&nbsp;where he learned large shipbuilding methods.&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">In March 1880, Frank Taltavull bought a tract of land in a State tax sale for $3.20.&nbsp; It was formerly owned by William Sylvester.&nbsp; The land was located on the north&nbsp;shore&nbsp;of&nbsp;Back Bay&nbsp;and had one arpent (192 feet) on the water and was one mile deep.&nbsp; Pierre Quave was to the east and Joseph Moran to the west.&nbsp; There is a high degree of certitude that Taltavull located a shipyard here.&nbsp; This is corroborated by The Biloxi Herald of March 19, 1892.&nbsp; The journal announced that the new schooner, Emma R. Clemens, owned by John Moran was launched from Frank Taltavull's shipyard.&nbsp; Home belles who attended the ceremony were: Laura Quave, Coline Harvey, Virginia and Theresa Moran, Edna Studebaker,&nbsp;Lena&nbsp;and Josephine Newman, and Melissa and&nbsp; Viola Seymour.(Harrison County, Ms. Land Deed Book 17, p. 370)</span></span></p>

<p class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">Frank Taltavull advertised his business in The Biloxi Herald of October 5, 1893 as follows:</span></span></p>

<p class="rtecenter">&nbsp;</p>

<p class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>BACK BAY</strong>&nbsp;<strong>SHIP YARD</strong></span></span></p>

<p class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>F. Taltavull practical Ship Carpenter and Boat Builder</strong></span></span></p>

<p class="rtecenter"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><em><strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Vessels built, hauled out and repaired on short notice and at reasonable prices.&nbsp; The yard is supplied with all the modern appliances necessary to do first class work, and vessels also hauled out by steam.</strong></em>(p. 4, c. 3)</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The October 1893 Hurricane washed away Taltavull's shipyard on&nbsp;Back Bay.&nbsp; Probably as a result of losing his business and to locate closer to the seafood canneries on the south&nbsp;shore&nbsp;of&nbsp;Back Bay, Frank Taltavull moved to&nbsp;Biloxi&nbsp;in 1894, and resided on&nbsp;</span></span></p>

<address>&nbsp;</address>

<address><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">Reynoir Street</span></span></address>

<address><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="color:rgb(14, 75, 126)">By 1895, he was operating a shipyard on&nbsp;</span>Back Bay<span style="color:rgb(14, 75, 126)">.&nbsp; Mr. Taltavull was known for constructing fast sailboats, schooners, steam launches, and tugs.&nbsp;</span></span></span></address>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">In May 1894, the new, 18-foot catboat, <em>Rosina</em>, built by Mr. Taltavull was for sale by Wallace Montross of the Montross Hotel.&nbsp; Asking price $65.(The Biloxi Herald, May 26, 1894, p. 8)</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">Two Frank Taltavull built vessels, the schooner, <em>A. Gerdes and Brother</em>, and the steam tug, Julius Elbert, became involved on May 29, 1901.&nbsp; Captain Antoine V. Bellande (1829-1918) was in command of the schooner in the&nbsp;Mississippi Sound&nbsp;en route to Ocean Springs.&nbsp; The seven-man crew was below preparing for bed with a green sailor at the helm.&nbsp; The weather roughened and his inexperienced allowed the vessel to capsize.&nbsp; Captain Bellande and his crew were found by the Julius Elbert clinging to their stricken ship.&nbsp; They were rescued and having lost all their possession to the sea.(The Biloxi Daily Herald, May 29, 1901)</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">In 1905, the Taltavull &amp; Rerecich Shipyard is in operation at &nbsp;402 East Back Bay Avenue. &nbsp;<span style="color:rgb(14, 75, 126)">It was sold by Bernard Taltavull to George Melvin in August 1908.&nbsp; Casimero Rerecish (1858-1918) was an 1896 Austrian (probably Croatian) immigrant.(HARCO, Ms. Chattel Bk. 10, p. 216.)</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">Frank Taltavull was beset with eye disease in his old age.&nbsp; Described as “paralysis of the eye”, he visited an eye specialist at&nbsp;New Orleans&nbsp;in March 1928 with some relief.(The Daily Herald, March 26, 1928, p. 2)&nbsp;Mrs. Taltavull died on July 12, 1904.&nbsp; Mr. Frank</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">Taltavull passed on January 6, 1930.&nbsp; Remains of both are interred at the&nbsp;Biloxi&nbsp;Cemetery.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><strong>REFERENCES:</strong></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">Charles Dyer, Along The Gulf, "Biloxi", (reprinted by the Women of Trinity Episcopal Church:&nbsp; Pass Christian, Mississippi-1971).</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">Brother Jerome Lepre, The&nbsp;Santa Cruz&nbsp;Family, (Lepre: New Orleans, Louisiana-1990), pp. 49-52 and p. 59.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The&nbsp;Biloxi&nbsp;City&nbsp;Directory, Volume 1-1905, (The Biloxi Daily Herald Printery:&nbsp; Biloxi, Mississippi-1905), p. 49 and p. 138.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">Biloxi Cemetery Records Book E, "Francis Taltavull Sr.", (microfilm:&nbsp; Biloxi Public Library), p. 214.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The Biloxi Herald, "Launching of the new schooner, Emma R. Clemens", March 19, 1892, p. 4.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The&nbsp;Biloxi&nbsp;Herald, "Terrific Gale", October 5, 1893, p. 1.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The&nbsp;Biloxi&nbsp;Herald, “Local Happenings”, May 26, 1894.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The&nbsp;Biloxi&nbsp;Daily Herald, May 29, 1901.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The&nbsp;Biloxi&nbsp;Daily Herald, "Moran-Taltavull", January 26, 1905, p. 5.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The&nbsp;Biloxi&nbsp;Daily Herald, “Venus-Taltavull”, November 26, 1908, p. 1.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The Daily Herald, "Casimero Reresich Obit", February 8, 1918, p. 3.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The Daily Herald, “Returns From&nbsp;New Orleans”, March 26, 1928.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">Personal Communication:</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">Rusty Barnes-November 1996.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">Jane Taltavull Smith-November 1996.</span></span></p>
</div>

<p class="rtecenter">__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________</p>

<p class="rtecenter"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>PETER QUAVE SHIPYARD</strong></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Commenced either by Pierre "Perrique" Quave (1808-1889) or his son, Peter Simon Quave (1826-1862), or Raymond J. Quave (1851-1908).&nbsp; Perrique Quave left the area for St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana circa 1859.&nbsp; Peter S. Quave was killed at Mobile circa 1862, during the Civil&nbsp;War. &nbsp;</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Raymond, the father of Seymour.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">The Quave Shipyard was located on the northshore of the Back Bay of Biloxi.&nbsp; Its location is described in the land deeds books of Harrison County, Mississippi in one conveyance as ninety-eight feet on the bay, east by the "old ferry landing", and west by Christopher Quave, deceased.&nbsp; Another deed states that John Foretich is to the east, John Mally to the west, and the Quave house to the north.&nbsp; This location present day would probably be between&nbsp;the Gollott factory and Holland's shipyard.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">The Quave shipyard was leased by Pierre S. Quave's widow, Anna Mallette Quave (1828-1904), to Jose Aval in September 1867.&nbsp; It included the shipyard, houses, and all appurtenances situated on the tract.&nbsp; The lease was for five years at $100 per year rental.(HARCO, Ms. Land Deed Bk. 10, p. 281)</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">In December 1867, the Quave shipyard was leased to to Pedro Perez (1823-1886), a Spanish immigrant, and ship carpenter.&nbsp; Peter Perez was married to Josephine Gollott (1841-1897).&nbsp; Son?, Antonio Perez (1859-1893), lost his life in the 1893 Hurricane with Boy Balius aboard the&nbsp;schooner, Antonio P. Jr.(HARCO, Ms. Land Deed Bk. 10, p. 450 and&nbsp;<em>The Biloxi Herald</em>,&nbsp;<em>October 7, 1893, p. 1)</em></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Quave shipyard bought lumber from Fewell &amp; Lilly in 1870.&nbsp; Their sawmill was probaly located in Section 18, T7S-R9W.&nbsp; This is in the Old-Field point area west of Goodman Road. &nbsp;The Quave shipyard was still in existence by 1890s, as in January 1892,&nbsp;<em>The Biloxi Herald</em>&nbsp;announced that Peter Quave (1863-1936) is putting his shipyard in first-class order.<em>(The Biloxi Herald</em>,&nbsp;<em>January 30, 1892, p. 1)</em></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">The Quave shipyard is busy. &nbsp;Two bages were launched yesterday and sevral other boats are being repaired.[The Biloxi Herald, December 1, 1893, p. 1]</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Peter Quave was the grandson of the Widow Anna Mallette Quave.&nbsp; He was married to Alphonsine Boney (1863-1900+) and a merchant in 1900. &nbsp;Peter Quave built a seafood factory here later.&nbsp; It lasted into the Depression years.</span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><strong>REFERENCES:</strong></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><em>The Biloxi Herald</em>, October 7, 1893, p. 1.</span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><em>The Biloxi Herald</em>,&nbsp;<strong>"Back Bay"</strong>, January 30, 1892, p. 1.</span></span></p>

<p><em>The Biloxi Herald</em><span style="background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255); color:rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family:georgia,serif; font-size:14px">, <strong>'Back Bay items'</strong>, December 1, 1893, p. 1.</span></p>

<p class="rtecenter">___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________</p>

<p class="rtecenter">&nbsp;</p>

<p class="rtecenter"><strong><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Biloxi Boat Builders</span></strong></p>

<p class="rtecenter">&nbsp;</p>

<p class="rtecenter"><strong><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">John C. Brander</span></span></strong></p>

<p><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="background-color:rgb(250, 250, 250); color:rgb(54, 50, 45)"><strong>John Charles Brander </strong>[1843-1913], a native of Nova Scotia and a resident of Biloxi for the past seven years, died at his home at 421 Copp street Sunday morning at 1:30 o'clock after an illness of several weeks duration. He was 70 years old. Before coming to Biloxi he resided in Pascagoula where he was engaged in the ship building business. Since his removal to this city he has been proprietor of Brander's shipyard on Back Bay, where he has done a prosperous business, having built many of the boats plying in these waters for the various local canning factories. He was associated in the ship building business with his son, Francis, the only son surviving him. He leaves also his wife and six daughters: Mrs. Francis Taltavul and Misses Maggie, Lena, Alma, Gertrude and Velma Brander, all of Biloxi. Miss Lena Brander is a teacher in the Biloxi schools. The family is prominent in business and social circles in this city and have numerous friends in Pascagoula and at other coast points who will be grieved to learn of the death of Mr. Brander. He was a man of sterling qualities, unquestionable integrity, and always manifested a patriotic interest in everthing that concerned the home of his adoption. The funeral was held at 3:30 o'clock this afternoon from his late residence with interment at the Biloxi cemetery. Services were conducted by Rev. Wm. Meggison, pastor of the Prebsyterian Church.[The Daily Herald, June 16, 1913]</span></span></span></p>

<p><br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p class="rtecenter"><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/inline/images/Screen%20Shot%202020-02-27%20at%204.41.34%20PM.png" /></p>

<p class="rtecenter"><strong><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">Francis A. Brander</span></span></strong></p>

<p class="rtecenter">&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span style="font-size:14px">REFERENCES:</span></span></strong></p>
</div>
