Nostalgia

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=180 BGCOLOR="#990033" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B><IMG SRC="06bb3830.jpg" border=0 width="179" height="131" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="069b0de0.jpg" border=0 width="176" height="222" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="06cb0770.jpg" border=0 width="176" height="119" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> </td> <td valign="top" width="100%" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I>Nostalgia</I></div> <div> <B>     Having received many queries for information throughout the years, I am posting herewith some email snippets that reflect memories of Pass Christian and the Gulf Coast.   I welcome such queries and their responses with anecdotal information about the Pass and the sharing of their photographs.  Some of these long distance Visitors have submitted interesting facets that have generated additional pages for all to view.  i.e. </B><A HREF="http://sherman.passchristian.net" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://sherman.passchristian.net"><B>Sherman</B></A><B>, </B><A HREF="http://marmion.passchristian.net" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://marmion.passchristian.net"><B>Marmion</B></A><B>, </B><A HREF="http://hattie.passchristian.net" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://hattie.passchristian.net"><B>Miss Hattie</B></A><B>, etc.</B></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>Visitors may post to the GuestBook below</B></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://passchristian.net/PassBook" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://passchristian.net/PassBook"><B>Pass Christian Nostalgia Guest Book</B></A></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Sampling of Respondents</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Dan, </B></div> <div> <B>     My name is Margaret Loesch, and my father was Brig. General L. F. Loesch;  we owned the beautiful home at 625 East Beach from 1952 until the mid-1960's, and later ( after my father was, sadly, killed in a plane crash ) my mother, brother and I moved to the "Ewing House" ( as we always called it ) at 829 E. Beach, where my mother lived until the early 1970's. </B></div> <div> <B>     Although we traveled and lived around the world, we always considered the Pass as our home ( which was exactly why my parents had purchased there, so as to give my brother and I a sense of roots not usually enjoyed among military families ); we spent many summer vacations there, and many holidays, and after my father died, we lived there fulltime.  I so miss Pass Christian; although I've traveled the world, it still remains uniquely special.  Thus, it was with great appreciation that I eagerly read your book, sent to me by a friend from Gulfport.  It brought back a lot of memories, including Camille, of course ( we were living at the 829 E. Scenic Drive house by then, and yes, we were in the house when the storm hit).</B></div> <div> <B>     Unfortunately, my mother ( Maggie Loesch, originally from Meridian) passed away in 1995;  she had been living in the guest house I built for her on our property here in North Hollywood, Calif.  She would have just loved reading your book!  You mentioned in your book that I had something to do with the Muppet Babies tv series;  yes, I did; actually, I was the Executive Producer of the series, along with Jim Henson; he and I were partnered on that series for six years, until he died,  while I was CEO of Marvel Productions.  In 1990,  I left Marvel and the Muppet Babies to become the founding President & CEO of the FOX Kids Networks, Worldwide, where I stayed until the end of 1997.  It was with great irony that in early 1998, I became President of Jim Henson Television;  I left that company ten months later to run a cable network purchased by both The Jim Henson Company and Hallmark.  </B></div> <div> <B>     And now, even as Pres. & CEO of Odyssey Network, I am often reminded of the Gulf Coast and "the Pass" during my travels around the country.  Still, to this day, the Pass remains  the loveliest of towns, etched in my memory forever.   I'm so happy that the gambling hasn't come to PC.   </B></div> <div> <B>     I can still remember the smell of the summer rains, and think of the summer breezes wafting through our house ( we had no air conditioning in those days...that would have cost us a small fortune!!);  when I tell my son about the "sweet" smell of burning leaves in the fall as we kids had to rake and rake and rake all those piles of  magnolia leaves, he looks at me as if I've lost my mind !  For, as you might guess, in Southern California, we could NEVER burn leaves, due to fire dangers and air pollution restrictions!   And he can't even begin to imagine the freedom we all felt as kids as we'd head off for the day on our bikes to explore regions unknown throughout the Pass,  making sure to be back just before  dinner!  Here, in Los Angeles, kids don't enjoy that freedom, for we parents all fear some maniac might grab them!    </B></div> <div> <B>     My son is lucky if I let him ride his bike four blocks to another child's house, and then he has to call me immediately, lest I start a parent's patrol looking for him!  Well, so much for "the good old days!"   I'm sorry to babble on so much.  I just really wanted to let you know how very much I enjoyed your book.  I don't get "home " to often, but I do keep in touch with some friends still living there.  My dream is to someday buy one of those lovely old homes on Scenic Drive!  To think, my mother, brother and I sold the house at 625 E. Bch., now worth well over a million dollars, for a mere $ 75,000!!  </B></div> <div> <B>     Regrettably, I wouldn't be able to afford to buy it back!   But, until I can, I'll have your book to browse and, using my imagination, re-live my wonderful childhood spent there.  </B></div> <div> <B>Margaret</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Dan, </B></div> <div> <B>My grandfather, Frank Mendoza, originally owned the Grey Castle Hotel and sold it to the Jesuit Priests.  I would be very interested in getting copies of pictures of The Grey Castle Hotel.   Over the years my pictures have been lost, we only have one picture of my grandmother on the front steps.   My grandparents also owned the Miramar Hotel at one time.  If you can be of some help it would be greatly appreciated.  I look forward to hearing from you. </B></div> <div> <B>Bettie Mendoza Brady</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Dear Mr. Ellis,</B></div> <div> <B>I was wondering if you or Mr Bourdin know of any pictures of James Sherman’s first and second wives,Amelia Amanda MacFarlane and Bird Raun?  If there are any they might help me in a comparison of some photographs I have.  I am now copying a generation chart of the Sherman side which goes back as far as Plymouth,Mass. to send to you.  Thank you for your attention.</B></div> <div> <B>      Would like to know if you or anyone there has copies of James Sherman's </B><B>“The Road I Came”</B><B> or </B><B>“Pretty and Fragant Flowers of the South” </B><B>?  I wondered if I got these reprinted would anyone be interested in buying them and the money could be donated to the historical society.  They are small books and I don't know how much of interest they would be that anyone would purchase them.  Let me know what you think when you have time.</B></div> <div> <B>Joy Schneider</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Thank you for your e-mail, Dan. </B></div> <div> <B>I forwarded it to a cousin, Nick Wright, who has been also researching the family and will check all my "stuff" this week.  We have questions on the cemetery plot or plots that my husband and I saw last year so as soon as I can gather my thoughts I'll get back to you.  We believe the "archie" to be Hamilton Wright's second wife, Virginia's son by her previous marriage to Rutsen Van Rensselaer. Rutsen died in 1841 and Virginia and Hamilton married in1846.  I'll go into more detail later.  We would appreciate it if, when you're near the cemetery, you could see if the stone has just Wright on it or HM also. We could not remember. We did not see an Archie stone which makes me wonder if there are two plots. I promise to add more.</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Hi Mr. Ellis,</B></div> <div> <B>My cousin has relatives buried in Live Oak Cemetary.  They died in the flu outbreak in pass christian in the early 1900's.  Could you tell where I could go to look up their names.  I thank you and may you have a nice week.</B></div> <div> <B>Her name was Gladys Daily  She was a young child.  My cousin is trying to find the grave to put a Headstone on it.  We do not know the Grand mothers name.</B></div> <div> <B>God Bless,</B></div> <div> <B>Warren</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Hi Dan -</B></div> <div> <B>I recently purchased one of your books, “All About Camille”, and I wanted to let you know that I was impressed with the wealth of information it contains.  It is rare to find someone who has such a specialty as yours.  The reason I purchased the book is that I am working on a novel that is closely tied in to Hurricane Camille. My family and I used to travel every summer from Houston, TX, to Fitzgerald, GA, to visit family.  I clearly remember the devastation we saw when we went through the Biloxi area in 1970, after the storm had her way with the area. I also met a man in Washington, D.C., who had lost his pregnant wife, mother and gardener during the hurricane. They were all washed out to sea, it appears, as their bodies were never found.  He woke up 2 weeks later in the hospital at Keesler AFB, having been in a coma since the storm.  It left him emotionally scarred. Those events led to my decision to base a character out of Bay St. Louis, MS. That is the convoluted way that led me to your book.</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Mr. Ellis:</B></div> <div> <B>Thank you for your response, the facts you stated were correct, at the time my father and mother owned a day care called Tiny Tots nursery that was located in Gulfport, across the street from what I refer to as a tavern. it was two blocks off of the main, the reason for the reference to the business is because, the Fayard Trucking Co., building was painted a shade of pink that my father wanted to paint the Day Care center, that morning that he drove past the building he sw the Negro come out of the building with blood on his clothes, it turns out that he had beaten the victims to death with a golf club and trophy, it was a very brutal murder. There are quite a few facts that I remember, such as several attempts on my father's life before he testified at the murder trial, is the man still in prison or did they put him to death?</B></div> <div> <B>Thank You,</B></div> <div> <B>J.D.</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Hello...</B></div> <div> <B>My name is Glen MacLeod and I am librarian at the Zoe Valle Library in Chester, Nova Scotia, Canada. The Library is actually the former summer home (1900 to 1926) of Alfred R. Lightfoot, who was born in Pass Christian in the mid 1800's. I was wondering if you know anything about Mr. Lightfoot or his family.  His wife, Zoe Valle Lightfoot gave the property to the municipality for use as a library when she died in 1926. We are trying to mount an historical display on the library and are trying to find out all we can on the Lightfoots.</B></div> <div> <B>Thanks,</B></div> <div> <B>Glen MacLeod</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Dan Ellis, </B></div> <div> <B>My name is Caroline Patton, I though may be you could help with my search for my grandfather. His name was John Howard Fletcher , born in Pass Christian Mississippi, July 31,1879.  So I was told.  I have found many discrepancies in my search. Records are few due to hurricanes etc.  It was said that he ran away from home at an early age because his father had remarried and he did not like his new step mother.  He was known to be a big story teller.  He did however end up in New York and married my grandmother about 1909 (where I am not sure).  They had three children in New York.  Each child's birth cert is different his name changes and place of birth changes from Pass Christian to New Orleans (may be cause know one would know where pass christian was).  The real question was, was there something else he was he running from? Know one knows who his parent were, we think he did have siblings.  He may have lived in a Mansion in the Gulf area.  Do you know of any prominent Fletcher families in the area in the late 1800's. that may fit this description?  The oldest records I have found are census records from 1920 where they lived in Buffalo NY.  Prior to that my grandmother exists, but my grandfather is no where to be found.  Any help would be appreciated.Or maybe another historian or local long time resident I could contact.</B></div> <div> <B>Thank You,</B></div> <div> <B>Caroline Patton </B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Hi Dan ! </B></div> <div> <B>Back to Paris, I will like to thank you for your help while looking at the plantation. We hope to see you in Paris later on.</B></div> <div> <B>Best regards</B></div> <div> <B>Henriette et Michel Boiron</B></div> <div> <B>Institut de G</B><B>é</B><B>n</B><B>é</B><B>tique Mol</B><B>é</B><B>culaire</B></div> <div> <B>27, rue Juliette Dodu</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Mr. Ellis, </B></div> <div> <B>My name is Janell Thomas-Cody.  I am making some inquiries about a family that used to live in your area.  They are my great-grandparents Thomas Mason and he was married to Ethel Robinson-Mason.  My mother and I are doing our family tree and we are wanting to find out when they where born and when they died and how their parents where.  The had a child from this union my grandmother and her name was Ethel Adine Mason.  We know that my great-grandmother died in 1929 and my great-granfather after 1930. </B></div> <div> <B>If you can any information that would help us, would you please send an e-mail to myself and my mothers address who has been copied into this e-mail that I have sent to you. </B></div> <div> <B>Have a Blessed Day, Sincerely, </B></div> <div> <B>Janell M. Cody </B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Dear Mr. Ellis, </B></div> <div> <B>I am native of DeLisle, MS. I am a graduate of Pass Christian High and Mississippi State University. I am a descendant of the Lizana's, Dedeaux's, Lizana's, and Ashley's. Currently I am working on a personal "historical library" about my unique hometown and culture. There is very little information about the Black Creoles of the Gulf Coast - particularly Pass Christian, DeLisle, and Bay St. Louis. Other information that I would like to acquire includes the detailed history of the settlement of these areas and plantations (if any) that my ancestors may be affiliated with. </B></div> <div> <B>Please let me know if you are able to assist me in finding accurate data for my library. Thank you. </B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Dan</B></div> <div> <B>Thanks again, your emails are also very helpful.  i think it's great that people are preserving something of history.  two other sets of my great greats were rutilius ulysses mitchell and eliza angeline holden mitchell and elvira warden marson and stephen marson.  they were all from gainesville and the test site displaced and destroyed the whole community.  my mother lived down there in a house that was next to eliza poitevant's old house and she remains rather mournful about the whole affair of the test site.  another branch of mitchells settled at napolean's bluff and i do have  picture of a few family members that was made at smith and bennett in napolean in 1902.  so the coastal area has many family connections.  the next chance i get to sleuth in pass christian i will certainly go to mr bourdin's.</B></div> <div> <B>thanks very much,</B></div> <div> <B>Mark</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Dan,</B></div> <div> <B>Thank you for the document. As one who has just finished editing a book on Mississippi musicians, I find it very frustrating to find more and more great Mississippi musicians who need to be recognized.  As you know, these individuals do not appear in regular research sources.  It is only by people like you that we have documented so many great Mississippi musicians.</B></div> <div> <B>Mississippi is the birthplace of America's music and we need to showcase that fact.</B></div> <div> <B>Would you please give me the site name (musician, museum, home, grave, etc.), address, and contact phone number (if any) for each of the musicians you mentioned.  Even if tourists can go by the musician's house and take a picture, we want to list that attraction.</B></div> <div> <B>Thanks,</B></div> <div> <B>Jim Brewer</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Dan, </B></div> <div> <B>Has any of your research uncovered the home of Louis Christian Miltenberger in Pass Christian? He was my ancestor, and our family lore relates that (because he was known as Christian Miltenberger) that Pass Christian was somehow named after him or his 2nd home there (he was a resident of New Orleans).</B></div> <div> <B>Any truth? </B></div> <div> <B>Randolph Byrd </B></div> <div> <B>Charlottesville, VA </B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Dan</B></div> <div> <B>> > seeking information about a ship carrying Indians west during the removal that sank off the shore of Pass Christian, Ms.  I found a brief reference in a borrowed book and have lost contact with the owner.  The sources I'm finding indicate the ship was boarded in Pass Christian but sank in the Mississippi....</B></div> <div> <B>Dorothy pagano</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Dan</B></div> <div> <B>I was looking at the Henderson Point page. My wife and I spent our Honeymoon there.  Her Uncle had built a cottage thereafter a previous Hurricane had blown the first one away. The second one was not to be blown away, as he had the walls & foundation poured strong enough for a 10 story building. (He built most of the overpasses & bridges in N.O.)  {Including that STUPID circle over the Airline}. The last time I was back there I tried to find it but after 50 years everything changed so much I couldn't even find Henderson Point.</B></div> <div> <B>We now live in Santa Cruz, Ca. (for the last 50 years) and will celebrate our 54 Wedding anniversary this Dec. </B></div> <div> <B>Regards, </B></div> <div> <B>Hank </B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Dan, </B></div> <div> <B>I'm trying to research the families of Arthur Marmion, John Dale Nelson and Liversedge. Do any of your works touch on any of these families?  One obit for Eloise Marmion said she was from a prominent family in Pass Christian but I can't seem to find any references to that. Some of these family members are buried in St. Paul's Cemetery in Pass Christian but I am told by the church there most records were lost during Hurricane Camile. </B></div> <div> <B>I would apprecite any information you might be able to help me with. </B></div> <div> <B>Do you know whom the ISabel Hogan Nelson might be?  I figure she was a wife of one of the children of John Nelson.</B></div> <div> <B>Also how about MAry Ann Nunn.  MAybe the mother of Samuel Nunn, husband of Ada Nelson</B></div> <div> <B>Barry Boecher </B></div> <div> <B>Beaumont, TX</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Mr Ellis, </B></div> <div> <B>My name is Paul Jermyn and I live in Long Beach, MS. I work at Stennis for the Boeing Company testing the RS-68 rocket engine. It's the new 650,000 engine the powers Boeings new Delta 4 Rocket.   First, let me tell you that I've read most of your books and have enjoyed them immensely. I often refer to them when trying to identify old photos I have collected and when trying to learn more about postcards I've purchased for my collection. I have about 2000 old postcards of the coast dating from the early 1900's to the 40's in my collection. Some day, I'd like to have you look through them. I have quite a few unique cards you might enjoy. I also collect old photos of the coast. I have lots of them I haven't identified yet. I'd like your opinion on the attached photo of an old church I have. The photo has a label on the back that says "Gulf Photo Service". Any help identifing this photo would be appreciated. </B></div> <div> <B>Thanks in Advance, </B></div> <div> <B>Paul Jermyn</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Hi Dan,</B></div> <div> <B>What a delight to get these! And thanks particularly for Lost Images!  My aunt's house (Phelan) was listed in the section in your Historical District book on property that was lost in Hurricane Camille, along with their neighbors, the Raffertys. I was happy to read of the restoration work that has been done on the town. I have a photo of their house, but unfortunately, it's not good quality. </B></div> <div> <B>The Lost Images book included a section on the Hechts' Japanese gardens, which is where my family used to visit during our trips to the Pass. At that time, the property was privately owned by a family named Harrison (I think). I have a photocopy of a photo of the pool, which was a lovely stone affair that had two small islands in it with trees, I remember. The pool was shady and perfect for people with sun sensitivities. I will try to get a nice copy made and send it to you. Did the rest of the property survive? It was so pretty--it had a stream running through it with little Japanese bridges going over it in various spots.</B></div> <div> <B>Cheers,</B></div> <div> <B>Pat</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Dan,</B></div> <div> <B>Dayton Robinson has referred me to you. I live in Pintala, Alabama (Montgomery County) where Sam Manac owned and operated a tavern on the Old Federal Road. I'm tying to learn all I can about Moniac. My immediate quest is to locate his burial place. While I understand that this cannot be done with precision and that others have made the attempt, I do have questions which I would like to resolve before publishing an article in the Pintlala Historical Association Newsletter:</B></div> <div> <B>Your website article on Manac is the best thing I have read to date.</B></div> <div> <B>Would you be willing to let us reprint the article, giving you attribution, of course, and with reference to your website?</B></div> <div> <B>Thanks for keeping your local history alive. Most interesting!!</B></div> <div> <B> Gary Burton</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Good Day Dan, </B></div> <div> <B>I am seeking info and U seem to be the man that would know.  I am looking for a burial place of a great ancestor. I"ve searched in vain thru most sites. The grave or burial site ( may be mass) I am seeking is of Sam (Takkes Hardjo) Moniac.  He died there in 1836. The boats were departing from there to the Mississippi river.  Sam was with the Creek during removal to Oklahoma when he died there at Pass Christian. I found he was buried there thru the letters & writings of Genearl T. S. Woodward. If u could help me I would be very grateful.  I'd like to visit the site whatever it turns out to be. </B></div> <div> <B>Thanks very much J. W B. </B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Dan, </B></div> <div> <B>     I have just mailed you a copy of the file that was sent to me by the National Archives and Records Administration as I promised.</B></div> <div> <B>     Overall there were no great new revelations, but for me there was some clarity on certain points.  My biggest difficulty has been to understand the various title transfers during those early years.  It may be impossible to nail down the title thing completely because of the loss of records, etc.or misfiled information.  For example, one document that Nap Cassibry found by accident, had Juan's name spelled Quails.  Unless one stumbles upon such a document, how would a researcher ever find it?  Since my goal has always been to collect a copy of every original document still existing concerning the family, I was excited to get the copy of the original hand written deed to the Government for the lighthouse property, actually signed by Juan and his wife.  I did not have that. The main document that still eludes me is the deed from Juan Cuevas to Judah Benjamin in 1937 for "certain parts" of Cat island.  I would give anything to find that one. </B></div> <div> <B>     What is your next project? I always look forward to your books. </B></div> <div> <B>John Cuevas</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> Hi! </div> <div> I came across your website and I hope that you can help me with something. My family was driving through Mississippi 2 years ago and we stopped at a church that had an "Angel" figure (Maybe Jesus figure) in a glass case, very beautiful. I was seriously ill at the time and, for the life of me, cannot remember where in the world it was. My two sons were with me and cannot remember either.  My son says the inscription said that this was what was left after Hurricane Camille destroyed their church and that is why it is in the glass case. It is definitely on the coast of Mississippi because we were coming from the New Orleans way and we lived in Ocean Springs at the time.  We have been trying to find this statue ever since then. Please help!</div> <div> William</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Mr. Ellis:</div> <div> This is going to seem like a strange email to you. I am trying to find the month and date of a snow fall in Gulfport, Mississippi.  As a way of introducing myself, I graduated from Gulfport High School in 1956. This year, I found several snow scenes around my Gulfport home. I, also, have pictures of some of us throwing snowballs at each other at the 2nd street park. I have written many of my classmates, but none of us can remember the month it snowed. Our guess work ranges from 1953 to 1956. This started out as a curiosity factor for me -- just so I could date the pictures. However, it has now become something I cannot seem to put to rest. I suspect, being the well known writer you are, you can understand me better than most. In your research, have you seen a "snow" date between 1953 and 1956? </div> <div> I would not blame you at all for not answering -- but do look forward to hearing from you. </div> <div> Sincerely, Anna Gayle McClure Littleton, Colorado</div> <bR> <div> Dear Dan, </div> <div> Thank you so very much. I am sending you the below email I just received from Kat Bergeron from the Herald. Isn't it amazing that I can be in Colorado and it came together so fast?  I truly appreciate your time and effort. One of these days, I plan to return to the coast and STAY. My heart is still there. Last April, I looked at several homes in the area. </div> <div> Sincerely, Anna Gayle </div> <div> <U>BELOW IS THE EMAIL I RECEIVED</U> </div> <div> I took this from my previous research on snow. This must be what you were asking about...Kat Bergeron</div> <div> March 6, 1954: From the Daily Herald: "The first appreciable snowfall since 1936 sneaked in at the early hours today and laid a blanket of white beauty over the three Coast counties. You never know. When the king of winter paid his impressive call, the kids had only yesterday been flying kites. Today they went out to inspect the magic stuff." A solid 2 inches everywhere, higher in drifts, and temperatures hovered around freezing.</div> <bR> <div> Dan, </div> <div>  I feel like I have died and gone to Heaven. Thank you so much for the hyperlinks to your sites. I cannot wait to explore them tonight. Hopefully, I will be in Gulfport this spring or summer and I can actually buy some of your books. I see that I can purchase them at the Anderson Museum and Hillyer House. I always go to both of these places on my trips. </div> <div> The snow picture was beautiful -- went to that one first. Hopefully, I will find other pictures that will transport me back in time. You do know you live in Heaven, don't you? I did read some of the history your wrote about the Gulf Port yacht club. I know many of the families who started the yacht club. In fact, I was out with several people last April on the old boat that belonged to the Hewes family. I meant this boat is OLD and so much fun. Harry had it designated by the historical boat association as a keeper. It looks just like it did when his Dad and Grandfather (Goat Hewes?) had it. Harry "claims" his children overhauled it -- I just trusted him -- and we all headed for Ship Island. It was my last day on the coast. On the way back -- we had porpoises traveling with us in the wake of the boat -- all the way from Ship Island to the Gulfport Yacht Club. The sunset was sparkling on their skin -- until they looked peach. Of course, my friends kept saying they planned it that way for me. Even porpoise show true Southern Hospitality in Heaven. </div> <div> Thanks, again. Anna Gayle </div> <div> P.S.This is so strange -- I just had an email come in from Harry Hewes and his wife. He is answering me about my snow question. I don't think he would mind me sharing a part of his email. He said, </div> <div> "It was March 6, 1954. This was a Saturday. It snowed sometime during the night before. I remember this because it was my 15th birthday. I tested for a driver's license that day-in the snow. </div> <div> HARRY HEWES" </div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Dan,</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#999933" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#999933" FACE="Georgia" ><B>It was such a sweet thing for you to put the anecdote/inquiry about my Grandmother </B></FONT><A HREF="http://hattie.passchristian.net" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://hattie.passchristian.net"><B>Hattie</B></A><B> </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#999933" FACE="Georgia" ><B>online. I hope something good comes of this. You might recognize it's always been strange to think of "Hattie" as my own grandmother ... too complicated to go into in a brief e-mail I think. It has to do with her premature death when Mama was a child, more than anything else. I did know her sister, Sallie Morgan Freeman, who married at middle age John Edward Freeman's oldest brother, William Brooks Freeman, who was a country school teacher/principal and farmer. My Great-Aunt Sallie was a wonderful human being and in my heart was a grandmother, as she had taken her sister and her sister's youngest child into her home in Tate County's Greenleaf Community after this sister -- my grandmother Hattie -- became ill. As a child and as a teenager my too-few trips from Carroll County to Tate County to visit Aunt Sallie and Uncle Will, then Aunt Sallie and Uncle Ed (McCall) at Greenleaf were cherished events.</B></FONT></div> <div> <B>Susie James</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Dan - </B></div> <div> <B>My father told me a story years ago about a Spanish Galleon lade</B></div> <div> <B>with gold damaged by a Hurricane finduing its way into the Gulf, and</B></div> <div> <B>taking refuge in Pearl River.  The Florida Parishes were ostensibly then</B></div> <div> <B>under the control of Spain while the French held New Orleans. To </B></div> <div> <B>salvage what was aboard, the Spanish sent a camel carravan up from Miami  - it unloaded the cargo and walked it out. </B></div> <div> <B> Later twenty years or so back I recall reading a piece in a local</B></div> <div> <B>paper, recounting the story. The impetus was the discovery of some of</B></div> <div> <B>the gold pieces east of Pearl  River;  I assumed lost in the trans-shipment. </B></div> <div> <B>Did I dream this up?  </B></div> <div> <B> William Gambel</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> Mr. Ellis, </div> <div> My name is Janell Thomas-Cody. I am making some inquiries about a family that used to live in your area. They are my great-grandparents Thomas Mason who was married to Ethel Robinson-Mason. My mother and I are doing our family tree and we are wanting to find out when they where born and when they died and how their parents were. They had a child from this union -- my grandmother -- and her name was Ethel Adine Mason. We know that my great-grandmother died in 1929 and my great-granfather after 1930. </div> <div> If you can send any information that would help us, would you please send an e-mail to myself and my mother's address who has been copied into this e-mail that I have sent to you. </div> <div> Have a Blessed Day, </div> <div> Sincerely, </div> <div> Janell M. Cody </div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Hi Mr. Ellis,</B></div> <div> <B>My cousin has relatives buried in Live Oak Cemetary.  They died in the flu outbreak in pass christian in the early 1900's.  Could you tell where I could go to look up their names.  I thank you and may you have a nice week.</B></div> <div> <B>Her name was Gladys Daily She was a young child.  My cousin is trying to find the grave to put a Headstone on it.  We do not know the Grand mothers name.</B></div> <div> <B> Thank You and God Bless, </B></div> <div> <B>Warren</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Hi Dan,</B></div> <div> <B>Thanks so much-- What a delight to get these! And thanks particularly for Lost Images! My aunt's house (Phelan) was listed in the section in your Historical District book on property that was lost in Hurricane Camille, along with their neighbors, the Raffertys. I was happy to read of the restoration work that has been done on the town. I have a photo of their house, but unfortunately, it's not good quality. </B></div> <div> <B>The Lost Images book included a section on the Hechts' Japanese gardens, which is where my family used to visit during our trips to the Pass. At that time, the property was privately owned by a family named Harrison (I think). I have a photocopy of a photo of the pool, which was a lovely stone affair that had two small islands in it with trees, I remember. The pool was shady and perfect for people with sun sensitivities. I will try to get a nice copy made and send it to you. Did the rest of the property survive? It was so pretty--it had a stream running through it with little </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://history.passchristian.net/japanese_gardens/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://history.passchristian.net/japanes"><B>Japanese bridges</B></A></FONT><B> going over it in various spots.</B></div> <div> <B>Have to run; have a horrid deadline here at the world's second largest software company, which is in a collection of tall space station type buildings sitting in the middle of a much too sunny and barren plain in what at one time, only a hundred years ago, was a large redwood forest.</B></div> <div> <B>Cheers,</B></div> <div> <B>Pat</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B> </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#009900" FACE="Arial" ><B>Mr. Ellis</B></FONT></div> <div> <B>James Munton, my great grandfather, was an inventor of the train coupler, a train wheel process and the owner of at least three patents (I have documented three). An immigrant from Penistone, England, Munton was a tyre roller and became Supt. of the Chicago Spring and Tire in Melrose, IL. After the inventions he first retired to Grand Rapids, MI to a farm he named Blythfield Farms, after his birth place in Blythfield, England. He sent my Grandfather, Harvey, to Mississippi A &M to get the best agriculture education available in 1906-1907. I believe it was 1910 that he moved to Kiln and bought 900+ acres on the Jourdan River that he named the Jordan River Citrus farm. Today this property is known as Charlotte Farms. James Munton built two homes on the river bank that still stand today.</B></div> <div> <B>His brother in law, James Baggott, lived with them and was an amateur photographer who took, developed, and cataloged over 400 pictures of family, friends and the area. Even though my writiing skills are limited, I have written a family history that includes much more information. I say all of this to ask you two questions.</B></div> <div> <B>Would any of this info be of assistance to you? and</B></div> <div> <B>I am looking for information on their sailing yacht of some 50 to 60 feet called </B></div> <div> <B>the Sabrina. Uncle James took many pictures of it ... the last one around 1925.</B></div> <div> <B>Can you give any leads on how to search for such a vessel that is probably long sunk in the gulf?</B></div> <div> <B>Dick Munton</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#009900" FACE="arial" ><B> </B></FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Hi Dan,</B></div> <div> <B>I appreciate your quick response.  Most of the solid information that I have has come either from your internet site or from talking to neighbors. I have contacted Tulane's Southeastern Architectural Archives, though they have found nothing yet.  The Mississippi State Historical Society has only a photocopy of a photograph from a magazine article published in the 1960's.  The building was not surveyed in the National Historic Buildings Survey.  Sanborn does not have an electronic archive of the property, though I will try the Gulfport library microfilm archives next time we are down there.    Billy Bourdin described a cistern on the northwestern corner of the house, which the neighbor at 765  says is on his property, and over which he poured a concrete slab.</B></div> <div> <B>There is a building on Dauphine Street in New Orleans, built in 1852,  that has a number of similarities to some of the unusual features of Beaulieu, making me wonder if the architect (de Pouilly) was the same.  If so, there may be some record of the structure archived in New Orleans.</B></div> <div> <B>I will contact Floyd Logan.  I was encouraged to see that the original site was only 165'.  I do have a copy of a survey from your internet site, but do not have a survey showing where the old house was sited.  I intend to research the site and the building as thoroughly  as possible before we begin with building plans.  I  will be happy to keep you apprised of what I find.   We will be back down there in late June or early July.  Perhaps we can meet then.</B></div> <div> <B>Thanks again,</B></div> <div> <B>Bill</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> Does anyone know the whereabouts of Mary Ann ____?? I can't remember her last name, but I remember her interviews weeks after the storm. Was she the sole survivor of the Richilieu Apts. Hurricane Party. I remember her distinctly as I was a Jr. High student then.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> E. McCleary, Morgan City, Louisiana.</div> <div> <B>Thank you so much.  I know too well about those "senior moments".</B></div> <div> <B>I was in Jr. High in '69 and lived in Morgan City, La and my parents had a</B></div> <div> <B>summer place in Biloxi-Gulfport when Camille hit.  Being an accomplished trial attorney and a pilot, my dad was able to leave his law practice and flew in medical supplies and food every 2 days for weeks after the storm.</B></div> <div> <B>He transported many people to hospitals further inland also.  He also</B></div> <div> <B>transported 2 reporters who were stranded.  The fee was a copy of their</B></div> <div> <B>movie reels which were converted to slides.  Remember the old Kodak slides.</B></div> <div> <B>I went in with my dad after the first 2 weeks on some of his flights and</B></div> <div> <B>witnessed the devastation and tragedy.  The story of Mary Ann stood out in my mind.  I came across the story of the Richilieu Apts., which was a very nice place in my memory, while helping my child do a Science research paper last night.</B></div> <div> <B>Thank you for preserving this for our generation today.  As you know, Andrew took a direct hit at us in Morgan City in '92 with the same severity, except for the tidal surge that went in about 20 miles east of here.  My husband (whose family formerly owned a funeral home and ambulance service) and I, were well prepared before and for the aftermath in coordinating efforts here.</B></div> <div> <B> We need people such as you who do the tireless work recording and preserving this very vital history and experience and what we have learned from our experiences for this generation and those to come.  Once again, thank you.  </B></div> <div> <B>E. McCleary, </B><B>Morgan City, Louisiana.</B></div> <bR> <div> Hi, Dan,</div> <div> I’ve lived in Slidell since 1971 and remember back when my family first visited there in 1963, WOW what a change. </div> <div> Recently I bought a house in the Quail Ridge subdivision. While doing some gardening work I stumbled into what can only be described as the foundation of an old home. I’m not sure exactly how large the space is but 3” under the grass is a hard but brittle layer that seems to be red clay and this is not in all areas of the yard. I’ve always said to my wife that the house was haunted; I work from my home and at times during the day can distinctly smell a pipe being smoked. </div> <div> Can you tell a little bit about who lived in that area and perhaps the origin of the old grave yard near my house? </div> <div> <I><B>"Experience Our Passion"</B></I></div> <div> <B>Tom Melton</B></div> <div> <B>Senior Category Analyst</B></div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Churches of Pass Christian"><B>Return  Home</B></A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>