Legends and Lore of the Mississippi Golden Gulf Coast (2 page)

Here at the city of Bay St. Louis the Mississippi Golden Gulf Coast crosses the bridge over the Bay of St. Louis, and you arrive at Henderson Point in Pass Christian. Pass Christian's 1970 population was 5,500. The Pass Christian Yacht Club is the oldest in the South, organized in 1849. Scholtes points out that Mrs. Elizabeth Meriwether Gilmer (1861–1951) lived in Pass Christian for almost fifty years. Mrs. Gilmer went by the nom de plume of Dorothy Dix, and her syndicated column was “Dorothy Dix Talks.” Scholtes called her “Mother confessor to the nation.”

President Woodrow Wilson stayed in Pass Christian for the Christmas holidays of 1913–14. The Wilson family stayed three weeks in a home that was designated the “Dixie White House.” In 1916, former president Teddy Roosevelt was the guest of John M. Parker of Pass Christian.

The Pass Christian Isles Golf Club was listed as an eighteen-hole course. According to the guide, one of the oldest homes in the city is the Ballymere, located at 551 East Beach, built in 1839. The Pass Christian Oyster Reef, just off shore, was listed as a place where, during oyster season, one “can see men hand tonging oysters from the reef.” There were two restaurants listed: the Plantation Restaurant on East Beach and the La Galerie on West Beach.

The next city is Long Beach, with a 1970 population of ten thousand. Long Beach was established in 1884. It was the vegetable farming and trucking center of the Gulf Coast, and produce was trucked from New Orleans to Mobile.

Long Beach was the home of Gulf Park Junior College for Women. Today it is known as USM Gulf Park Campus, Long Beach on Highway 90. The college first opened its doors in 1921. On the campus, classes are conducted amidst the branches of the huge live oak called the Friendship Oak. Long Beach's Gulf View Motel was also located on West Beach.

Next door to Long Beach is Gulfport, the Harrison County seat. Gulfport's 1970 population was fifty-five thousand. Scholtes points out that after the Civil War, some Mississippians recognized the wealth of Mississippi's pine forest. According to Scholtes, the creation of Gulfport in 1887 was to meet the needs of the Gulf and Ship Island Railroad Company for a railroad and harbor access to deep water. The first large vessel entered Gulfport Harbor in 1902 and was the beginning of a boom for Gulfport and the Mississippi Golden Gulf Coast. In 1970, Gulfport Harbor was a major importer of bananas from Central and South America.

The Mississippi State Port at Gulfport.
Courtesy of the Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum
.

Gulfport had two bowling alleys listed and three golf courses. The Triangle Lanes was located on Twenty-fifth Avenue, and Mid City Lanes was on Courthouse Road. The Broadwater Beach Sea Golf Course was located on Highway 90, and the Bayou View Golf Course was on Washington Avenue, while the Gulfport 3 Par Golf Course was on Thirty-fourth Street.

The guide indicated that at the Gulfport Harbor, one could find the Harbor Tour Train, which offered a thirty-minute narrated tour of the harbor. The
Pan American Clipper
was docked at the small craft harbor and would depart daily for Ship Island excursions. Gulfport Yacht Club was organized in 1903 and hosted annual regattas. In July 1970, the annual Mississippi Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo was hosted by the city of Gulfport. Scholtes also reports that the Marine Life Aquadome was being rebuilt and would reopen in 1971.

Scholtes listed the Gulfport Veterans' Administration Hospital, the Air National Guard site at Gulfport-Biloxi Airport and the U.S. Naval Construction Battalion Center as points of interest. Many of the buildings on the VA grounds were built in 1916 for the Mississippi Centennial Exposition to celebrate one hundred years of Mississippi statehood.

Gulfport's restaurants listed in the guide include Downtowner Motor Inn Dining Room, Moody's Fountainhead Restaurant & Pancake House and the Captain's Table, all of which were located on Highway 90. In addition to the Downtowner Motor Inn, the other Gulfport motels and hotels listed were Moody's Motel & Cottages, Alamo Plaza Hotel Court, Worth Motor Lodge and the Confederate Inn Motel.

Scholtes discusses areas that were once Mississippi City and Handsboro. Mississippi City was established in 1837 and became a resort town, while the city of Handsboro became the marketing and manufacturing center of the Golden Gulf Coast during the 1800s. Scholtes's guide indicates that Mississippi City and Handsboro are now part of Gulfport and Biloxi. “Biloxi and Gulfport have expanded until they now share a common boundary of DeBuys Road.”

Biloxi's 1970 population was seventy thousand. Biloxi is also the home of Keesler Air Force Base, established in 1941. Biloxi was named for the Biloxi Indians. In 1699, the French explorers encountered Biloxi warriors hunting the Biloxi peninsula. Scholtes indicates that Biloxi is the oldest settlement in the Mississippi Valley. He also reports that Biloxi is “historically the most interesting” of the Gulf Coast towns. Scholtes continues, “After you pass Broadwater Beach Hotel and its impressive marina, you enter the section called the ‘Gold Coast' by local residents for its concentration of night clubs, bars, lounges, amusement park, super slide and miniature ‘Goofy Golf' course all sure to delight the kids.”

In Biloxi, the guide listed the Deer Ranch & Six Gun Junction as a “two for the price of one.” The ranch was described as being north of the corner on Highway 90 and DeBuys Road behind the Friendship House. Here a tourist or local could “hand feed the tame deer, then visit the wild west ghost town with real shoot outs and can-can girls to entertain you.” The price of admission was $2.50 for adults and $1.25 for children. Other entertainment places listed in the guide included the Amusement Park and Super Slide, both located on West Beach.

The only bowling alley left in Biloxi after Camille was the Beach Bowl on West Beach, but there were six golf courses listed. They were the Broadwater Beach Sun Golf Course, Sunkist Golf Course, Edgewater Golf Course, Par 3 Golf Course, Broadwater Beach Course and Biloxi Par 3.

Biloxi's historical and cultural points of interest listed in the guide included Beauvoir, the last home of Jefferson Davis; Father Ryan's Home; Old (Biloxi Cemetery) French Cemetery; Biloxi Lighthouse; Ancient Burial Grounds, now the Moran Art Studio, on Porter Avenue; Magnolia Hotel; Old French House; Spanish House; Le Moyne Galleries; Church of the Redeemer and the Ring in Oak; Seashore Methodist Assembly; and St. Michael Catholic Church, the fishermen's church.

Biloxi restaurants listed in the guide included Friendship House, William Tally House Restaurant, Admiral Benbow Inn Restaurant, Holiday Inn Restaurant, Broadwater Beach Hotel Dining Room, the Broadwater Marina Restaurant, Golden Galleon at Ramada Inn, Emerald Beach Motel Restaurant, Gus Steven's Restaurant, White Pillars Restaurant, Buena Vista Hotel Dining Room, Baricev's Seafood Harbor and Mary Mahoney's Old French House Restaurant.

Biloxi's motels and hotels listed in the guide, starting on West Beach and heading east, were: Sea Gull Tourist Court, Cabana Gardens Motel, Twin Star Motel, Edgewater Gulf Hotel, Admiral Benbow Inn, Holiday Inn of America, Broadwater Beach Hotel and Motel, Ramada Inn, Sun-n-Sand Motel, Schenck's Motel, Emerald Beach Motel, Belmar Motel, Travel Inn Motel, Flamingo Motel, Swan Motel, White House Motel, Buena Vista Hotel and Motel, Oak Manor Motel, Sun Tan Motel, Beach Manor Motel and Trade Winds Hotel and Motel.

East of Biloxi is Jackson County and the city of Ocean Springs. Ocean Springs has a 1970 population of ten thousand. Scholtes reports that in 1699, Ocean Springs was the location of Fort Maurepas. He indicates that during the late 1800s to 1930s, Ocean Springs had excellent orchards and was the center for shipment of citrus and pecan on the Gulf Coast.

In Ocean Springs, the guide listed the Gulf Hills Dude Ranch and Golf Course as a point of interest and the only motel. Here one could play golf in the morning and ride horses or go for a hayride in the evening. Camping sites listed in the guide included Magnolia State Park and KOA Campgrounds. The Shearwater Pottery was listed as a place to “see interesting and unusual ceramics and art works in a rustic setting.” Ocean Springs restaurants listed in the guide included Allman's, Trilbry's and the Village Inn, which were all located on Highway 90, and Dale's Ante-Bellum Mansion Restaurant on Port Avenue.

The Fernando Gautier Home at Gautier.
Courtesy of Alan Santa Cruz Collection
.

Gautier was listed as an unincorporated area, but the guide listed the Hickory Hills Country Club Course for golf and Old Place Plantation as a beautiful historical setting. Josie Singing River Pottery was located south of Old Place Plantation and sells ceramics, driftwood and shell jewelry. He also notes that between Ocean Springs and Gautier on Highway 90, there were some small motels that were not listed.

After crossing the Pascagoula River, you arrive in Pascagoula, the seat of Jackson County. The 1970 population of Pascagoula was forty thousand. Scholtes indicates that the city is named for the Pascagoula Indians. In 1699, French exploration of the area discovered the Pascagoula Indians living on the river.

In Pascagoula, the guide indicated that Magnolia Bowling Lanes was the only bowling alley and Country Club Golf Course the only golf course. Listed as points of historical interest were the Longfellow House and Old Spanish Fort and Museum.

Pascagoula's restaurants listed in the guide included the Longfellow House Dining Room, LaFont Inn Dining Room, Travelodge Motel Restaurant, Holiday Inn Restaurant and Cotita's Restaurant. Pascagoula's hotels and motels included Longfellow House Hotel, LaFont Inn, Travelodge Motel and Shamrock Motel. Scholtes indicated that the room rates in Pascagoula were from ten to thirty dollars for a double room for two people.

Under annual events, Scholtes indicated that many Gulf Coast cities sponsor Mardi Gras parades. In March, the annual Spring Pilgrimages were sponsored by local garden clubs. During the pilgrimages, historical homes were open to the public for visits and special events. Biloxi's annual Blessing of the Shrimp Fleet was held the first weekend in June. During the summer months, local yacht clubs held sailing regattas. The guide listed four annual fishing rodeos: Ocean Springs Fishing Rodeo, sponsored by Ocean Springs Jaycees; Annual Biloxi Fishing Rodeo, sponsored by the Kiwanis; Annual Pascagoula Fishing Rodeo, sponsored by the Lions Club; and the Annual Mississippi Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo in Gulfport.

Many of these restaurants, hotels, motels and establishments have long since vanished from Mississippi's Golden Gulf Coast, but there are some that have survived and are still considered favorites by tourists and locals alike. Many of these 1970 establishments became part of the fabric of Mississippi's Golden Gulf Coast life and will long be remembered.

CHAPTER 2

T
HE
L
EGEND OF
C
APTAIN
P
ATRICK
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COTT
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B
URIED
T
REASURE

What is a legend, and what is the difference between a legend and history? A legend is an unverified popular story or myth, especially one believed to be historical. On the other hand, history is a narrative of actual events. Mississippi Golden Gulf Coast has seen a long line of legends that, though not strictly true, add a little color to the local history.

Most people find books and movies about pirates fascinating, and subsequently, Hollywood has a long history of pirate movies. As a child, I can remember watching the Mickey Mouse Club series about the Hardy Boys. One of the mysteries was about Applegate Pirate's Treasure. You can probably still find individuals who remember the words to the theme song.

In 1926, there was a rumor of pirate gold near the mouth of Bayou Porteaux. An article in the
Biloxi News
dated April 18 indicated that an old legend had resurfaced. It appears some individuals had been digging on property near the mouth of Bayou Porteaux. The property had been owned by Captain Eugene Tiblier, so the reporter interviewed eighty-five-year-old Captain Tiblier, who indicated that he had also heard the rumors. He said when he was a small child his mother told him of a Frenchman and his family living there. His mother indicated that the man's wife and daughter were slightly demented and would wander in the woods all day long. One day, they returned with a dirt-encrusted bar of gold. When asked where they found it, they pointed to the mouth of Bayou Porteaux. This was the beginning of the legend, but who buried the treasure?