Alphabet File page 63

  Upon arrival at the Vineyard would be at the front of the house a pen which had three alligators for the guests to view.  It is told that a resident who was a butcher would bring the alligators scraps of meat and when his truck would drive into the gate the alligators would know he was there and would be waiting for him to feed them.

 

  As the guests entered into the house there was a large center hall off which were small individual rooms with round tables and chairs.  The guests would sit at these tables and drink the wine and eat the bread with homemade butter.  There was a piano in the room and any guest who wished to play could play his favorite song but if there was no one who could play they would ask for Charlie Banderet to come to play for the people, and everyone would dance.  On a taped interview with Mr. Banderet of Bay St. Louis who still resides here he said that Mrs.           Browns favorite song was My Pretty Redwing, and Mr. Banderet added it was also his mothers favorite too.

 

                       The popularity of Brown's Vineyard soon became famous in this resort area and people of Society would come from New Orleans to drink this delicious wine, and the Vineyard soon became famous for it's Mail Order business as well as serving the residents of the area.  It was said that the wine had medical qualities, not a cure, but a prevention against illness.

 

  In addition to the house as a place to visit there was also a Summer House, which you could reach by walking through the center hall to the rear and along a hundred feet or more of arbors to reach it.  The Summer House was built up on piers, had a covered roof, was open to the breezes and could be used for picnics.  The building was capable of seating about 25 or 30 people and was about 50 feet by 20 feet.

 

                       Frederic and Anna prospered in their Wine and Bread making and in a Wine Cellar on the property he had at one time an inventory of a thousand dollars.

 

                       The Scuppernog Champagne Wine and Brown's Vineyard prospered until the time of prohibition and Frederick and Anna had to close their Vineyard.  There was no longer the visiting vacationers who came to this beautiful grape vineyard and drinking of wine, eating the bread, dancing or picnicking.  Frederick and Anna had to close Brown's Vineyard.

 

  It is told that Frederick buried his wine on the grounds of the Vineyard but years later it was learned by the Federal Authorities and they came and dug up the wine and broke all the bottles that remained at Brown's Vineyard.

 

  Genealogy - Frederick and Anna Brown (Braun), Emma (Saunder)s, William Frederick, Esmeralda (Von Droskowski), Albert Felix.  Named in will, Hancock County Court House B. 79. (There is also a description of the property given on this document by Peggy Gibbons of the Hancock County Historical Society.  VF Brown)

 

Brown's Vineyard- Hoyle, Mrs. Ella E. - On Thursday Mrs.            Ella E. Hoyle and a number of friends gave a delightful tally-ho ride and a very enjoyable picnic to Brown's vineyard.  The entire party was from Pass Christian.  (SCE 8/20/1892)

 

  On Tuesday evening the following named gave a picnic to Browns vineyard: Mrs. P. Delord and children, Mrs. H. Moreau, Mrs. Bond, Mrs. Geo. Muller and children, Mrs. Smith, Miss M. Loze, Miss Lagasse, Miss Eugenia Foster and Mr. Lagasse.  (SCE 9/03/1892)

 

Brown, F. W., is the owner of the finest and one of the largest vineyards along the gulf and he manufactures from   the rich scuppernong grapes the choicest wines and     vinegar. He has fifteen acres of grapes and yearly makes     20 to 30 barrels of wine.  We enjoyed a stroll through his     arbors and found everything kept in the best of shape.  Mr. Brown owns 85 acres of land and raises other fruits besides, being engaged in truck farming. (SCE 05/20/1893)

 

Brown, Mr. and Mrs.,: A pleasant tally-ho ride and party to Brown's vineyard was given Monday evening.  Those present were Mrs. Wm. A. Scholl and daughters, Mrs. Thomas Green and son, Mrs. H. Moreau, Mrs. Jacob Maus, Mr. and Mrs. G. Muller and children, Miss O'Hara, Miss Zenobia Belden, Miss Eugenia Belden and the writer.  The party was hospitably received by Mr. and Mrs. Brown. (SCE 8/19/1893)

 

  BROWN'S VINEYARD.  Located near present junction of OST and Hwy 90.  Main buildings stood approximately where Lil Ray's Restaurant stands.  F. W. Brown and later his son Albert C. Brown, owners, from about 1865.  Scuppernong champagne. This was the old Giacomo Monti homesite.  Also, during the Civil War, it was used as a military          hospital/home.

 

Frederick W Brown and his wife Anna came from Germany via New Orleans to Bay St. Louis-Waveland in the early 1860's. In March 1867 they purchased a plot of land from Loranzo Corte in Sect 34, Township 8, Range 145 West in Hancock County.  Included in this sale was live stock, mules, cows, hogs, farming utensils and a house with furniture. 

 

  It had been a business of Mr. Brown's to make wine and on this location he also added the machines and the equipment to make the wine which was to become famous all over the United States.

 

  In 1912 Frederick and Anna added to their property holding 43 more acres which they bought from A. A. McCue. This property ran to Nicholson Avenue and back to the highway where the Old Spanish Trail and Highway 90 intersect.  At this location they planted Scuppernog Grape vines on approximately 15 acres of their land.  As the vines grew arbors approximately ten feet square and eight feet high and about 10 feet apart were erected under which visitors could walk and pick grapes.

 

  Brown's Vineyard soon became a one family garden spot of beauty located near the pine woods some five miles from Bay St. Louis.  Mr. Brown's wine soon became popular and the Scuppernong Champagne Wine was served with the bread that was made by Anna.  By 1905 Tally-Ho wagons with a double team of horses would carry hotel guests of the Pickwick, Tulane and the Clifton Hotels to eat the bread, drink the wine and dance.

 

  Upon arrival at the vineyard, guests could view a pen which had three alligators.  It is told that a resident who was a butcher would bring the alligators scraps of meat and when his truck would drive into the gate the alligators would know he was there and would be waiting for him to feed them.

 

As the guests entered the house, there was a large center hall off which were small individual rooms with chairs and round tables.  There was a piano in the room and any guest who wished to play could play his favorite song but if there was no one who could play they would ask for Charlie Banderet to come to play for the people, and everyone would dance.  In later years, Mr. Banderet said that Mrs. Brown's favorite song was "My Pretty Redwing" and Mr. Banderet said it was also his mother's favorite too.

 

People of society would come from New Orleans to drink the delicious wine and the vineyard became famous for its mail order business as well.  It was said that the wine had medical qualities, not a cure but a prevention against illness.

 

  There was also a summer house as well, which you could reach by walking through the center hall to the rear and along a hundred feet or more of arbors.  The Summer House was built up on piers, had a covered roof, was open to the breezes and could be used for picnics.  The building was capable of seating about 25 or 30 people and was about 50 feet by 20 feet.

 

With the advent of Prohibition the Browns had to close their vineyard.

 

  Their children were Emma Brown Saunders, William Frederick Brown, Esmeralda Brown Von Droskowski, and Albert Felix Brown, who are named in HC willbook B.79. (the above is from a paper typed by Peggy Gibbens of the HCHS 3/12/1977.) She does not quote her sources but does add the deed descriptions of the Brown's land, obviously taken from the deeds).