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School conditions at Clermont Harbor were very primitive to say the least. Our children had to walk to the nearest school, Lakeshore Public School, about three miles away. Conditions at this school were so bad that I will not even try to describe. I, at this time, began a project to try and get a school at Clermont Harbor. The people of Clermont Harbor gave their unanimous approval for this project. Over outside objections and a Court fight, Clermont Harbor was given permission to establish a school. The final outcome was a large brick school building, well equipped, and is now being used as a school for retarded children.
The same conditions applied to our voting precinct as to our school. Again, it was the same fight to get a voting precinct for Clermont Harbor, but in the end we won. It was during this time that I met and made friends with many prominent people, many of whom became life-long friends. As school trustee of Clermont Harbor School, I was appointed a member of the Hancock County School Board, and also a member of the Democratic Executive Committee "fhe Hancock County Chapter of The American Red Cross. During the World War, two years, a member of the Ration Board and Price Panel. The most important appointment was that of Chief Observer for U. S. Air Force Third Fighter Command, Station "Osborn Number Five" at Clermont Harbor, Mississippi. This I will cover later.
Improvements came fast for Clermont Harbor, first the seawall and road from Bayou Caddy through Lakeshore, Clermont Harbor, Waveland, and Bay Saint Louis to the mouth of Jourdan River. Now onw could go from Clermont Harbor to Bay Saint Louis in a few minutes. Then the bridge across the Bay of Saint Louis gave quick access to the towns of Pass Christian, Gulfport, Biiloxi and Mobile, Alabama. Then the bridge over Pearl River and the paving of U. S. 90 from New Orleans, Louisiana to Mobile, Alabama. We were no longer isolated and new people in large numbers moved to the Gulf Coast.
Having had many years' experience in the home building field,
I organized a contracting firm composed of H. T. Carr, Albert E. Garcia and Joseph Garcia. Joseph Garcia left the firm in about one year, and some years later I bought the interest of Albert E. Garcia, making me the owner of what by that time was known as "Clermont Harbor Lumber Company".
From the very beginning, this contracting business was a success. I employed a large number of men in all phases of home