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information at the Historical Society, Charles Gray gave me a book to take home and look through entitled History of the Southern Yacht Club by Flo Scheib. Well, it has plenty of info not only about SYC, but aout many yacht clubs in the GYA from Texas to Florida. It proved to be very interesting reading, but still nothing about Florence. On the final night of completing this issue. John at one compu ter and I at another, with this sketch in front ofme,
I leaned back for a moment, reached for the book and there on page 53,1 see the name Florence.
Surprised. I yelled out loud, waking John up from his upright sleeping position at the computer only for him to jump up and ask me what was wrong. Anyway, here it is-Florencc belonged to Lawrence O’Donnell, a respected Federal judge in N. O. and Commodore of SYC from 1895-1896. He designed the boat and was known as one of the best amateur boat designers in New Orleans. It was 55 feet long and the interior was done in white and gold trimmings. Red plush stuffed cushions and silk draperies adorned her cabin. The Commodore’s reputation as a host made Florence one of the most popular vessels ever to grace Lake Ponchartrain and surrounding waters. The name Lawrence O'Donnell sounds familiar. Well it should. He is mentioned in several articles as being a regatta judge and is also mentioned in the article “Gossip of the Bay” as one of the notable people who had decorated elaborataely for the parade. Quite possibly he was a summer resident of the by-Waveland area and a member of the Bay Waveland Yacht Club who moved his boat from N. O. to grace the waters of the Miss. Sound.
‘A GRAND CLUB' 1896- A charter was obtained in 1896 and the first club house was completed in late September of 18961 It was located near the center of town at the foot of Washington St. out over the water of the Mississippi Sound connected to the shore by a 1,100 foot pier. The view from land was quite attractive, but no adequate idea could be formed until viewing the club’s interior. According to an article in the Sea Coast Echo, Oct. 1896, “The club was erected for a sum of $2500, and was equipped with the water works service and departments for the accomodations of ladies as well as for the gentlemen. The appointments seem to have all been well planned and carried out with equal precision. The “grandstant” double story , is spacious and the building's location gives it a position of advantage that could not be secured anywhere else. It is gratifying to note such a fine building for the Bay and the association will be the agency of brining many people here and doubling the prosperity of the Bay as a summer ressort”. It was said that it was the most handsome, well-equipped, and prettiest clubhouse in the South. The club continued to grow until 1915 when a “West Indian Hurricane” destroyed the building. Meetings and regattas continued from an old steamship landing known as “Stokes Pier”.
In 1916 the club lapsed into inactivity until 1921.
The Sea Coast Echo, 1897: Yacht Club gives a successful Entertainment and Hop.
|An audience taxing the utmost capacity of the upper floor of the Bay-Waveland Yacht Club, assembled Sazturday night and a finer gatering would be hard to find. The occasion, as noted in these columns last week, was an entertainment and hop, the proceeds of which were to help the club’s building fund.
Owing to the extreme length of the programme and the greatness of the crowd considering the limits of the hall, it was found necessary' to omit some of the features promised.
The parts played were exceedingly well rendered, and the frequent applause as an indication of success can be taken as reliable evidence.
Capt John F. Murkey, as stage manager, is deserv ing a shower of bouquets.
The refreshment booths were attractively decorated and in a most tasteful manner, but nothing was more enhancing than the presence of that feminine lovilness that presided, enchanting the thirsty and lover of good things.
The hop. Prof Grisal’s orchestra on the band stand, was all that could be desired, amd in all, socially and financially, to the credit of the management, the affair was a memorable success.
Page 6: Picture.
OUTBOARD REGATTA AT BAY ST LOUIS
Headline from the Times Picayune. Monday, August 26,1929.
Picaune III, Officxial Boat of the outboard motor regatta held in Bay St. Louis Sunday. Those seen in the picture (1-r) are: L. K. Nicholson, owner & skipper, Dick Cue, timer of the races; C. A. Breath, starter, W. J. Gex, Jr., recorder. Photo courtesy of Breath Family.
Excerpt from newspaper article May 1928 by R. Lee Eedwards. Times Picayune:
MOTOR BOATS TO CONTEST SUNDAY : Waveland Club to conduct races near ndw bridge.
With favorable weather and water conditions in prospect, the race c ommittee o f the Bay-Waveland Yacht Club promises lovers of speed mtor boat thrills, a generous feast of such this Sunday, Ma7 27, in the big regatta for speed boats driven with outboard engines, which is tdo be started on beautiful Bay St. Louis at 2 o”clock p.m.