Dauphin Island, AL
Archive of Historical Data, Books, Maps
And Other Materials

Yesterday's News
Mobile Press Register newspaper

1950 - 1989

Yesterday's News, "Today in History" Reprinted from Mobile Register and other media, local and national. Following are "snippets" of the history of Dauphin Island and the lower Mobile Bay area, as taken from the Mobile Register normally found on page 2A, other publications and sources, such at TV and magazines (History editor's note: I have been saving these for years and reprinted at this location for those interested.) Use of this material is for educadtional purposes only! Wednesday, August 9, 1953 - Dauphin Island, Harvey Eastman, Mobile swimmer, was taken from the water at middle bay light shortly after 12 o'clock this morning after having completed a little over half of his proposed swim from Arlington dock around Sand Island Light and into rodeo headquarters here. Eastman was picked up by his accompanying boat in an exhausted condition after he complained of severe head pains. Compiled by Cammie East Cowan from issues of the Press-Register -30- Saturday, October 14, 1953 - Approximately 213 delegates to the Alabama Sheriffs and Peace Officers convention were marooned aboard the steamer Eastern Shore about 150 feet north of the Dauphin Island pier Friday night after the bay boat ran aground on a bar while returning the visitors to the city from an excursion to the island. Compiled by Cammie East Cowan from issues of the Press-Register -30- Friday, October 27, 1953 - Mobile Mayor R. V. Taylor will be confined to his home for several days as a result of injuries received Wednesday afternoon when dismounting from an automobile at Cedar Point while en route to Dauphin Island with members of the state advisory board of the public works administration and out-of-town hotel men. An X-ray examination early Thursday morning disclosed that no bones were broken in the mayor's fall, and the extent of his injuries was a sprained hip. Compiled by Cammie East Cowan from issues of the Press-Register -30- Saturday, June 25, 1955 - Public opening of the new Dauphin Island Bridge has been set for Saturday, July 2. Chairman Leroy Stevens of the Mobile County Board of Revenue announced the date Friday.. Compiled by Cammie East Cowan from issues of the Press-Register -30- Saturday, July 2, 1955 - Prayers will be offered by a minister and a priest before the new Dauphin Island Bridge is opened to public traffic at 5 o'clock this Saturday morning. Compiled by Cammie East Cowan from issues of the Press-Register -30- Sunday, July 3, 1955 - Mobile people drove by the hundreds to Dauphin Island Saturday to have the thrill of going over the four-mile Gordon Persons Overseas Highway for the first time and to fish and swim and enjoy the scenic attractions of the island. The new bridge was officially opened at 5 a.m. and a count at the toll collector's office at 3:30p.m. showed that 800 vehicles had been checked through. Compiled by Cammie East Cowan from issues of the Press-Register -30- Monday, July 4th, 1955 - Mobilians were enjoying the long Independence Day week end by driving over the new bridge to Dauphin Island or relaxing at beaches and country places or staying quietly at home. Monday - July Fourth - will be a general holiday, withal public offices and banks and most business places closed. There will be the customary celebrations at Prichard Park and at Fairhope, beginning in the morning and moving to a night climax with huge fireworks displays. Compiled by Cammie East Cowan from issues of the Press-Register -30- Tuesday, July 5, 1955 - Almost 3,000 vehicles checked through by toll collectors Monday (on the Dauphin Island Bridge) after a slightly higher total had been recorded Sunday. Compiled by Cammie East Cowan from issues of the Press-Register -30- Friday, February 3, 1956 - Dauphin Island project, which started out on almost faith alone, will blossom into one of the South's leading resort areas. This was the belief of Sydney Pfleger, … of the Dauphin Island Park and Beach Board, when he spoke before the Exchange Club of Mobile Thursday…at the Cawthon Hotel. Compiled by Cammie East Cowan from issues of the Press-Register -30- Saturday, April 7, 1956 - A $25,000 pier was completed this week on Dauphin Island and is now open for free fishing and general use, it was announced Friday by the Dauphin Island Park & Beach Board. The structure, located on Bienville Beach, is 300 feet long and has a T-shaped outer end. Compiled by Cammie East Cowan from issues of the Press-Register -30- Wednesday, July 4, 1956 - The new Gordon Persons Overseas Highway to Dauphin Island produced $101,810.25 in revenue during the first six months of its operation, according to figures made public Tuesday at the Mobile County Board of Revenue offices. Compiled by Cammie East Cowan from issues of the Press-Register -30- Monday, August 6, 1956 - Dauphin Island - Final results Sunday showed record after record smashed at the three-day 24th annual Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo… Fisherman registration at 1,790 was well over last year's record figure of 1,275… The entrance prize a $2,100 lot on the island was won by T. E. Murray, 60 Westgate Rd.; the "King Fisherman" was R. W. Hovell of Tupelo, Miss., and the "Queen Fisherette" was Ethel Bayley of Theodore. Compiled by Cammie East Cowan from issues of the Press-Register -30- Friday, February 1, 1957 - Kay Starr, nationally known singer, stopped in Moble yesterday while enroute to Miami and arranged with the Chamber of Commerce to buy a lot on Dauphin Island. Compiled by Cammie East Cowan from issues of the Press-Register -30- Wednesday, February 13, 1957 - A.A. Bishop offered to buy the scaffold now in the courthouse. He said he wanted to reassemble it and put it up on exhibition at the Moulin Rouge Motel at Dauphin Island. County Commissioner Fagerstrom emphatically opposed that course of action, "I can't see putting a hangman's scaffold on exhibition on Dauphin Island," he said. … The Board (of Revenue) left the issue hanging in mid-air - so to speak !! Compiled by Cammie East Cowan from issues of the Press-Register -30- Sunday, April 14, 1957 - A new architectural masterpiece has grown from the legendary sands of Dauphin Island. It is the Isle Dauphine Club, a circular three-story building fronted by a mile of Gulf beach. Scheduled to begin its formal opening week on April 23, the $425,000 clubhouse and its beach is valued at near a million dollars. The club was owned by the Dauphin Island Property Owners' Association, of which the officers were Blake McNeely, president; Julius Marx, vice president; O.H. Delchamps, treasurer; R.D. Hays, assistant treasurer; and A.A. Weiskopf, secretary. It was designed by T. Howard Ellis and Arch Winter. Compiled by Cammie East Cowan from issues of the Press-Register -30- Thursday, April 25, 1957 - The Isle Dauphine Club on Dauphin Island opened officially Tuesday and pictured at the oyster bar on the second floor are Mr. and Mrs. E.F. Delaney, Oliver Delchamps, and Mr. And Mr. And Mrs. A.F. Delchamps, Jr. The club is available to all property owners on the island. Compiled by Cammie East Cowan from issues of the Press-Register -30- Thursday, May 9, 1957 - George A. Mellen, Albuquerque millionaire, and songstress Kay Starr were married two weeks ago in Mexico, it was revealed yesterday in Mobile. Hugh North, who represents Mellen in the development of various Dauphin island projects, was the source of the information. Mellen, who was in Mobile yesterday, did not deny the marriage report. He refused comment. (historic editor's note: It is believed that Ms Starr, and others, purchased what is today know as Little Dauphin Island for the intended purpose of developing a resort hotel on the island. The first Dauphin Island bridge, a draw span in the middle, has an exit off the bridge down to the island. One can see remains of some sort of building just off the east side, between the "little" hump and the Intracoastal hump of the bridge) Compiled by Cammie East Cowan from issues of the Press-Register -30- Tuesday, June 25, 1957 - A new boat launching ramp was in use yesterday at Fort Gaines on Dauphin Island and two more ramps at other locations on the island are expected to completed soon, County board of Revenue Chairman Leroy Stevens said yesterday. Compiled by Cammie East Cowan from issues of the Press-Register -30- Thursday, July 25, 1957 - Three persons aboard a disabled cabin cruiser drifting north of Dauphin Island were rescued yesterday afternoon by the Coast Guard… They were Harmon B. Anderson…. A major in charge of the Mobile Salvation Army; a 14-year old son of R. G. Moore, operator of a fishing camp in Aloe Bay, and a man identified as 'Jef' fishing camp employee. The three were unharmed. Compiled by Cammie East Cowan from issues of the Press-Register -30- Saturday, July 27, 1957 - Herbert Carpenter of Houston Street landed a 67-pound tarpon in the 25th annual Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo. Compiled by Cammie East Cowan from issues of the Press-Register -30- Friday, February 7, 1958 - Trouble plagued construction workers on the Dauphin Island Bridge late yesterday afternoon when a 6-ton sheave broke loose and fell to the deck. Accounding to Mobile County Engineer Donald L. Smith workers making repairs.. escapted what could have been serious injury. Compiled by Cammie East Cowan from issues of the Press-Register -30- Saturday, February 15, 1958 - Dauphin Island Bridge was opened to traffic last night after being closed since Jan. 29 when the lift span could not be lowered due to a faulty shaft. Comm. Will D. Haas said last night that considerable heavy equipment used in repair work (is) still on the bridge and urged drivers to exercise caution. Compiled by Cammie East Cowan from issues of the Press-Register -30- Saturday, February 15, 1958 - A resolution asking the state to provide a ferry between Fort Gaines and Fort Morgan was submitted to the Mobile Real Estate Assn. yesterday but action was postponed until Feb. 28. Julius Marx, chairman of a committee of the association, read the resolution. Compiled by Cammie East Cowan from issues of the Press-Register -30- Sunday, February 16, 1958 - Horse racing, dog racing, or any other kind of gambling on Dauphin Island is strictly off limits as far as the Mobile Chamber of Commerce is concerned. George M. Haas, president of the chamber, yesterday, said such suggestions had caused 'considerable concern.' Compiled by Cammie East Cowan from issues of the Press-Register -30- Thursday, May 1, 1958 - The three-day annual spring festival at Dauphin Island, an event sponsored by the Dauphin Island Businessmen's Assoc., will end Sunday afternoon at the Marina with 13 motorboat races. Compiled by Cammie East Cowan from issues of the Press-Register -30- Monday, June 9, 1958 - Around 1,750 cars passed over Dauphin Island Bridge Saturday, and over 2,600 vehicles paid island toll fares yesterday and last night. Compiled by Cammie East Cowan from issues of the Press-Register -30- Wednesday, July 2, 1958 - Dauphin Island Bridge, hard pressed by high repair bills this year, got a big boost in June as revenue increased $10,164.25 over that of Massy, County Com. Will D. Haas said yesterday. A total of 29,033 vehicles and 133 pedestrians and extra truck passengers paid $36,101. Compiled by Cammie East Cowan from issues of the Press-Register -30- Wednesday, July 9, 1958 - Coast Guard and private boats piled (the) choppy Mississippi Sound after dark yesterday as they removed 300 stranded persons when an eight-inch thick shaft snapped on Dauphin Island Bridge… Among those stranded were nearly 100 members of the Azalea City Woman's club who had gone to an annual luncheon at the Isle Dauphine club. Compiled by Cammie East Cowan from issues of the Press-Register -30- Monday, July 14, 1958 - An outboard motorboat used by two Mobile men who left the Dauphin Island Bridge Friday afternoon to go "deep sea fishing" was found adrift in Mobile Bay yesterday morning. Missing were Sidney S. Duff, a 23-year-old Brookley Air Force Base employee, and Jimmy Hadley, 25…an employee of the Alabama Dry Dock & Ship-building Co. Compiled by Cammie East Cowan from issues of the Press-Register -30- Tuesday, July 15, 1958 - The State Highway Department will be asked to make a thorough structural examination of the Dauphin Island Bridge and at the same time the Mobile County Board of Revenue will study the possibility of providing barge service in case of another disruption of the bridge operation. After the bridge operation was put out of commission last Tuesday because of a broken shaft on the lift span, cars of motorists stranded on the island were brought to the mainland by privately operated barges. But it was learned yesterday that the barge service has been discontinued because of a lack of customers. This report came from the office of Hugh North, island real estate man, who arranged for the private barge operations. Compiled by Cammie East Cowan from issues of the Press-Register -30- Thursday, July 17, 1958 - Dauphin Island Bridge is expected to be open to one l ane traffic by noon today. The announcement came yesterday from County Com. Will D. Haas, chairman of the bridge committee of the County Board of Revenue…This will be the first road traffic to the bridge since a shaft snapped nine days ago. Compiled by Cammie East Cowan from issues of the Press-Register -30- Thursday, July 20, 1958 - A special excursion schedule to Dauphin Island on Saturday nights during the remainder of the summer months was announced Wednesday by Frank Collier, operator of the Cedar Point Dauphin Island ferry. Compiled by Cammie East Cowan from issues of the Press-Register -30- Monday, July 21, 1958 - Lloyd Strickland is show with the eight-and-a-half-pound flounder he caught while fishing over the weekend near Dauphin Island. The huge flounder would probably have taken a prize in the Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo beginning Friday because it is heaver than any flounder ever caught on the rodeo. Compiled by Cammie East Cowan from issues of the Press-Register -30- Saturday, July 26, 1958 - Herbert Carpenter, 2403 Government St., who caught the first tarpon of the Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo last year, is shown with the first silver king of this year's event which he also caught. The tarpon weighed in at 55 pounds. Since the construction of the Dauphin Island Bridge, and the glamour spots available here providing all the comforts of home, milady has decided that the Deep Sea Rodeo is just her dish… As of Friday night there were over 300 women registered plus a goodly number on boats that do not have all passengers registered. Compiled by Cammie East Cowan from issues of the Press-Register -30- Monday, July 28, 1958 - RODEO HEADQUARTERS - Dauphin Island - The 26th annual Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo come to a close yesterday afternoon with two new records on the book…. Frit Vann, of Chatom, Ala., posted a new record in the red snapper category early Sunday with a 20-pound, 8-ounce catch. Maj. John Campbell, a Brookley Air Force Base officer, had earlier qualified a record 3-pound, 8-ounce bluefish…Winner of the coveted title (as King Fisherman) was R.W. Hovell, who accumulated 2,845 points with an unusually fine catch, including ehe second-largest amberjack weighing 35-pounds, 4-ounces. The wife of Alabama's Democratic attorney general nominee, Mrs. MacDonald Gallion, was crowned Queen Fisherette with a total of 1,960 points. Compiled by Cammie East Cowan from issues of the Press-Register -30- Monday, August 18, 1958 - Dauphin Islandk, AL - the first annual blessing of the fishing\ fleet here found 22 boats - 12 commercial fishing craft and 10 pleasure boats - turned out for the event. The Rev. William J. Lepage, pastor of St. Agnes Catholic church on the island, gave the blessing. Compiled by Cammie East Cowan from issues of the Press-Register -30- Saturday, August 30, 1958 - A social custom that died many years ago will be revived on Dauphin Island this year. It is the annual, dances and other gala activities sponsored by the volunteer fire companies of another era. Ben Buerger, president of the Dauphin Island Businessmen's Assn ., yesterday said the custom will be revived on the island with the completion of a fire station there. Compiled by Cammie East Cowan from issues of the Press-Register -30- Saturday, October 18, 1958 - A new landmark was added to the Dauphin Island landscape today when the 693rd AC&W Squadron, the Air Force unit manning the new radar site, erected their "bubble" atop the central tower. Major Ira Adams, commander of the unit, said the "bubble," a large dome shaped device approximately 50 feet in diameter, is erected to protect the radar site's vital and sensitive equipment. It is made of a rubberized fabric material and is inflated by air pressure. (History editor's note: the frame is visible today as part of the Sea Lab's Estuaruim complex.) Compiled by Cammie East Cowan from issues of the Press-Register -30- Friday, February 6, 1959 - The U.S. Coast Guard will launch an investigation today into an accident in which a barge loaded with molasses smashed into Dauphin Island Bridge and sank late Wednesday. Lt. Cmdr. M.L. Harbourt, Coast Guard investigation officer for Mobile, said the investigation will seek the cause fo the accident and determine if and negligence was involved. The 110-foot barge broke in half and sank in about 10 feet of water after smashing three concrete pilings on the west side of the bridge about 65 yards north of the lift sp[an over the Intracoastal Waterway channel. Thousands of gallons of malasses spilled into Pas aux Herons when the steel barge sank. Dauphin Island residents said a strong tide and west wind were prevailing when the accident occurred. Compiled by Linde Lena-Britt from issues of the Press-Register -30- Sunday, March 8, 1959 - The Board of Directors of the Mobile County Wildlife and Conservation Association last night demanded that the state hold up action on approval of an airstrip at Dauphin Island until a study can determine what effect it would have on the fishery and oyster industries. Joe Pearson, president of the 1,100-member organization, and also president of the Alabama Wildlife Federation, asked that State Docks Director, Earl M. McGowin refrain from approving location of the strip to be dredged from Mississippi Sound just west of the Gordon Parsons Overseas Highway. Compiled by Linde Lena-Britt from issues of the Press-Register -30- Wednesday, May 27, 1959 - The Dauphin Island beach home of a Mobilian was almost razed by a late fire that was extinguished by volunteer firemen early yesterday. The home of C.D. Glaze on the West Surf Beach of the isle was badly damaged inside by the flames and smoke, but the walls were still standing at 2:30am when members of the Dauphin Island Fire Department quelled the blaze. Value of the house was estimated by firemen at over $25,000, Ben Burger, one of the chief organizers of the volunteer fire fighters on the island, said the house caught fire about 2pm Monday. Compiled by Linde Lena-Britt from issues of the Press-Register -30- Monday, June 1, 1959 - In answer to recent criticisms over the 50 cent parking fee at the Sand Dunes Casino, the chairman of the Dauphin Island Park & Beach Board yesterday said the board operated in 1958 at a loss of about $15,000. E. Roy Albright, chairman of the board that operated the Casino and public beach, said the Casino bathhouse had derived very little revenue because so many people were dressing in their cars. Compiled by Linde Lena-Britt from issues of the Press-Register -30- Tuesday, June 23, 1959 - Some day Mobile will make a strong bid to become the oil capitol of the world. Sounds a bit far fetched at present. But facts will show it isn't completely ridiculous... Several factors will help the city up the ladder. A primary one is the Port of Mobile, whose heaviest shipping item already is crude and refined petroleum products. Another is the frontier status of Alabama. A few persons with money venture into the area. Sometimes they get a few hard knocks like the early Western pioneers did. Some tuck their tails and run back to oil 'civilization,' where their money usually rides on a surer bet. A few independents already have cast their eyes this way. Despite the hard knocks, there are some refreshing factors about a frontier land. Compiled by Linde Lena-Britt from issues of the Press-Register -30- Sunday, August 23, 1959 - C.R. Craver, resident engineer for the Army Engineers, said boaters using the newly completed channels and boat basin at Dauphin Island have been cautioned to travel at safe speeds. The engineers have erected large signs at both approaches to the channel connecting the small boat harbor with Dauphin Island Bay. Compiled by Linde Lena-Britt from issues of the Press-Register -30- Tuesday, August 25, 1959 - Floyd Mann, director, Alabama Department of Public Safety, was elected president of the Alabama Chapter and the FBI National Academy Associates at Dauphin Island yesterday as the group completed the 11th annual retaining session. Compiled by Linde Lena-Britt from issues of the Press-Register -30- Sunday, Oct. 4, 1959 - Twenty skin divers, members of the Mobile Devilfish Club, combed the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico 11 1/2 miles south of Sand Island Light House last Sunday in an effort to identify the wreck there that has created a choice fishing ground. Richard Fuller, president of the club, said men were unable to find a name on thw wreckage, but they believe it is a World War II Liberty. Compiled by Cammie East Cowan from issues of the Press-Register -30-