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Ocean Springs Streets
and Parks of Ocean Springs
MARSHALL PARK and CHARLES MARSHALL (1848-1928)
 
Marshall Park (ca 1930)
Marshall Park (2002)
It’s a
representative warm and humid August afternoon, and I seek refuge
and solace in the shade and serenity of Marshall Park. The
bandstand is silent, the depot across Washington Avenue has been
closed to passengers and freight for decades, and only an occasional
fast freight roars through Ocean Springs to remind one of the
railroad era of yore.
If these were times past, perhaps I would be waiting to board
a train or meet arriving friends or relatives from New Orleans.
Unfortunately it is 2004, and all that remains of the railroad era
is the depot, a few railroad worker homes, and Marshall Park.
The Ocean Springs Civic Federation
Marshall Park was the idea of the Ocean Springs Civic Federation, an
organization formed in 1911, to promote civic improvements within
the city. They generally met at 3:00 p.m. on a Thursday afternoon
at the Public School on County Road, now Government Street. Their
dues were $1.00 per year for an active membership and $1.50 for an
associate membership.
In 1914, the Civic Federation was led by local railroad
man, A.J. Catchot (1864-1954). The other officers were: J.H.
Behrens, 1st vice president; Amanda Shaffer (1841-1923),
2nd vice president; Mrs. Theo Bechtel (1869-1946),
secretary and treasurer. Committee chairs were as follows: Mrs. C.S.
Bell (1847-1932), program; Louise St. Martin, membership; Mrs.
Robertson Palmer, work and workers; Ellen Woodruff, ways and means;
J.H. Behrens, finance; and Mary Shanahan, hospitality. The Advisory
Board was composed of: A.J. Catchot (1864-1954), Theodore
Bechtel (1863-1931), Dr. H.B. Powell (1867-1949), Mrs. J. Davis,
Mrs. George Westbrook, Mrs. C.S. Bell, Mrs. E.A. Morris (1872-1933),
and Albert C. Gottsche (1873-1949). The Financial Report for the
period March 16, 1913 to March 16, 1914 disclosed the following:
cash on hand-$96.02 and published Cash donations-$165.00.(The
Ocean Springs News, March 28, 1914)
Design
In May 1911, Charles F. Berge was employed by
Superintendent Charles Marshall of the L&N Railroad to design and
survey the future park. Mr. Berge resided at Biloxi were he made
his livelihood as a landscape gardener.(The Ocean Springs News,
May 20, 1911)
Name
At a meeting of the Civic Federation on May 18, 1911,
J.H. Behrens (1848-1918), a retired Chicago businessman and owner of
the Fort Bayou Fruit Company, proposed that the new park be called
“Fountain Park”. His suggestion was tabled and Mrs. Behrens,
president of the civic group, announced that she would be pleased to
accept additional ideas at their next meeting.(The Ocean Springs
News, May 20, 1911)
When the Ocean Springs Civic Federation met on May 25, 1911, they
chose the name “Marshall Park”, which had been suggested by
Albert E. Lee (1874-1936), the editor of The Ocean Springs News.
Charles Marshall (1848-1928) was the very honorable
Superintendent of the New Orleans & Mobile Division of the L&N
Railroad from September 1886, until his retirement on August 1,
1917.(The Ocean Springs News, May 27, 1911)
Construction
By mid-June 1911, Marshall Park was well on its way to
becoming a reality. Under the leadership of Civic Federation
committeemen, J.H. Behrens, Theo Bechtel, and Dr. Henry B. Powell,
laborers had completed the park’s format adopted by Civic Federation
members. Walking paths were being constructed.(The Ocean Springs
News, June 17, 1911)
Park Completion
Public use for Marshall Park commenced in late August
1911. The permanent walking paths were among the last details to be
finished. They were well constructed and consisted of three tiers
of laminated strata. Their basal foundations were composed of
oyster shells, followed by cinders, and topped with marine
seashells. Antique seating and water faucets completed the scene at
Marshall Park.(The Ocean Springs News, September 2, 1911).
On September 9, 1911, Marshall Park was lauded by A.E. Lee, editor
of The Ocean Springs News, in his journal as:
A very pretty spot and a credit to the town, the Civic
Federation and the Park Committee, Messrs. H.B. Powell, Theo
Bechtel, and J.H. Behrens. It should be the desire and
determination of every loyal citizen to make it still prettier and a
place all can point to with pride.
L&N Railroad Agreement
In April 1911, Mary A. Ahrens, a visitor from Chicago and friend of
the Bechtel family, who at this time was honorary president of of
the Ocean Springs Civic Federation, received a letter from Charles
Marshall of the L&N Railroad agreeing to give the use of the land
west of the L&N depot at Ocean Springs for use as a public park and
naming the Civic Association as steward of the property.
Superintendent Marshall also consented to several recommendations by
the Civic Association, which included: needed improvements as
designated by the Civic Association and the erection of a sturdy
iron fence to keep free range livestock from ingress into the park.
In exchange, the Civic Association agreed to landscape and improve
the property as to create a "show place" in the community.(The
Ocean Springs News, April 8, 1911, p. 5 and April 22, 1911, p. 5)
Under the leadership of Mrs. Charles N. MacLouth and Mrs. Theodore
Bechtel (1869-1946), the President and Secretary-Treasurer of that
organization respectively, the Ocean Springs Civic Federation
entered into an agreement on August 23, 1911 with the L&N Railroad.
This agreement was to lease from the L&N Railroad a portion of their
Station Ground at Ocean Springs for a public park. The land for the
proposed park was described as follows:
A strip of land lying on the south side of the track of the New
Orleans & Mobile Division of the L&N Railroad, beginning at a point
175 feet east of mile post No. 727 on
the line between the lands of said Railroad Company and the lands to
be leased to said Civic Federation and running in an easterly
direction with said Railroad a distance of 270 feet on the north
line and 273.7 feet on the south line to the line between the lands
of said Railroad Company and the lands to be leased to said Civic
Federation said strip being 100 feet wide outside of a line 32 feet
from the center of the main track of said Division, on east end of
said lot, and 90 feet wide outside of a line 31 feet from the
centerline of the main track of said Division.
The contract between the Ocean Springs Civic Federation and the L&N
Railroad for the lease was written as follows:
Witnesseth, that for and in consideration of a rent of
one dollar per year, to be paid by the said Civic Federation, the
said Railroad Company hereby rents and leases said land to the said
Civic federation for the term of 10 years from the date hereof, and
the said Civic Federation accepts the permission of said Railroad
Company to so hold as its tenant said land, and hereby covenants and
agrees, and binds itself, its heirs and assigns, that it and all
others who may claim, use, occupy, or enjoy said premises or any
portion of them, by, through, or under it in anyway, will hold said
land under said Railroad Company and in subordination to its title;
and will deliver up the peaceful and quiet possession of said land
and every portion thereof to said Railroad Company, or its agents,
free from all claims and liabilities of every character whatever, at
the expiration of said term of 10 years, and will remove any and all
fences, hedges, or other means adopted to enclose said premises.
The Lessee agrees to keep the leased premises cleared of
dry grass, weeds, and other combustible material; and the lessor
shall not be liable for damage by fire on the leased premises, or
communicated from the leased premises to the adjoining property,
whether such fire may originate from sparks thrown by engines or any
other cause in connection with the operation and
maintenance of lessor's railroad, or otherwise.
It is further agreed that if the lessor should desire
sooner a restoration of possession of the leased premises, the said
Civic Federation lessee, will upon 30 days' notice, restore
peaceable and quiet possession of said premises to the said Railroad
Company.(JXCO, Ms. Land Deed Bk. 37, pp. 346-348)
1918 Speech
Despite an abundance of bugs and mosquitoes, Judge Paul
B. Johnson of Hattiesburg, a candidate for Congress, spoke to a
small group at Marshall Park. He appeared to be a viable candidate
for the position. As a cure for the insect infestation in the park,
it was recommended that someone mow the grass. The electric lights
were also blamed for attracting bugs.(The Jackson County Times,
June 15, 1918, p. 5)
1923 Water Crane
The L&N Railroad planned to erect a water crane opposite
Marshall Park in late May 1923. The placing of a $3000 water crane
here would eliminate the Washington Avenue crossing from being
blocked when locomotives were taking on water.(The Jackson County
Times, May 26, 1923, p. 5)
Fairy land
In May 1924,
The Jackson County Times lauded Mr. George L. Friar, Major
Henry B. Powell, Mrs. Marc Kean, Mrs. James Murphy, and Miss Kathryn
Engbarth for transforming Marshall Park "a proverbial fairy
land."(The Jackson County Times, May 10, 1924, p. 5)
Charles Marshall
Charles Marshall was a generous and imaginative man. He was born at
Franklin, Tennessee on November 8, 1848. Marshall Park and other
beautiful parks near L&N depots on the Mississippi coast were
established during his tenure as superintendent. Marshall began his
railroad service with the Nashville & Decatur Railroad at Franklin,
Tennessee in 1864. He worked his way through the ranks employed as
an operator, agent, and dispatcher at Lynnville, Columbia,
Nashville, Pulaski, McKenzie, Memphis, and Clarksville in
Tennessee. In 1881, he was transferred to New Orleans as freight
agent, and was name superintendent in 1886. He moved to Bay St.
Louis about 1893, and commuted to work in New Orleans on the fast
Coast Train.
In the spring of 1897, Superintendent Charles Marshall was
contemplating leaving the L&N Railroad to go to work with the
Illinois Central Railroad. He was lauded by the writer of this
news as follows: "He is highly esteemed, both personally and
officially, wherever known, and the probability of his resignation
is a source of sincere regret to his many friends along the
Mississippi Coast."(The Biloxi Daily Herald, May 29, 1897, p. 1)
Friends of Charles Marshall described him as honest,
courageous, and gracious in heart. He possessed a most remarkable
memory and his knowledge of history and current
events
exceeded that of most men of his day. The men who worked for him
had great respect and a paternal love for him. The commonest
switchman would not hesitate to borrow a dollar from Charles
Marshall. The debt was always repaid for Marshall never forgot
anything.
Other L&N Railroad Parks
Biloxi 1901
An example of the character of Marshall manifested itself in August
1901. Superintendent Marshall had promised the citizens of Biloxi a
park in the rear of the L&N depot on Reynoir Street. A prominent
businessman came to him and made a proposition to lease the property
for twenty years and erect a large business and residential
structure. In his
reply to the proposition, he stated that in as much as he had
promised to convert the lot into a park, he felt bound by the
promise made, and would not lease it to anyone for any
other purpose.(The Daily Picayune, August 13, 1901, p. 11)
The Biloxi Park was named in his honor upon its
completion about 1912. The name was changed to Biloxi City Park in
1916, when the city leased it from the L&N Railroad.
Pascagoula 1912
Colonel Marshall also had his bridge and construction division erect
a city park at Pascagoula, Mississippi. A.J. Catchot (1864-1954) of
Ocean Springs supervised its erection which commenced in December
1912. The Pascagoula park was situated in the right-of-way of the
L&N Railroad and consisted of fences, concrete walking paths, a
fountain, bandstand, and appropriate landscaping. The City of
Pascagoula agreed to monitor and clean the grounds and supply water
to the fountain.(The Pascagoula Chronicle, December 21, 1912, p.
1)
Charles Marshall and his wife Lillian Willis were married in 1881,
at Clarksville, Tennessee. They had four sons: Gilbert Marshall
(b. 1882), Carl Marshall (b. 1884), Donald Marshall (b. 1887), and
Geoffrey Marshall (b. 1890). Carl Marshall was born at New Orleans
while his brothers were born in Tennessee.
During his active life, Marshall was deeply involved with the
industrial and civic life of New Orleans. He was a member of the
Louisiana Historical Society and the Louisiana Society of the Sons
of the American Revolution. In Bay St. Louis, he was on the Board
of Directors of the Hancock County Bank, and also a member of the
Bay St. Louis Sea Wall and Bond Commission. Charles Marshall was a
communicant of the
Presbyterian Church and a member of the Masonic Lodge.
At the time of his death on January 14, 1928, Marshall and
his wife were residing at Bay St. Louis. He was survived by his
four sons: Major Gilbert Marshall of the
U.S.
Army in Atlanta, Carl Marshall, an attorney and State Senator from
Hancock County, in Bay St. Louis, Donald Marshall, an instructor in
the Boys' High School at New Orleans, and Geoffrey Marshall of the
U.S. Army in Maryland.
Charles Marshall was buried in the Cedar Rest Cemetery at Bay
St. Louis. As his body was being placed for burial, a train at the
L&N depot tolled its bell. Simultaneously a passing train paid a
similar tribute.
It’s been a full day. The sun is low in the West and a
subtle breeze reminds me that this pensive mood has lasted perhaps a
few hours. As I leave the park for home, I say, "thanks Charles
Marshall and the L&N for building this park, kudos to the Historic
Ocean Springs Association for restoring it in 1989 for the use of
the citizens of Ocean Springs, and applause and gratitude to a
distinguished citizen of the community for the use of the land".
May the spirit, courage, and integrity of Charles Marshall remain
with us forever.
WWII
In the late 1920s or early 1930s, the bandstand in
Marshall Park was relocated to Dr. Powell’s property, the Bayou Inn,
situated on the west side of Washington Avenue at Old Fort Bayou.
During WWII, it was converted into a small living space. Fifty
years ago, Harry Arnold III, a young naval aviator recently
graduated from the PBY seaplane school at Pensacola discovered Ocean
Springs. Lieutenant Arnold had been ordered to the Air-Sea Rescue
School at Keesler AFB in Biloxi. Like many families arriving at
Keesler Field in May 1944, the Arnolds had a difficult time finding
adequate housing. Their story is interesting and a part of our
colorful, local history. In the words of Harry Arnold III, their
initiation to Ocean Springs follows:
I went uptown
(Biloxi) to see if I could find a real estate office; the
first one I found was a very small office with a gentleman by the
name of Sherman (M.C. Sherman was a realtor and insurance
agent located at 116 West Howard Avenue), sitting behind the
desk. I went in and said, "hello, do you have anything for rent?"
His answer was "NO". I told him that I had been in the real estate
business before the war and then proceeded to tell my sad story
about desperately needing a place to live so I could send for my
wife and child, etc., etc.
Mr. Sherman, in a rather gruff manner, said, "I have a little place
over in Ocean Springs, it isn't much but here's the key you can go
and look at it." I was excited to know that that there was at least
something to rent because, with all the military in the area,
rentals were very scarce. I jumped into the car and raced across
the bridge to Ocean Springs and down to the bayou to see a little
one room, octagon-shaped house, located at the rear of what is now
the Aunt Jenny's parking area.
It had one room and a very small step down kitchen area
approximately 6'x 6' on one side, and about the same size step down
little bathroom on the other side. The kitchen had a two burner
stove (no refrigeration). The bathroom, in addition to a basin and
a toilet, did have a shower. Furnishings consisted of a brass
double bed, a small cot, a dresser, small table, and one chair. The
closet was a curtain hung from a wire strung across one of the
octagon sides.
To me it was a real find, so I rushed back to Sherman's office and
said I would take it. I think the rent was about $28.00 per month.
We moved in within the next several days and were very happy to have
our little bayou band stand. Our aircrew friends would often come
over and we would all just sit on the bed because we had only one
chair!
Mr. Sherman and I became very good friends and he taught me how to
fish the bay. He was a true southern gentleman who used to give me
a hard time because I was a "northerner" from California. I always
regretted that at the time I didn't know that my great grandfather
was in Company H of the 3rd Virginia Infantry, and was captured at
Richmond---it would have put me in an even better relationship with
Mr. Sherman!
Our entertainment, when I wasn't flying or fishing, was to walk up
the tracks to the train turn table and watch the locomotive engineer
and fireman put a large timber into some brackets and slowly turn
the engine around until it was reversed---a special treat for a four
year old boy!
In
late September of this year, the Arnolds returned to Keesler AFB for
a fifty- year reunion of his PBY Catalina Emergency Rescue
Squadrons, which trained there in 1944. Their nostalgia for life at
Ocean Springs brought them across the bridge once more. Before they
went looking for their "band stand" house on the bayou, Mrs. Arnold
visited Bayou Belle and told proprietor, Dianne Lala, now Dianne
Boyd, of their remembrances of war time Ocean Springs. In turn,
Dianne related to the Arnolds the restoration of the Marshall Park
band stand, their former "home", by HOSA in 1989. After a visit to
the park, Harry Arnold described the refurbished structure as
"looking nice and regal as the center piece of Marshall Park".
Thank you Arnolds for returning to Ocean Springs and providing us
with the photograph of your "old band stand home". Don't wait fifty
years to come back!(The Ocean Springs Record, December 8, 1994,
p. 3)
1972 Zoning Ordinance
In late July 1972, when the City
of Ocean Springs enacted a comprehensive zoning ordinance, Marshall
Park was zoned commercial. At this time, Albert S. Westbrook
(1900-1980), Ward One Alderman, proposed an amendment to the zoning
ordinance that would allow the
Railroad
Park to be zoned for public use rather than Commercial-2. His
motion was not seconded and failed. The initial zoning map made in
April 1972, had shown the railroad property as public use land. The
Ocean Springs State Bank opposed this classification and a revised
map presented in June 1972, redefined Marshall Park as commercial.(The
Ocean Springs Record, July 27, 1972, p. 1)
In June 1972, a body called “Group of Concerned
Citizens” began to lobby the City government to prevent destruction
of Marshall Park by commercial interests. A rumor that the Ocean
Springs State Bank was planning to acquire the property and erect a
new bank building was the catalyst for their formation. The
Jaycees also opposed the bank location in Marshall Park.(The Ocean
Springs Record, June 15, 1972, p. 1, June 22, 1972, p. 1, July 27, 1972, p. 5 and August 17, 1972, p. 5)
L&N Sells
In September 1973, John A. Switzer acquired the railroad
park at Ocean Springs from the L&N Railroad for $30,000.(JXCO, Ms.
Land Deed Bk. 477, p. 399)
Mr. Switzer sold the park to Eleanora Bradford Lemon in
April 1974.(JXCO, Ms. Land Deed Bk. 497, p. 51)
Bandstand Relocation
Its current owners, Carl Lizana
and Ronnie Hamilton, proprietors of Aunt Jenny’s Restaurant, donated
the old bandstand, which had been removed from Marshall Park in the
past, to the City. This popular catfish eatery occupies the
premises once called the Bayou Inn. In February 1989, Bobby Lewis
and Ray Beaugez, local contractors, prepared the structure for
relocation to Marshall Park. Local architect, Bruce Tolar, made
recommendations concerning the condition of the building. All
services were pro bono. Harper
House Movers of Mobile, Alabama moved the bandstand to Marshall Park
in early March 1989.(The Ocean Springs Record, March 9, 1989, p.
1)
Fund Raising
On March 31, 1989, the first fundraiser to support the
restoration of the Marshall Park bandstand was held by HOSA at the
Ocean Springs Community Center with the theme “Strike up the band
“stand.” Jeff Lawson, WLOX-TV personality, was master of
ceremonies for the event. A live auction was supported by gifts and
donations of the following local artisans and business people: Kris
Byrd, Gayle Clark, Thomas Ehrensing, Haneke Gast, Judy Moreton
Howell, Miek Laan (1912-1998), William Mitchell, Herb Moore, Elva
Rouse, and Sue Weidie.(The Ocean Springs Record, March 30, 1989,
p. 1)
Restoration
In early June 1989, Bobby Lewis, local contractor, with
the assistance of Greg Denyer, a high school teacher, volunteered
their time and skills to restore the old bandstand. The walls were
removed and rotten wood replaced. In addition a new shingle roof
was added to the 1912 building.(The Ocean Springs Record, June 8,
1989, p. 3)
Gulf War Dedication
On
March 26, 1991, Senator Trent Lott
was at Ocean Springs to dedicate the revised and restored Marshall
Park. He was introduced by Mayor Kevin Alves. Senator Lott gave
HOSA an American flag, which had once flown over the Nation’s
capitol. The park’s flagpole had a night light, which allowed the
flag to be flown at all times. Larry Cosper, HOSA spokesman said,
“It seems like a simple thing, putting up a flag, but HOSA
worked for a long time in getting just the right flag, and putting
it in just the right place. We’re very excited about it and think
it will be a great asset to the park.” (The Ocean Springs Record, March
21, 1991, p. 1 and March 28, 1991, p. 1)
HOSA
lease
In December 1998, Eleanora Bradford Lemon gave HOSA,
an acronym for Historic Ocean Springs Association, a forty-year
lease on Marshall Park. HOSA as steward of Marshall Park has
obligated itself to keep the area open for public use; maintain the
green space; and pay the annual taxes for the duration of their
lease which commenced on January 1, 1999 and extends to December 31,
2038.(JXCO, Ms. Land Deed Bk. 1161, p. 135)
Freedom Field ~
The Little Children's Park -Ruskin
Oak-Gay-Lemon Park
REFERENCES:
Magazines
The
Louisville & Nashville Employees' Magazine, February 1928, pp.
17-18.
Journals
The
Daily Picayune, “Biloxi Will Have Another Park”, August
13, 1901.
The
Biloxi Daily Herald, "Charles Marshall", May 29, 1897.
The
Jackson County Times, “Col. Marshall Retires”, August 4,
1917.
The
Jackson County Times, “Local News Items”, June 15, 1918.
The
Jackson County Times, “A plea for Marshall Park”, ?, p.
5.
The
Jackson County Times, “Local and Personal”, May 26, 1923.
The
Jackson County Times, “May Festival”, May 10, 1924.
The
Ocean Springs News, “Local News”, April 8, 1911.
The
Ocean Springs News, “Local News”, April 22, 1911.
The
Ocean Springs News, “Civic Federation Notes”, May 20,
1911.
The
Ocean Springs News, “Local News”, May 20, 1911.
The
Ocean Springs News, “Local News”, May 27, 1911.
The
Ocean Springs News, “Local News”, June 17, 1911.
The
Ocean Springs News, “Local News”, September 2, 1911.
The
Ocean Springs News, “Local News”, September 9, 1911.
The
Ocean Springs News, “Statement of Civic Federation”,
March 28, 1914.
The
Ocean Springs Record, “Citizens protest bank location at
Park”, June 15, 1972.
The
Ocean Springs Record, “Jaycees oppose bank location”,
June 22, 1972.
The
Ocean Springs Record, “Ocean Springs adopts a comprehensive
zoning ordinance”, July 27, 1972.
The
Ocean Springs Record, “Citizens Should Save Railroad Park”,
July 27, 1972.
The
Ocean Springs Record, “Lack of Civic Concern”, August 17,
1972.
The
Ocean Springs Record, “Moving Day”, March 9, 1989.
The
Ocean Springs Record, “Bandstand fundraiser off to flying
start”, Mach 30, 1989.
The
Ocean Springs Record, “Restoration Begins”, June 8, 1989.
The
Ocean Springs Record, “HOSA plans flag raising in Marshall
Park”, March 21, 1991.
The
Ocean Springs Record, “HOSA raises flag in Marshall Park”,
March 28, 1991.
The
Ocean Springs Record, “Couple returns after 50 years to visit
‘old bandstand home’”, December 8, 1994.
The
Pascagoula Chronicle, “Will Build Park”, December 21,
1912.
The
Daily Herald, “Col. Marshall Passes Away”, January 14,
1928.
The
Daily Herald, "Know Your Coast" by Ray M. Thompson, 1952.
The
Daily Picayune, August 13, 1901, p. 11.
Personal Communication:
J.G.
Lachaussee - CSX Corporation, Orange Park, Florida
J.K.
Lemon - Realtor, Ocean Springs, Mississippi
Ray L.
Bellande
PO BOX
617
Ocean
Springs
Mississippi 39564
|
By
Ray L. Bellande
