Alfred 'Fred' E. Lewis Jr. (1861-1933) was the son of Colonel Alfred E. Lewis (1812-1885), a pioneer settler of Jackson County. The elder Lewis was active in commerce and politics serving as Sheriff for fourteen years, and in the Mississippi State Legislature from 1850-1852. In 1845, he built Lewis-Sha, later called Oldfields Plantation, on the Mississippi Sound at Gautier where he raised stock, fruit trees, and crops. Fred Lewis was married to Julia Johnson (1861-1933), the daughter of Charles Johnson, a Swedish immigrant, and Julia Jonte of Pascagoula. Their Alabama born, adopted, daughter, Marguerite Lewis (1890-1961), married Frank Raymond (1883-1952) who owned the Pines Hotel at Ocean Springs from 1925-1929.
THE ARTESIAN HOUSE
The Artesian House was located on the southwest corner of Jackson and Porter Avenues in Lot 8 of Block 31 of the Culmseig Map (1854) of Ocean Springs. Mr. Lewis had acquired the N/2 of Lot 8 of Block 31 from F.M. Weed on September 11, 1890 for $400. The tract measured 50 feet on Jackson Avenue and 200 feet on Porter. Fred Lewis sold George E. Arndt 81 feet off the west end of the lot in October 1894 for $600. Mr. Arndt built a cottage at present day 822 Porter circa 1895 which he rented to visitors from New Orleans and the Midwest.(JXCO, Ms. Land Deed Bk. 16, p. 455 and Bk. 16, p. 65)
The Artesian House was built in the Queen Anne architectural style and was a two-story, wood frame structure with an area under roof of 4,320 square feet. An eight-foot wide gallery facing north and east was present on both floors. The kitchen was attached to the rear of the building and had an area of 486 square feet. Located to the rear of the main structure was a small cabin of approximately 300 square feet. North of the cabin there was a small stable of 240 square feet which faced Porter Avenue.
The Artesian House, sometimes called the Artesia House, was built by Alfred E. (Fred) Lewis (1862-1933) probably early in 1891. A notice in The Biloxi Herald of November 8, 1890 stated, "Mr. Fred Lewis is to build a large hall with store underneath just opposite O'Keefe's Hotel". This date is corroborated somewhat in The Pascagoula Democrat-Star of March 11, 1892 by the following, "Mrs. D.D. Cowan's grocery business has been removed to the "Lewis Building" on the corner of Jackson and Porter Avenue where she will also keep boarders".
Mrs. D.D. [Lillie] L. Cowan (1862-1892), the wife of educator, D.D. Cowan, passed on July 28, 1892. Her occupancy of the Lewis Building was short lived.
Until 1895, Alfred E. Lewis Jr. resided north of the railroad bridge on the Bay of Biloxi in a home called "Mendenhall". In that year the home, was sold to Julia Rodriguez. At this time, Mr. and Mrs. Lewis probably moved to the Fort Bayou Community southwest of Vancleave where they established a home, called "Sweet Heart", on 320 acres of land in Sections 23 and 24 of T6S-R8W. Here Lewis operated a model agricultural enterprise. He was lauded for his outstanding poultry, pecans, and peaches. The Lewis family remained here in the country near the Antioch Baptist Church until 1933, when they moved to Ward Avenue at Ocean Springs to live with Edwin Orrell, his nephew.(JXCO, Ms. Land Deed Bk. 16, p. 398, The Pascagoula Democrat-Star, December 1, 1905, p. 3, and The Jackson County Times, December 16, 1933, p. 1)
Fred Lewis like his father was active in politics, commerce, and served as the chief oyster inspector for the Mississippi Seafood Commission. He also owned the water works at Ocean Springs. Lewis supplied the town with artesian water from a well about 500 feet deep. The well, tanks, and other equipment were located on a lot between Washington Avenue and Church Street just northwest of the Munro Shell Station on Bienville Boulevard.
On July 4, 1893, the official minutes of the Town of Ocean Springs relate that Lewis agreed to furnish water at no cost to the citizens of Ocean Springs for four public fountains. On January 2, 1894, he agreed to furnish free water for fighting fires. Because of his generosity with water to the people of Ocean Springs, Fred Lewis acquired the title, "the Artesian Prince". It is easily understood why his hostelry once referred to as the Lewis House acquired the name, Artesian House, in February 1894. Fred Lewis sold his waterworks to J.J. Kuhn of New Orleans in February 1898 for $4500.( JXCO, Ms. Land Deed Bk. 18, p. 531)
REFERENCES:
Ray L. Bellande, 'Ocean Springs Hotels and Tourist Homes, "The Artesian House", (Bellande-Ocean Springs, Mississippi-1991).
The Jackson County Times, 'Pioneer resident of County passed away Monday', December 16, 1933, p. 1.
THE ARTESIAN HOUSE
The Artesian House was located on the southwest corner of Jackson and Porter Avenues in Lot 8 of Block 31 of the Culmseig Map (1854) of Ocean Springs. Mr. Lewis had acquired the N/2 of Lot 8 of Block 31 from F.M. Weed on September 11, 1890 for $400. The tract measured 50 feet on Jackson Avenue and 200 feet on Porter. Fred Lewis sold George E. Arndt 81 feet off the west end of the lot in October 1894 for $600. Mr. Arndt built a cottage at present day 822 Porter circa 1895 which he rented to visitors from New Orleans and the Midwest.(JXCO, Ms. Land Deed Bk. 16, p. 455 and Bk. 16, p. 65)
The Artesian House was built in the Queen Anne architectural style and was a two-story, wood frame structure with an area under roof of 4,320 square feet. An eight-foot wide gallery facing north and east was present on both floors. The kitchen was attached to the rear of the building and had an area of 486 square feet. Located to the rear of the main structure was a small cabin of approximately 300 square feet. North of the cabin there was a small stable of 240 square feet which faced Porter Avenue.
The Artesian House, sometimes called the Artesia House, was built by Alfred E. (Fred) Lewis (1862-1933) probably early in 1891. A notice in The Biloxi Herald of November 8, 1890 stated, "Mr. Fred Lewis is to build a large hall with store underneath just opposite O'Keefe's Hotel". This date is corroborated somewhat in The Pascagoula Democrat-Star of March 11, 1892 by the following, "Mrs. D.D. Cowan's grocery business has been removed to the "Lewis Building" on the corner of Jackson and Porter Avenue where she will also keep boarders".
Mrs. D.D. [Lillie] L. Cowan (1862-1892), the wife of educator, D.D. Cowan, passed on July 28, 1892. Her occupancy of the Lewis Building was short lived.
Until 1895, Alfred E. Lewis Jr. resided north of the railroad bridge on the Bay of Biloxi in a home called "Mendenhall". In that year the home, was sold to Julia Rodriguez. At this time, Mr. and Mrs. Lewis probably moved to the Fort Bayou Community southwest of Vancleave where they established a home, called "Sweet Heart", on 320 acres of land in Sections 23 and 24 of T6S-R8W. Here Lewis operated a model agricultural enterprise. He was lauded for his outstanding poultry, pecans, and peaches. The Lewis family remained here in the country near the Antioch Baptist Church until 1933, when they moved to Ward Avenue at Ocean Springs to live with Edwin Orrell, his nephew.(JXCO, Ms. Land Deed Bk. 16, p. 398, The Pascagoula Democrat-Star, December 1, 1905, p. 3, and The Jackson County Times, December 16, 1933, p. 1)
Fred Lewis like his father was active in politics, commerce, and served as the chief oyster inspector for the Mississippi Seafood Commission. He also owned the water works at Ocean Springs. Lewis supplied the town with artesian water from a well about 500 feet deep. The well, tanks, and other equipment were located on a lot between Washington Avenue and Church Street just northwest of the Munro Shell Station on Bienville Boulevard.
On July 4, 1893, the official minutes of the Town of Ocean Springs relate that Lewis agreed to furnish water at no cost to the citizens of Ocean Springs for four public fountains. On January 2, 1894, he agreed to furnish free water for fighting fires. Because of his generosity with water to the people of Ocean Springs, Fred Lewis acquired the title, "the Artesian Prince". It is easily understood why his hostelry once referred to as the Lewis House acquired the name, Artesian House, in February 1894. Fred Lewis sold his waterworks to J.J. Kuhn of New Orleans in February 1898 for $4500.( JXCO, Ms. Land Deed Bk. 18, p. 531)
REFERENCES:
Ray L. Bellande, 'Ocean Springs Hotels and Tourist Homes, "The Artesian House", (Bellande-Ocean Springs, Mississippi-1991).
The Jackson County Times, 'Pioneer resident of County passed away Monday', December 16, 1933, p. 1.
Alfred 'Fred' E. Lewis Jr. (1861-1933) was the son of Colonel Alfred E. Lewis (1812-1885), a pioneer settler of Jackson County. The elder Lewis was active in commerce and politics serving as Sheriff for fourteen years, and in the Mississippi State Legislature from 1850-1852. In 1845, he built Lewis-Sha, later called Oldfields Plantation, on the Mississippi Sound at Gautier where he raised stock, fruit trees, and crops. Fred Lewis was married to Julia Johnson (1861-1933), the daughter of Charles Johnson, a Swedish immigrant, and Julia Jonte of Pascagoula. Their Alabama born, adopted, daughter, Marguerite Lewis (1890-1961), married Frank Raymond (1883-1952) who owned the Pines Hotel at Ocean Springs from 1925-1929.
THE ARTESIAN HOUSE
The Artesian House was located on the southwest corner of Jackson and Porter Avenues in Lot 8 of Block 31 of the Culmseig Map (1854) of Ocean Springs. Mr. Lewis had acquired the N/2 of Lot 8 of Block 31 from F.M. Weed on September 11, 1890 for $400. The tract measured 50 feet on Jackson Avenue and 200 feet on Porter. Fred Lewis sold George E. Arndt 81 feet off the west end of the lot in October 1894 for $600. Mr. Arndt built a cottage at present day 822 Porter circa 1895 which he rented to visitors from New Orleans and the Midwest.(JXCO, Ms. Land Deed Bk. 16, p. 455 and Bk. 16, p. 65)
The Artesian House was built in the Queen Anne architectural style and was a two-story, wood frame structure with an area under roof of 4,320 square feet. An eight-foot wide gallery facing north and east was present on both floors. The kitchen was attached to the rear of the building and had an area of 486 square feet. Located to the rear of the main structure was a small cabin of approximately 300 square feet. North of the cabin there was a small stable of 240 square feet which faced Porter Avenue.
The Artesian House, sometimes called the Artesia House, was built by Alfred E. (Fred) Lewis (1862-1933) probably early in 1891. A notice in The Biloxi Herald of November 8, 1890 stated, "Mr. Fred Lewis is to build a large hall with store underneath just opposite O'Keefe's Hotel". This date is corroborated somewhat in The Pascagoula Democrat-Star of March 11, 1892 by the following, "Mrs. D.D. Cowan's grocery business has been removed to the "Lewis Building" on the corner of Jackson and Porter Avenue where she will also keep boarders".
Mrs. D.D. [Lillie] L. Cowan (1862-1892), the wife of educator, D.D. Cowan, passed on July 28, 1892. Her occupancy of the Lewis Building was short lived.
Until 1895, Alfred E. Lewis Jr. resided north of the railroad bridge on the Bay of Biloxi in a home called "Mendenhall". In that year the home, was sold to Julia Rodriguez. At this time, Mr. and Mrs. Lewis probably moved to the Fort Bayou Community southwest of Vancleave where they established a home, called "Sweet Heart", on 320 acres of land in Sections 23 and 24 of T6S-R8W. Here Lewis operated a model agricultural enterprise. He was lauded for his outstanding poultry, pecans, and peaches. The Lewis family remained here in the country near the Antioch Baptist Church until 1933, when they moved to Ward Avenue at Ocean Springs to live with Edwin Orrell, his nephew.(JXCO, Ms. Land Deed Bk. 16, p. 398, The Pascagoula Democrat-Star, December 1, 1905, p. 3, and The Jackson County Times, December 16, 1933, p. 1)
Fred Lewis like his father was active in politics, commerce, and served as the chief oyster inspector for the Mississippi Seafood Commission. He also owned the water works at Ocean Springs. Lewis supplied the town with artesian water from a well about 500 feet deep. The well, tanks, and other equipment were located on a lot between Washington Avenue and Church Street just northwest of the Munro Shell Station on Bienville Boulevard.
On July 4, 1893, the official minutes of the Town of Ocean Springs relate that Lewis agreed to furnish water at no cost to the citizens of Ocean Springs for four public fountains. On January 2, 1894, he agreed to furnish free water for fighting fires. Because of his generosity with water to the people of Ocean Springs, Fred Lewis acquired the title, "the Artesian Prince". It is easily understood why his hostelry once referred to as the Lewis House acquired the name, Artesian House, in February 1894. Fred Lewis sold his waterworks to J.J. Kuhn of New Orleans in February 1898 for $4500.( JXCO, Ms. Land Deed Bk. 18, p. 531)
REFERENCES:
Ray L. Bellande, 'Ocean Springs Hotels and Tourist Homes, "The Artesian House", (Bellande-Ocean Springs, Mississippi-1991).
The Jackson County Times, 'Pioneer resident of County passed away Monday', December 16, 1933, p. 1.
THE ARTESIAN HOUSE
The Artesian House was located on the southwest corner of Jackson and Porter Avenues in Lot 8 of Block 31 of the Culmseig Map (1854) of Ocean Springs. Mr. Lewis had acquired the N/2 of Lot 8 of Block 31 from F.M. Weed on September 11, 1890 for $400. The tract measured 50 feet on Jackson Avenue and 200 feet on Porter. Fred Lewis sold George E. Arndt 81 feet off the west end of the lot in October 1894 for $600. Mr. Arndt built a cottage at present day 822 Porter circa 1895 which he rented to visitors from New Orleans and the Midwest.(JXCO, Ms. Land Deed Bk. 16, p. 455 and Bk. 16, p. 65)
The Artesian House was built in the Queen Anne architectural style and was a two-story, wood frame structure with an area under roof of 4,320 square feet. An eight-foot wide gallery facing north and east was present on both floors. The kitchen was attached to the rear of the building and had an area of 486 square feet. Located to the rear of the main structure was a small cabin of approximately 300 square feet. North of the cabin there was a small stable of 240 square feet which faced Porter Avenue.
The Artesian House, sometimes called the Artesia House, was built by Alfred E. (Fred) Lewis (1862-1933) probably early in 1891. A notice in The Biloxi Herald of November 8, 1890 stated, "Mr. Fred Lewis is to build a large hall with store underneath just opposite O'Keefe's Hotel". This date is corroborated somewhat in The Pascagoula Democrat-Star of March 11, 1892 by the following, "Mrs. D.D. Cowan's grocery business has been removed to the "Lewis Building" on the corner of Jackson and Porter Avenue where she will also keep boarders".
Mrs. D.D. [Lillie] L. Cowan (1862-1892), the wife of educator, D.D. Cowan, passed on July 28, 1892. Her occupancy of the Lewis Building was short lived.
Until 1895, Alfred E. Lewis Jr. resided north of the railroad bridge on the Bay of Biloxi in a home called "Mendenhall". In that year the home, was sold to Julia Rodriguez. At this time, Mr. and Mrs. Lewis probably moved to the Fort Bayou Community southwest of Vancleave where they established a home, called "Sweet Heart", on 320 acres of land in Sections 23 and 24 of T6S-R8W. Here Lewis operated a model agricultural enterprise. He was lauded for his outstanding poultry, pecans, and peaches. The Lewis family remained here in the country near the Antioch Baptist Church until 1933, when they moved to Ward Avenue at Ocean Springs to live with Edwin Orrell, his nephew.(JXCO, Ms. Land Deed Bk. 16, p. 398, The Pascagoula Democrat-Star, December 1, 1905, p. 3, and The Jackson County Times, December 16, 1933, p. 1)
Fred Lewis like his father was active in politics, commerce, and served as the chief oyster inspector for the Mississippi Seafood Commission. He also owned the water works at Ocean Springs. Lewis supplied the town with artesian water from a well about 500 feet deep. The well, tanks, and other equipment were located on a lot between Washington Avenue and Church Street just northwest of the Munro Shell Station on Bienville Boulevard.
On July 4, 1893, the official minutes of the Town of Ocean Springs relate that Lewis agreed to furnish water at no cost to the citizens of Ocean Springs for four public fountains. On January 2, 1894, he agreed to furnish free water for fighting fires. Because of his generosity with water to the people of Ocean Springs, Fred Lewis acquired the title, "the Artesian Prince". It is easily understood why his hostelry once referred to as the Lewis House acquired the name, Artesian House, in February 1894. Fred Lewis sold his waterworks to J.J. Kuhn of New Orleans in February 1898 for $4500.( JXCO, Ms. Land Deed Bk. 18, p. 531)
REFERENCES:
Ray L. Bellande, 'Ocean Springs Hotels and Tourist Homes, "The Artesian House", (Bellande-Ocean Springs, Mississippi-1991).
The Jackson County Times, 'Pioneer resident of County passed away Monday', December 16, 1933, p. 1.
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