Perdido Beach History   This slice of history is based on various sources – some recorded and some from oral tradition.  It is not meant to be entirely accurate but is offered as a glimpse into the past and tradition of the century old community of Perdido Beach.   Perdido Beach is located on the north shore of Perdido Bay in Baldwin County, Alabama.  Originally, it was situated between two estuaries, Palmetto Creek to the west and Soldier Creek to the east, and, of course, Perdido Bay to the south.  Today, with expanded growth, the community is more or less defined to lie within the designated area of The Perdido Beach Fire District.     Perdido Beach – The Early Years   Perdido Beach is one of the oldest communities in South Baldwin County. The name “Perdido” in Spanish translates to “lost” in English.  According to some records, Perdido Bay was more or less lost from a navigational point of view and it is believed that early settlers dug a pass from the Gulf of Mexico into Perdido Bay at Alabama Point, in order to navigate into the Bay.    The earliest settlers of record in the area were of the Suarez Family who received a land grant from the King of Spain.  The grant included what is now Baldwin and Mobile Counties in Alabama; and Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties in Florida.  Locally, a small portion of the land grant was set aside for a cemetery.  The cemetery is located in the Spanish Cove area of Lillian and is known to many people as the “Spanish Cemetery”.   In 1878 Col. L. B. Hatch bought 32 acres from a descendent of the Suarez Family, George R. Suarez.  Later, in 1900, he purchased an additional 313 acres of land from The Southern States Lumber Company and established a development which he called “Perdido Beach”.  Thus, the initial population of Perdido Beach began with property sales in 1901.   Some of the earliest families to come to the area and make their permanent homes in Perdido Beach were Suarez, Kee, Ketterer, Kinman, Templeman, Best, White, Lockwood, Parker, Resmondo, Abbott, Shuman, Frizzel, Krantz, Blackmore and Cawthorne.  There were also part time resident families such as Stuart, Howard, Wylie, Peeble, Baldwin, LeGrande, Gill, Cunningham, Candler, Mark, Cook, Noble, Thetford and others, some who still have family homes in Perdido Beach.  In today’s population, those early families are represented by their descendents, some who live full time in the community and some who continue to reside on a part time basis.   Despite its relative isolation, Perdido Beach was an active community in the early 1900’s.  Like many small towns, a great deal of money wasn’t needed.  Folks gardened, had chickens for meat and eggs, kept cows for milk, and, of course, raised pigs for meat and lard.  Only a small amount of money was needed to purchase staples such as flour, corn meal and coffee.  A major part of the early diet was made up of fish, shrimp and crabs; a tradition that continues to the present time.   Common in the early homes was the lack of electricity, running water, inside plumbing, and refrigeration.  Oil lamps were used for lighting and wood stoves for cooking.  Food preservation, such as canning, salting, and smoking, was a way of life.  By today’s standards, it was a primitive existence but, nonetheless, Perdido Beach was a thriving community in the early 1900’s.  The following time line is testimony to the active nature of the community of Perdido Beach in the early days.   “Before 1910, facilities for community services began to appear.  By 1907, a schoolhouse was built to serve local children as well as some from Josephine.  The first schoolmistress was Edna Peadro,…Robert Randolph established a general store, fish market, and post office on the west bank of Soldier Creek pass.  Robert’s brother, George Randolph operated an ice plant which later included a bottling works.  A Mr. Kinman operated a sawmill and shingle factory two miles up Soldier Creek (at) the point where the “Narrows” begin.  Aubrey and Norman Suarez were local builders…. Rufus Kee, Sr. and Mr. Resmondo were boat builders on Palmetto Creek.  Alex Resmondo operated teams of oxen for hauling logs, and George Suarez towed log rafts to the sawmill at Millview.   After the 1916 hurricane, the Robert Randolph store was relocated….Before 1923, Mr. Fraelich…built and ran a group of rental cottages on Palmetto Creek….Later in the mid 30’s, Mr. Blackmore took over the cottages and also sold gasoline and sundries.  In 1925, Mose Stuart donated land for the construction of St. Andrews Church.  The church was built by community effort, and the first minister was Dr. Clark whose wife was the schoolmistress at the time.   In 1928, Mr. Ferry built a concrete block house and store, which he operated until the mid 30’s (when) Mr. Krantz took over.  Also, in 1928, a Chicago based firm…built a fancy hotel.  Although well publicized, it did not do well.  During World War II, the Navy leased the hotel for recreation purposes.”  Once and Again, One Hundred Years of Perdido Beach Memories 1901-2001  by Lucy (Sis) Stuart Lee     1907  - School House – The first schoolmistress was Edna Peadro.   1909    Ice Plant – It was operated by Robert Randolph and was located at the east end of Magnolia Street on Soldier Creek.   ­­­Pre-1916  Randolph’s First Store – at the east end of Magnolia Street, believed to have been destroyed by the 1916 Hurricane.  Mail, supplies and passengers were brought by boat from Millview, Florida to Randolph’s Store.   1911    St. Andrews by the Sea – a non-denominational church (still active) on Magnolia Street.   1927    Perdido Beach Hotel – on Escambia Avenue overlooking Palmetto Creek. It was a beautiful two-story structure with mahogany and marble adorned interior and complete with a grand ballroom.   It burned to the ground in 1958.   1920’s Mr. Blackmore’s Store - overlooking Palmetto Creek.  It was previously The Fraelich Resort.  It was also known as The Silver Fishing Lodge where Mr. Blackmore rented log cabins and wooden boats.   1928    Mr. Ferry’s store – a two-story concrete structure, next to the Hotel.  Mr. “Shorty” Krantz later purchased the house and it remained the Krantz home until 2006.   1930’s Turpentine Industry   1930’s Perdido Beach School - a one room building boasting grades 1 thru 6.   1937    Perdido Beach Post Office – The first location was at the east end of Magnolia Street.  It was later located on Escambia Avenue across from the present day Volunteer Fire Department.   1937    Hayes’s Store – located on Escambia Avenue.  Groceries, gasoline and kerosene were sold at the store.  It is reported that the first telephone in Perdido Beach was installed at the Hayes’s Store.   1939    Bottling Co.     ____    Sugar Cane Mill, owned and operated by Mr. Thomas Abbott Making Sugar Cane Syrup