By Roy Edwards

Chairman, River Mouth Committee

When I go to meetings to discuss the state of the mouth of the San Bernard River, I often meet people with insights about the past of this river. Maybe, like the river itself, we should not allow these little “gems” be covered by the shifting sands. The following “trivia” was related  to me from Mr. Laird (whose family used to run Ducroz Bait Camp) at a recent meeting at First  Baptist Church of Shady Acres. Read on to see if you know this trivia about the San Bernard River.

Did you know that:

• The Ducroz family cemetery is located on the west bank of the San Bernard River - almost directly across from the mouth of the abandoned “Old” Intercoastal Canal?

• During the Second World War, the United States Coast Guard built and maintained a docking facility on the west bank of the San Bernard River, immediately downstream of the Ducroz family cemetery?

• A Coast Guard Cutter was stationed at, and operated from, this docking facility to protect war time cargos in the Intracoastal Canal from enemy action?

• A Coast Guard Headquarters building was built and maintained on the Intracoastal Canal immediately across from the Ducroz Bait Camp to support the troops that operated the Cutter?

• After the end of the Second World War, Dr. Ducroz purchased the Coast Guard Headquarters facility, and moved it to the edge of the Intracoastal Canal, then onto a barge. The building was then floated across the Intracoastal Canal, unloaded, and moved to its current position. This building became the basis for the Ducroz family home and now stands on the hill on the “Point” today.

The Point in the late 40's or early 50's

There are all kinds of things that happened on this river that the sands of time are trying to erase from the river’s song.

 But as long as at least one of us remembers the past, the song will live on.

The Point in the late 40's or early 50's

Photos courtesy of  Willard and Francis Gruber,  River's End home owners and visitors, for 60 plus years.

Thank you for sharing.