Page 95 - South Mississippi Living - August, 2017

Walking on History!
Salvaging the Brick Pavers After Hurricane Katrina
Something you may not know about Fishbone Alley!!
The first street paving program in Gulfport began in 1908. Bricks were used as a surface for 24th through 30th Avenues south of the L & N tracks and 13th and 14th Streets from 24th to 27th Avenue.
These brick were installed by Graves Brick Company and they were in business (1890 – 1920).
When Hurricane Katrina struck the coast in 2005, the infrastructure in downtown Gulfport had to
be replaced. While the construction was under- way, the crews discovered these old pavers under the asphalt in 2008. Former Mayor Brent Warr and Public Works Director Kris Riemann decided to save the pavers to be used for a special project one day, rather than discard them. The City’s Chief Administrative Officer, Dr. John Kelly, suggested that the bricks be stored at Public
Works Office to avoid them walking off one brick at a time. When the Economic Development Direc-
tor, David Parker,
started talking about
creating “Fishbone
Alley” in 2016, the
pavers seemed like
the perfect fit and
Mayor Billy Hewes
agreed. Now that the
old pavers have been
refreshed and relocated
to Fishbone Alley, residents
can now see first-hand how Gulfport streets looked in 1908.
Parker had a vision to transform this simple, run-down alleyway into a funky, lively place where the community could come together to enjoy downtown amenities. He proposed that the alley development would be an opportunity to bring diverse groups of people and ideas together to benefit the city and better the community.
City employees, engineers, contractors, volunteers, and local artists joined in a common effort to convert the outdated alley
into something beautiful – a space where all are welcome to enjoy art, food, and local venues year-around. City officials hired local engineering firm Brown, Mitchell & Alexander to design the renovations.
Local contracting company, Gulf Breeze, executed the designs over the course of one year. When the alley renovation neared completion in October 2016, the City of Gulfport Traffic Department put the finishing touches on the project, including string lighting and the alley’s crown jewel – a 20 foot-long metal sign heralding the space as “Fishbone
Alley”, gifted to the city by Gulfport Main Street via a grant from the Knight Foundation.
Local artists were then invited to make their mark, painting numerous murals throughout the space,
including the alley’s now iconic “No Bones” - a 60 foot-long octopus painted by local Gulfport artist
Ryan D. Merrill. Fishbone alley was officially opened to the public on October 2, 2016, during Gulfport Main Street’s annual View the Cruise event; GMSA’s
massive block party which serves as the kick-off for Cruisin’ the Coast (the country’s largest classic car
show).
Today, Fishbone Alley maintains that vision as a centerpiece for culture, creativity and cuisine in Downtown Gulfport.
FOR MORE REFLECTIONS OF THE GULF COAST >> www.smliving.net August 2017 • SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living 95