Mercury Through The Years...

[FUJIMO]

Shultz HydroCat enlarged...

[FUJIMO]

...'75 Bristol Gran Prix enlarged - Bob Spalding...

[Privateer]

Privateer? Did you work at Lake X? Were you envolved in boat manufacturing? Thanx

I've spent most of my career on the boat manufacturing side of the business. My father had retail boat dealerships and marinas my whole life. My grandfather, Joe Anderson, retired from Mercury as Chief Engineer running Siesta Key and Lake X for many years. My mother, aunts and uncles grew up there on the key in the house in the photo, which is why my mother remembered so well.

[Privateer]

Here is granddaddy on the key with my mother holding his life vest along with 2 of my aunts and uncle Jake

[FUJIMO]

Great photo Privateer! Thanx for sharing. Having grown up in Florida, we all loved how Florida "used" to be... With all the Sarasota boat builders, that produced large numbers of boats, which one(s) did you work at? thx.

[seeroy]

Here is granddaddy on the key with my mother holding his life vest along with 2 of my aunts and uncle Jake

Looks like Joe Anderson? If your uncle is Jake, that makes it even more likely. Was "Red" your Grandmother?

[seeroy]

I shared with my mother, JoAnn Anderson Carrigan, who grew up there as she always enjoys these old memories. She added some insight that those who remember may appreciate:
"Starting at the bottom left was Midnight Pass Fish Camp. That is the bay side. Across the street, the houses were on the lagoon. Directly across the street from the fish camp is a house that belonged to the Fraziers. They lived in Ohio and came down about once a year. Moving south of the Frazier house is the house we lived in. There was a fence that separated us from the Fraziers and continued across the entire property from the lagoon to the bay. The fence line looks like it was changed. It's possible that it was surveyed for the sale and the fence line moved north over by Marty's boat basin. Further south on the opposite side of the road is a cottage. It is facing the road. Remember the post card I have of the Mills Cottages? There were four of them. You can see where the two c0ttages and the garage have been torn down. Jim Wynn lived in that cottage where the car is parked until he left to go over to OMC. Looking south from that cottage is the house Mr. Kiekhaefer built for he, his family, and friends who came down from Wisconsin. It looks bigger than it was. It was two bedrooms, a living room/dining room, and kitchen. But it had a huge screened patio that faced the bay, an outside guest room with a separate entrance, and a two car carport. That photograph was taken after Mother and Daddy left. There were never boats stored up that far on the property (the ones next to the fish camp by the fence). The big covered area for boats was not down there. The only buildings were the one on the point (like the one in the old pictures we have) and the office that also had a dark room for the photographer( next to the bay). That was built around 1960. The people who came from Brunswick must have made those changes. All the boats make it look junky and Mr. Kiekhaefer would not have tolerated that. He kept a full time gardener/handy man to make sure the property was neat and maintained. It looked like a park. Lake X was like that too. "

Siesta Key (sarasota) saltwater test station. Midnight Pass at the top has long since been closed. We would run endurance out through the pass or down through the bays. Gene Wagner was the boss. Ran Boat House Bulletin at this site. Dale Thayer, Milt Roeber, Dave Martin, Pete Brogan, Chet Strickland and ME. Just a few names from those days. When I was there, the boat stacks were not yet built. Had a very interesting conversation in the Kiekhaefer house with Mr. K, Freda, and Helen. A little bit South (down) was Happyland Restaurant. Absolutely wonderful time during those days. - Steve Sirois

[seeroy]

OOPS, just read post #4205. Indeed confirmation on your Grandfather Joe Anderson.. - Steve Sirois

[Privateer]

OOPS, just read post #4205. Indeed confirmation on your Grandfather Joe Anderson.. - Steve Sirois

Yes Steve, Joe Anderson was my grandfather and Red my grandmother. JoAnn is my mother. I posted my mothers description above in relation to the aerial of the property although I'm not sure it attached to the photo.
I was too young to be around but have enjoyed the stories through the years and grandaddy's filing cabinets full of photographs. I sat and scanned many of the photos with him some years ago which he enjoyed as those years were so important to him.
My father also spent his life in the boat business, as have I, so I have had the opportunity to meet a lot of guys that were around during those years.
Mike Carrigan, Jr.

[seeroy]

Thanks Mike....Memories are sometimes the best things that float around in our heads. I can close my eyes right now and see your Grandfather - Steve

[Privateer]

Thanks Mike....Memories are sometimes the best things that float around in our heads. I can close my eyes right now and see your Grandfather - Steve

Steve,
I can tell you those years were very fond memories for him. If I can figure out how to, I will share some of the old photos that I scanned. Granddaddy had saved a lot of photos, boathouse bulletins, etc.
Mike

[Privateer]

Steve,
I can tell you those years were very fond memories for him. If I can figure out how to, I will share some of the old photos that I scanned. Granddaddy had saved a lot of photos, boathouse bulletins, etc.
Mike

Steve,
Here is one from the Key that you may enjoy. My mother remembers these Mercury guys I believe all from Wisconsin. I cannot remember who they are, you will probably.
Mike

[FUJIMO]

Cool shot

[FUJIMO]

[seeroy]

Steve,
Here is one from the Key that you may enjoy. My mother remembers these Mercury guys I believe all from Wisconsin. I cannot remember who they are, you will probably.
Mike

Mike - These Mercury guys before my time. However, I would like to have those three Snook in the boat. While often known as one of the best fighting fish ever, they are also one of the best eating. During cold weather, Snook would lay quietly in the water that ran through the boathouse. - Steve