But they were entrepreneurs in the truest sense because their families basically lived off what they made. They had no government income, no health insurance they had nothing. It does seem to be more modern, but these people were entrepreneurs. People talk about entrepreneurs almost like it’s a modern term. “The first section I dealt with three things that seemed prominently important: faith, education and work,” Davis said. The first part is about the earlier times in south Bon Secour, some basic facts about the area and Bon Secour’s earliest residents. “We don’t know what they called it it’s my imaginary title for it.” “It’s what I imagine the Native Americans might have called the Bon Secour River as they were sitting under star-studded skies along the river, one of the many names they may have called it,” Davis explained. “Land of the Beautiful River,” is a fictitious name. She was the teacher at Bon Secour School when it closed in 1939. The interviews are with people ranging from ages 80 to 104, with Ida Callaway (now 105) being the oldest. So I took it upon myself to conduct about 18 interviews, all of which are in the book as ‘Recollections.’”ĭavis’ goal is to not only help people understand the historical name of the place and possibly reclaim it, but also to save some of the history of these families. There’s been nothing written about this area so what happens when these people pass? We lose the history. 2, I also realized the third and fourth generation of the founders that were here in the 1800s are passing. I want to clarify historically what it is. Some people born here continue to call it Bon Secour south. 1, the place is losing its identity it has a Gulf Shores address,” he said. “What I found out has surprised me and I think it’s surprised a lot of people who’ve read the book.”ĭavis explains two things that are concerning about Bon Secour. “What I found out, found its way in to this book,” Davis said. In 2014, Davis began investigating and researching, reading documents about the area and committed to writing a book about Bon Secour.
I understand how this could happen but the names do not represent the long-term history of the area.” This side of the river is every bit as much of Bon Secour as the north, people just began renaming the place Oyster Bay and the island names such as Hog Island or Plash Island. When people talk about Bon Secour, they don’t think about this side (south) of the river they generally think of the north side. “Then seeing the changes that have taken place over time in Bon Secour, the loss of history. “I think it is my affection for the place,” said Davis.
So what about Bon Secour made Davis write a book about the area?
“I’d never seen anything like it.”Īlmost 50 years later, Davis calls Bon Secour his second home, has authored a book about the area and has dedicated himself to preserving the history of the families in Bon Secour and recapturing the historical name. “It was the first time I’d seen that beautiful place,” Davis said. He traveled through the little town of Foley, down Highway 59 and made a right turn on County Road 6. Cos Davis drove his ’66 Karmann Ghia across the Gulf Coast from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary - an area he’d never seen before. By Allison Woodham / was the summer of 1967.
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