Thank you to Robert Bowman for contributing this great old image of his mom "Fish Mary" Bowman on the South Beach Pier. Robert says that his mom sold live pilchards for bait and fished off the old pier on South Beach for many years.
Fish Mary passed away on September 23, 2008 in Broward County, Florida. A memorial website for her is located at http://fishmary.legacy.com/lmw/Homepage.aspx . Our condolences to Robert and the rest of her family on her passing.
Hi Robert, my family-the Meagher's lived next door to your family. I am Bill the oldest. I remember when you got a stuffed horse on wheels that you sat in the back-like a sulky. I remember eating sugar cane for the first time. Thanks for posting the picture of your mom-it brought back memories.
Yes Pam we did live on South beach. I was born at 220 meridian ave. We moved around the South beach area until I moved away after graduation. I do have fond memories of Dillards restaurant as well. If you have any old pictures i'm sure Don would love to post them. I have 2 older sisters I'm 53 now Susan is 57 and Robin is 61.Metro cop Robin is on Facebook if you want to find her. Robin Drotar is her married name.
Pam Dillard Garris
22-Oct-2009 15:26
Dear Robert,
I am sure I knew your Mom. Did you live in a house on South Beach? Maybe around 3rd street? Do you have a sister? I recall playing at your house one summer and using the Palm pods to make huge ashtrays with paint and glitter. But I remember doing this with another little girl. My folks owned Dillards Retsaurant on 5th and Meridian and I went to South Beach Elementary.I am 63.
Thanks for posting the picture of my mom so quickly.This picture is looking northwest from the northeast corner of the pier. The large hoop net she is holding was the capture net. It was lowered into the water ,Then bread and Oatmeal mixed with sand was sprinkled on top of the water.When the pilchards swarmed to feed she would then pull the net. The small net in the foreground was used to retrieve bait from the storage net that stayed in the water .The live bait was then transferred to the stainless tank to be used by the "paying" customers.