The Lover's Lane Historic District

The Lover's Lane Historic District. . , The Lover's Lane Historic District occupies the western shore of a small peninsula separating the back bay of Biloxi from the mouth of the Old Fort Bayou. Turn-of-the-century, grand summer estates reflect the development and, popularity of Ocean Springs as a resort community. , As the name Fort Bayou suggests, many historians believe the peninsula was the site of Fort Maurepas, the original French settlement in the colony of Louisiana founded by Pierre LeMoyne d'Iberville on April 8, 1699. Lover's Lane, a very narrow roadway flanked by thick foliage, bisects the peninsula, establishing the eastern boundary of the district. Evidence of a seventeenth-century European settlement and the presence of a silt-entombed ship from the same era indicate the archeological potential of the area. , Dwellings within the Lover's Lane Historic District exhibit examples of Greek Revival, Queen Anne, and Spanish Colonial revival, and date from the 1870s through the 1920s. There are several exceptional homes designed and built by Carroll Ishee (1921-1982), a Mississippi builder recognized as an artist whose medium was brick, lumber, glass and concrete crafted into beautiful and unique buildings set thoughtfully in dense, natural landscapes. His houses draw from concepts found in designs of Frank Lloyd Wright and mid-century modern design. Despite the originality of his designs, Ishee had no formal education as a designer or builder, making his work all the more impressive. The Lover's. Lane Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987. , Information from Ocean Springs Historic District Design Guidelines , Local historic districts were designated by the City in 1990. Each of the eight recognized districts captures a unique and important historic contribution to the rich history of the community. , This informational sign is part of a community project led by the Historic Ocean Springs Association, and is made possible by a grant from the Mississippi Gulf Coast National Heritage Area. , We thank the City of Ocean Springs for their support of this project.