Mr. Ortte, his proud Yacht Ettro, and the '47 Hurricane in Bay St. Louis, Ms
The Ettro was washed ashore during the '47 Hurricane. Did he manage to get her back in the water, and what became of her? The photograph likely originated from a local amateur photographer, or a storm aftermath documentarian.
“Ettro” — the name of Ed Ortte’s yacht (notably “Ortte” spelled backwards) — was built in Gulfport in 1946, and was a relatively new vessel at the time of the ’47 Hurricane.
Ed Ortte was the owner of the Ortte Theatre in Bay St. Louis and the surrounding Gulf Coast area during the mid-20th century. He owned and operated multiple movie theatres, including in Bay St. Louis and Waveland. In the mid-1940s, Ed Ortte purchased a historic building on South Beach Boulevard at Washington Street in Bay St. Louis and opened the Ortte Theatre there. This theatre was part of the town’s downtown business district that existed prior to the 1947 Hurricane. The Ortte family also opened the Hi-Way Drive-In Theatre on Highway 90 in Bay St. Louis around 1950.
Ed Ortte was the owner of the Ortte Theatre in Bay St. Louis and the surrounding Gulf Coast area during the mid-20th century. He owned and operated multiple movie theatres, including in Bay St. Louis and Waveland. In the mid-1940s, Ed Ortte purchased a historic building on South Beach Boulevard at Washington Street in Bay St. Louis and opened the Ortte Theatre there. This theatre was part of the town’s downtown business district that existed prior to the 1947 Hurricane. The Ortte family also opened the Hi-Way Drive-In Theatre on Highway 90 in Bay St. Louis around 1950.
The Yacht and the 1947 Hurricane
During the Hurricane of 1947 (September 19, 1947) this yacht was washed ashore/beached by the storm surge and wind-driven waves along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The Ettro was eventually returned to the water and taken back to Bayou Cadet, where she 'served' in the post-storm cleanup of the coastal waterways.
During the Hurricane of 1947 (September 19, 1947) this yacht was washed ashore/beached by the storm surge and wind-driven waves along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The Ettro was eventually returned to the water and taken back to Bayou Cadet, where she 'served' in the post-storm cleanup of the coastal waterways.
The Photographer and Source of Images
The most substantial curated photographic collections from that storm — including those at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Museum of Historical Photography and local historical societies — emphasize that the storm’s visual record is drawn from multiple private collections and regional photographers.
The most substantial curated photographic collections from that storm — including those at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Museum of Historical Photography and local historical societies — emphasize that the storm’s visual record is drawn from multiple private collections and regional photographers.
What became of the Proud Ettro?
She was reportedly used post-storm 'in service', but her eventual disposition is not documented.
She was reportedly used post-storm 'in service', but her eventual disposition is not documented.
