The History of the Hemingway
On the National Register of Historic Places, The Hemingway is architecturally significant as an introduction of Neo-classical formality into early 20th-century business districts and is the only large-scale, early twentieth century commercial building to retain most of its original appearance in Ocean Springs. In the 1915 edition of Ocean Springs: The Land Where Dreams Come True, Thomas Ewing Dabney describes the building as occupying "the most commanding part of town" and as the "first sight that greets the stranger's eye." We hope you may first visit as a stranger, but stay often with us as a friend.
1877 - Thomas Cochran, a native of Alabama, who made his livelihood as a house carpenter purchased 1.25 acres (150 feet on Washington Avenue) on the southwest corner of present-day Robinson and Washington Avenue for $140. A two-story building, which became known as the Franco Saloon was erected by Cochran.
1897- George E. Arndt bought the saloon lot for $1,250.
1896 - Mr. Arndt moved the Paragon Salon to the corner of Washington Ave and Robinson. A visitor to Ocean Springs in 1890s described the Paragon Saloon as “one of the best conducted enterprises on the entire Gulf Coast. Only the finest brands of liquors, cordials, etc. are served. Consequently, he enjoys the patronage of the better class.”
1913 – The current building was constructed by Farmers & Merchants Bank, which was the second bank established in Ocean Springs.
1918 – A pharmacy opened in the south half of the building and operated there until 1930.
1930 – City Hall decided to settle inside the historic bank building.
1933 – The banking firm Farmers & Merchants did not survive the Depression of the 1930s. The state of Mississippi acquired the building for nonpayment of taxes.
1940 – O.G. Swetman purchased the building from Jackson Country Chancery Court for $2,500
1946 – Acme Photo Service, a photo finishing business, occupied the building until 1954
1953 – B & B Floor Covering occupied the north half of the building until early 1960s.
1965 – The building was sold to Ralph and Lois Raum for $18,000 who lovingly kept it from falling apart, rewiring and adding plumbing to create the giftshop Salmagundi. The Raum family even lived upstairs in 1969 after Hurricane Camille did extensive damage to their home.
1971- The building was bought by local architect William Allen who refurbished the aging structure and moved the stairway from the middle of the building to the rear. He used the space as an art salon, Knoll store, as well as renting to other tenants.
1985 – Hurricane Elena, probably the worst storm to strike Ocean Springs in the 21st-century, blew out many windows and created much water damage, but the core of the building remained strong.
1988 –The building was bought by Bill and Wynn Seeman, who refurbished the building for a host of various tenants including a children’s clothing store, an array of talented interior designers, and even a yacht designer.
2020 – We decided this building needed to be restored to its former grandeur and take its place again as a downtown cornerstone business. Renovation began in 2020, and with exacting detail, the space was transformed while taking pride to allow the Neo-classical exterior to shine.
2021 – The Hemingway opens as a newly imagined boutique hotel.
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