From a history of homes in the Biloxi area, this one named "Loveland". The Pattison dealership may have been wrecked by Camille, but I don't believe it put them out of business according to this account.
"After the death of Mrs. Brown on March 30, 1921, Katherine Bird, possibly her daughter, became the legal owner when Theodore Bechtel (1863-1931), the executor of Mrs. Sheldon's estate deeded it to her. Katherine Bird was also a resident of Adrian in Lenawee County, southwest of Detroit, Michigan. She sold the Sheldon home to Cara Jeanette Pattison (1864-1956) for $2500 in May 1925.(JXCO, Ms. Land Deed Book. 51, pp. 17-18 and Bk. 55, p. 223)
Miss Pattison resided in the home with her spinster sisters, Elizabeth Kemp Pattison (1864-1943) and Annie Pattison (1870-1957), and bachelor brother, Charles Ernest Pattison (1867-1940), known as “Bulldog” Pattison for his facial resemblance to this canine.
The Pattisons were natives of Brooklyn, New York. Their parents were William James Pattison (1827-1897) and Caroline Loveland (1842-1901), also New Yorkers. They settled at New Orleans where Charles E. Pattison was in the importing business with his brother, Alfred Taylor Pattison (1862-1930). At Ocean Springs, C.E. Pattison was in the real estate and insurance business. He was a judge in the Justice of the Peace Court from 1936 until his demise.
After the death of Miss Annie Pattison on September 20, 1957, her nephew, George Pandely Pattison (1906-1978), inherited her Cleveland Avenue home. The Pattison sisters had continuously occupied their home at 527 Cleveland for thirty-two years. They were good Presbyterians. All family members were interred at the Live Oak Cemetery in Pass Christian, Mississippi.(Jackson County, Ms. Chancery Court Cause No. 14055, Estate of Annie Pattison, August 1958).
George P. Pattison
George Pandely Pattison was an automobile dealer at New Orleans. He moved to the Mississippi Gulf Coast in 1970, from New Orleans. In 1958 George p. Pattison purchased the Pontiac Dealership in Biloxi, and his son Theodore W. 'Ted' Pattison (1926-2009) managed it until 1966 when he purchased it in 1982. The Cleveland Avenue home was soon referred to as The Big House by the Pattison family. The Big House was enjoyed by the children, grandchildren, and their families for the ensuing 35 years. The intention was for the home to be kept, if at all possible, in ownership by the Pattison family members, but due to financial setbacks, John C. Buck Jr. the son of Patricia Loveland Pattison Buck sold it to Jerry Pelham in October 1994. It should also be noted that upon inheriting the home, George P. Pattison enlarged the kitchen and the dining areas and installed the swimming pool. The house was supremely built and has withstood many hurricanes with only minor damage over it's entire existence.
Ted Pattison and others
In July 1973, George P. Pattison sold the old Pattison home of his aunts to his sons, William T. Pattison and Theodore W. 'Ted' Pattison.(JXCO, Ms. Land Deed Bk. 468, p. 301)
Theodore W. Pattison conveyed the house to John C. Buck Jr. of Chevy Chase, Maryland in June 1990.(JXCO, Ms. Land Deed Bk. 960, p. 630)
J.C. Buck Jr., the son of Patricia Loveland Pattison Buck, was the nephew of Ted Pattison and never lived in the home. His mother married John C. Buck and Albert Sidney Johnston III and had a large family. She once lived across the street in the John E. Godsey Cottage at 502 Martin Avenue. Mr. Buck sold to Jerry L. Pelham in October 1994.(JXCO, Ms. Land Deed Bk. 1050, p. 284)
Jerry L. Pelham
Jerry L. Pelham, a native of Graceville, Florida, and his spouse, Margaret I. “Peggy” Pelham, a West Virginia born lady, who like many people become enamored with the congenial atmosphere of Ocean Springs, decided to relocate here from the Florida panhandle. In October 1994, they acquired the historic Sheldon-Pattison home, located on the northwest corner of Cleveland and Martin. Contemporaneously, Mr. Pelham changed businesses. He sold his Florida- based, property and casualty, insurance agency, and purchased several hamburger restaurants in the region.
The Pelhams came to Ocean Springs from Fort Walton Beach, Florida. During their occupancy of the home, they have: in 1995, built a three-car garage and erected a wood fence on the west side of the property; painted the interior and exterior of their home; and also built a “cat-house” for their feline pets. Jerry Pelham is the proprietor of several Crystal Hamburger restaurants in the region. His wife, Peggy, is an artist who has painted several murals in her home.
Pelham Building
In February 1996, the Pelhams acquired from the Ocean Springs Lumber Company the old Phil J. Weider (1887-1985) property on the northwest corner of Government at Cash Alley and contracted with Anchor Realty and Daniel Jalanivich to erect a new structure here. Demolition of the derelict Wieder-Engbarth garage building commenced in September 1996. New construction to replicate the timeworn and termite-tasted, former Wieder treasure began in December 1996.(JXCO, Ms. Land Deed Bk. 1080, p. 560)
In May 1997, Jerry Pelham moved his Krystal hamburger operations into the second story of the 3600 square-foot, structure. Lady Di's, a floral gallery, which opened in June 1997, is situated in the east half of the edifice. In the fall of 1997, Peggy Pelham opened her art gallery in the west-half of the building. Mrs. Pelham hangs her own canvas creations as well as those of other Southern artists. She also markets eclectic stoneware, sculpture, and stain-glass of gift quality. When the Pelhams left Ocean Springs for Alabama in 2001, a decision was made to sell this structure. It was sold to the proprietors of their tenant, Lady Di’s, in ?
Today
The Sheldon-Pattison-Pelham House has been vacant for over one year. It was placed on the market in June 2001 by Coldwell-Banker’s Alfonso Realty for $470,000. The price was reduced to $395,000 in January 2002. Again in May 2002, with M&M Bank as marketer, the asking bid was lowered. In September 2002, this fine home is currently listed with Harrington Realty Company. Bought by Sherry Cole, formerly of NOLA."
According to this account, George P. Pattison already owned the New Orleans dealership and then purchased the Biloxi dealership in 1958.
It is unclear when his son, took over as manager, the article says Ted managed it until 1966. But then says he bought the dealership in 1982. That leaves a bit of an odd gap, considered George died in 1978. Or maybe it meant to say he managed it FROM 1966 until he purchased it in 1982?
Incorporation records show that the dealership was incorporated in 1957. There were amendments filed in 1968 and again in 1982.
I suspect the dealership was actually purchased by George in 1957 rather than 1958.
Perhaps the 1968 amendment was estate planning to begin turning the business over to Ted.
George moved from New Orleans to the Mississippi Gulf Coast as indicated by the article in 1970. I speculate that he did so possibly to help with the recovery of the Biloxi dealership after Camille and/or because he was considering retirement (he was about 64 at the time).
Only speculation, but I believe if the PHS shows the '71 TA was sold to the Biloxi dealership, I doubt it passed thru the New Orleans location. Indications are that Pattison Pontiac continued in business in Biloxi after Camille.
The obituary for Ted's brother, Albert who died in 2004 mentions that his family had owned the New Orleans Pontiac dealership, claiming it was the largest Pontiac dealer in the world at one time. It mentions the New Orleans Mazda dealership (that George acquired around 1971), saying Albert was the first Mazda dealer in Louisiana. It goes on to say "he and his family" also owned another Pontiac-Cadillac dealership in Kentucky, and the Biloxi Pontiac dealership.
There was another brother, Bill, whose obit in 1986 described him as the former owner of the Hopkinsville, KY Pontiac-Cadillac dealership.
Ted Pattison died in 2009, still in Ocean Springs.
This email address may be for his grandson (I suspect too young to be a son), a tennis pro, formerly of Ocean Springs.
tedpattison@usptapro.com
Might be worth an email to see what you can find out about the dealership. Who knows, maybe he has some memorabilia ready to sell.