Axelson Shipyard East Bay Navarre Florida Willow Log 04 Apr 17

Frederick A. and Margaret Hunter Axelson operated a shipyard just outside of Pensacola on East Bay in the late 1800s, they picked a spot across from the Miller Sawmill to have close access to the yellow pine, longleaf and live oak of the area. The shipyard built lumber schooners and lighters to move goods from the local mills to world markets. We took a trip in Willow to see the cove where their homestead used to be. It would be interesting to explore the area for artifacts from the shipyard and look for ballast stones. The home had cypress trees and scuppernong grapes, tended by Margaret.