Fairhope Now | 07.22.2026 | Fairhope WWII Vet Takes Flight Again

Wednesday, July 22, 2026

Happy Wednesday, Fairhope!

We've got a good one for you today. A 101-year-old Fairhope WWII veteran named Bob Hasewinkle took flight at the Pensacola Air Show — and yes, we mean that literally. Meanwhile, the city has secured land for a new water tower south of town, and the Eastern Shore Trail is stretching its legs all the way to Weeks Bay next month.

Your Wednesday Funny: Why did the little airplane get sent to his hangar? He had a bad altitude.

Dive in below for the full stories.

— Joy Davis, Anne Dorman, & John Oldshue

Bob Hasewinkle, a 101-year-old World War II veteran and Fairhope resident, flew in a vintage Boeing Stearman biplane during the Pensacola Veterans Flight on July 18. A former Army infantryman who fought at Okinawa and believes he was rescued by Medal of Honor recipient Desmond Doss, Hasewinkle said the scenic flight over Pensacola Beach was "just a fun thing" — his first time in such a plane in over 60 years. The Fairhope Yacht Club helped arrange his hotel stay for the trip.

The Daniel Realty Corporation has deeded 1 acre to the city for a new water tank tower, well, and treatment plant to serve the Point Clear Golf Club development—a 310-home project west of S. Greeno Road about 4 miles south of Fairhope. The estimated $10 million project already has a $2 million federal grant, and the city is exploring cost-saving designs. In exchange, the city will provide water, sewer, and natural gas service to the development.

The Eastern Shore Trail is getting a 1.8-mile extension along US 98 to Pleasant View Lane in the Weeks Bay area, with completion expected next month. The trail will eventually stretch all the way to Foley.

Many Fairhope residents know 311 De La Mare Avenue as the home of The Copper Column, but the property's history stretches back nearly a century. The building was constructed in 1926 as an addition to the commercial structures facing Fairhope Avenue. According to a March 6, 1926 edition of the Fairhope Courier, Lowell Brothers built the addition to house a dry-cleaning and pressing department for their men's clothing store. At the time, the building extended through the entire block from Fairhope Avenue to De La Mare Avenue. Historic records indicate that portions of the structure represent one of the oldest surviving frame commercial buildings in downtown Fairhope.

The property's modern story began in the 1990s when local entrepreneur Joy Word purchased the site from the Ingram family. At the time, her business, Joy's Patio, occupied storefront space on Fairhope Avenue, while the De La Mare side of the property was primarily a parking lot. Before moving to Fairhope, Word operated a successful garden store in Gulf Shores. As an addition to that business, her husband, Bob, built a greenhouse that would later play an important role in the property's transformation. After purchasing the Fairhope location, the greenhouse was dismantled, moved from Gulf Shores, and reassembled on the De La Mare lot, becoming the first structure added to the space. What began as a greenhouse gradually evolved into a retail building, marking the beginning of the site's conversion from parking lot to thriving commercial destination. In Fairhope, Word expanded her business beyond plants to include antiques and imported rugs, creating the distinctive blend that made Joy's Patio a favorite shopping destination for locals and visitors alike. Following Word's retirement in 2011, the space briefly housed Boxwood Home & Garden, continuing the property's tradition of home décor and specialty retail.

In 2014, the building entered its current chapter when Joy's daughter, Suzanne Davis, opened The Copper Column. Today, the eclectic shop is filled with antiques, home décor, clothing, jewelry, garden pieces, and original artwork displayed throughout its indoor and outdoor spaces. The store's artistic identity is closely tied to Davis herself, whose paintings are sold exclusively at The Copper Column. Known for her distinctive figurative folk-art style, Davis is especially recognized for her contour-drawn female figures, works that have become familiar to many Fairhope residents and visitors. She is frequently commissioned to paint specific women in her signature style, creating highly personal pieces that celebrate individuality and connection. From its beginnings as a greenhouse relocated from Gulf Shores to its current role as a gallery, boutique, and gathering place, 311 De La Mare Avenue reflects the creativity, entrepreneurship, and family legacy that continue to shape downtown Fairhope.

Source: Editor

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