Submitted by Gerry Clare
Roving Reporter
Who is Dee Dee Bartels? Yes, that is the name of the county park and boat ramp at the very north end of 14th Street. I am sure many locals have know Dee for years, but when I went to talk to her this week, I had no idea the nature of her involvement with this community. Nor could I have imagined the background of this independent and free-spirited lady.
Dee and her husband moved to Fernandina with their two boys in 1954 from Key West for his job and subsequently to Germany and California, before returning to Fernandina Beach.
Dee’s lifelong interest in sailing and the sea led to her involvement in the shrimping industry. She purchased her shrimpboats, Sunrise, Lady Wesa (Sea Mimi) and finally her last two boats that were in the Singleton fleet out of Key West. Meantime she became the impetus behind the Shrimpboat Races, the street celebration with local crafts and food tables set up for the event and the historical pageant at Fort Clinch.
Local residents may remember that she was also President of the local Historical Society and started the Restoration Commission. She fought to preserve Old Town, when there was a movement to bring a bridge from St. Mary’s right through the Spanish plaza. She also fought the railroad’s attempt to tear down the current depot at Centre Street, which is now being remodeled.
This community activist also was an avid researcher, bid for and got a contract with National Fisheries on excluder nets and the feasibility of deep sea shrimping. When she lived in Key West, she had her own radio show, interviewing interesting people and doing current events, so this interest in community life started early. She was also involved in a Smithsonian Research Project to raise crabs in Carriacau Island off Grenada and she actually moved there for eleven years in 1980. She started her own company, West Indian Sea Farms Limited for raising the crabs and sea moss.
Although she truly loved Carriacau and the island life, she returned to our island to be near her sons and family, although getting older was not a concern to her as much as her family. In fact, she had contributed to improving the little hospital there before she left. Now, she is settled back in Fernandina, enjoying some painting and writing poetry. She has written over a thousand poems over the years and is in the process of organizing them for possible publication.
Oh, and the boat ramp. I think you can see that this lady deserves to be a part of our history with her name on this park and boat ramp. The property was sold to the county by her son, Bill, to honor his mom.
Editor’s Note: Gerry began free lance writing for fun and is the author of a published book (available on Amazon and at Books Plus) about funny real estate experiences. Gerry is a longtime member of our local American Business Women’s Chapter, a volunteer cancer driver and church deacon who loves to read, travel and meet interesting people.
January 28, 2014 6:33 a.m.
what an enjoyable article by Gerry Clare about Dee Dee Bartels…her paintings are intriguing, I’d like to see more. We have fascinating folk on Amelia Island, bring ’em on, Gerry.
I had the pleasure of getting to know DeDe shortly after I moved to Fernandina Beach in 2004. I heard she had informal painting classes and I signed up to refresh long dormant painting skills. There were usually 3 or 4 others at the table doing the same thing under DeDe’s watchful eyes. While we painted she regaled us with stories of the many adventures and projects she took on during her many years here on the Island as well as on her beloved Caribbean island of Carriacau. Thank for highlighting a neighbor that has done so much for this community.