ELMS, Harry M. A.

ELMS, Harry M. A. (1866-1962) was born in England, but moved to California as a child with his parents, Henry and Jane Elms, and siblings, James and Laura. Henry Elms was a doctor who had owned a drugstore on the mainland. The Elms family moved to Avalon, Santa Catalina Island in 1888 to open the first souvenir shop — Avalon Shell Store — located in a tent along the beach. Island Indian relics the family found were also sold.

Operating from the store, Harry Elms became Avalon’s first postmaster on July 27, 1889. Catalina’s mail distribution had its beginnings from a 10 x 12 foot tent on Metropole Avenue in 1887. Elms volunteered his service to accommodate the growing community. After 1892 his pay was based on the number of stamp cancellations. The first post office building was located on Crescent Avenue in the steamer terminal building in 1896.

At the age of 17, Harry's brother, Jimmy Elms, opened a fish and bait shop in Avalon, partnering with an Italian and a Turkish fishermen.

Harry's sister, Laura Elms, died at age 21 of tuberculosis in September 1891. Hers was the second grave in the cemetery, after Nathaniel Parsons. Of her death, Catherine MacLean Loud wrote in her manuscript:

On the last day of September the entire town was in the morning for the death of one of their loved maidens, Laura Elms, age 21, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Elms, only sister of Harry and James Elms. Laura, a charming girl, talented in drawing, and enjoyed Catalina outings and sails to the surrounding islands in a boat, sketching as she went. She was often accompanied by her favorite escort, Harry Polley and Harry’s dog, “Chris”, a little fox terrier which was named for Christopher Columbus, “who like to sail, too!” Together, Harry, Laura and “Chris” rode the shorelines, fish, barbecued on the shore, exhilarated with life, youth and the bright future. Then she was stricken, and Harry failed to visit her. Mainly she waited. Others visited her, telling of the news of each day on the bay, the town and the Valley. Laura was saddened by this neglect. Folks only hoped, prayed, watched and waited, as did Laura while she faded away. She had contracted tuberculosis from caring for a girlfriend who had the disease and in turn, Laura’s mother, Mrs. Elms, contracted the same dread disease. The night Laura died attentive, John D. MacLean, who loved her, too, sat by her bedside all night for 2 PM, his future loomed as dark as the vigil he kept. During the next morning John MacLean put pine boards together while others brought broad banana leaves from Peter Gano’s trees to cover the hoops protecting the casket. Flowers were gathered from hillsides and garden plot. The church bells rang announcing the funeral services. Mrs. Etta Whitney played Laura’s favorite hymns on the little organ to commence the services, the second funeral in Avalon’s history. The pastor, Rev. George Morris, conducted the simple service which was attended by all the townsfolk in the loving tribute of remembrance, as the church bell rang, Laura’s body was carried to the cemetery and laid next to the only other grave (Nathaniel Parson’s) also facing North. This bright North Star, in all her coast wise and other island excursions, had never failed as a pivot to bring her safely home. Two known pallbearers were Sandy Macdonell and John D. MacLean.

During his years on the island, Harry Elms became a well-known boatman, taking customers out in his launch Mildred. At one point, Elms and a patron hooked an enormous 600-pound tuna. The fish was lost only after an intense fourteen-hour battle.

Harry Elms died on January 27, 1962 in Los Angeles County at the age of 95.

In the News~

September 12, 1896 [LAH]: “Capt. W. H. Burnham has sailed away to San Nicolas Island, having as guests on board his beautiful yacht San Diego Messrs. Thomas Nelms and P. G. Wooster of Pasadena. Mr. Harry Elms, the expert curio collector, will guide them over the island. They spent last night at Johnson's Landing, located at the west end of this [Santa Catalina] island. They will return Sunday or Monday next.”