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.

Laura Elms died at age 21 of tuberculosis in September 1891. Hers was the second grave in the cemetery, after Nathaniel Parsons. At the age of 17, Jimmy Elms opened a fish and bait shop in Avalon, partnering with an Italian and a Turkish fishermen.

Operating from the store, Harry 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.

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.