Animals return to Beauvoir after December removal

An attraction that was a source of contention between the executive director at Beauvoir and its board of directors has returned to the Jefferson Davis home.

Several animals, including goats, sheep and birds, are back on the home’s property.

“The animals have been coming back for a while,” outgoing executive director Greg Stewart said. “They were spread out all over the state, so it took us a while to get them back.”

Stewart said a Coast favorite is among those that have returned.

“Sir Camelot, our camel, is back on the property and he’s doing well,” he said. “People have been very excited to see him.”

The animals were removed from the property in December after the home’s board called for their removal.

Stewart, who came on as Beauvoir’s executive director in March 2014, said he brought the animals to the 52-acre property last year in hopes of increasing the museum’s revenue.

Goodbye animals

He opposed the removal of the animals, which he said are a “money-making attraction.”

“The board decided to bring the animals back because there has been a steady drop in the numbers since they left,” he said. “We’re down about 26 percent from last year, so it’s a good business decision to bring them back because they are a popular attraction, especially with the younger crowd.”

The animals, he said, were brought back under some board-approved conditions.

“There is some additional fencing,” he said, “and they don’t want the large animals in the cemetery.”

Vincent Creel, city spokesman, said Biloxi welcomes them back with open arms.

“We think it’s outstanding,” he said. “It enhances Beauvoir’s mission to educate the public.”

Stewart on way out

The return of the animals is not the the only change at Beauvoir.

The home will soon have a new executive director.

“I resigned six months ago,” Stewart said. “I told the board I would stay on until they found a good person and I think they have found that person.”

Stewart said he could not comment on who will fill his shoes until final contracts have been signed.

He said he plans to stay on in an advisory capacity.

“I’m going to stick around on a volunteer-type basis because there’s a lot of things that need to be completed such as indexing the brick program, things like that.”

This story was originally published June 28, 2016 at 10:35 AM with the headline "Animals return to Beauvoir after December removal."