In 1920, James Eugene Merrill retired and turned the business of Merrill-Stevens Dry Dock & Repair over to his sons, James C. (Jimmy) Merrill, Sr. and Kenneth Merrill. Jimmy Merrill entered the business in 1908 at 19 years of age, working with his father and had to work his way up the hard way.
During the Great Depression, Jimmy Merrill had the task of keeping the business going. He fought the Depression and kept the company moving forward. He was described by an associate as short, reddish-haired, and full of energy.
In 1939 when James Eugene Merrill died, Jimmy Merrill became president of Merrill-Stevens. By 1941, Merrill-Stevens was the largest repair yard on the Atlantic Coast by acquisition of the adjacent property. They negotiated with the U.S. Maritime Commission to build a 6-way shipbuilding plant. That plant, the St. Johns River Shipbuilding Company, was operated under contract by Merrill-Stevens and headed by James C. (Jimmy) Merrill, Sr.
The family consisted of his wife, Ann Screven Merrill; daughter Ann Merrill Gillette; son James C. Merrill, Jr.; and son Arthur Merrill. With Jimmy as president, his brother Kenneth was vice president and secretary. His son, James C. Merrill, Jr. was vice president and general manager. Jimmy’s son-in-law, Gardner T. Gillette, was vice president and assistant treasurer. Son Arthur E. Merrill, residing in Miami, was active in the management of the affiliated companies there.
Merrill-Stevens Dry Dock & Repair Company was awarded the Navy’s Certificate of Achievement in recognition of “exceptional accomplishment,” with James C. (Jimmy) Merrill, Sr. as president. His firm had repaired or converted more than 1,000 ships for the government during the war.
On December 19, 1957, Ann Screven Merrill died unexpectedly of a heart attack. Just three weeks later, on January 11, 1958, at 68 years of age, James C. (Jimmy) Merrill, Sr., passed away.
James C. (Jimmy) Merrill, Sr. was a charter member and the first president of the Propeller Club, Port of Jacksonville. He was twice elected South Atlantic Regional Vice President of the Propeller Club of the United States. He was a member of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, of the Merchant Marine Conference Committee, the Navy League, the Third Army Advisory Committee and Lloyds American Committee. For many years he was a director of Shipbuilders Council of America. He served as a member of the Jacksonville City Council for 24 years. He was also director of the Barnett National Bank of Jacksonville for many years.
From the Quarter-Deck, published by and for the employees of Merrill-Stevens Dry Dock and Repair Company, January-February 1958: “At the annual meeting held January 27, the Stockholders and Board of Directors of Merrill-Stevens adopted the following resolution which aptly expresses the sentiments of all of us on the passing of our beloved President and Chairman of the Board of Directors, James Campbell Merrill.
“NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Stockholders and Board of Directors of Merrill-Stevens Dry Dock & Repair Co. shall and do hereby note in their records their tribute to the life and work of James Campbell Merrill and their appreciation of his noble character and the eminent services he has rendered this Company and his Country.”
The growth of Merrill-Stevens Dry Dock & Repair was possible because of the leadership of James C. Merrill, Sr. It was a minor repair yard and became one of the largest internationally recognized marine repair and conversion yards of the country.
At the passing of James C. Merrill, Sr. in 1958, James C. Merrill, Jr. became president, and his uncle Kenneth A. Merrill became chairman of the Board. In November of 1960, the Jacksonville property of Merrill-Stevens at 644 E. Bay Street was sold to W. R. Lovett, chairman of the Board of Directors of Commodores Point Terminal Corp. Final arrangements for the sale were completed by James C. Merrill, Jr. The property included 15 acres of land, not including water acres inside the pier heads. There was approximately 1,200 feet of water frontage involved in the property. It was mentioned by Lovett that the purchase price was not disclosed and that it was a cash sale. When sold in 1960, Merrill-Stevens had been family-owned for 75 years.
James C. Merrill, Jr., married Roxie Horne in 1942. They raised three children: Roxanna, Jimmy (James, III), and Eleanor. After Merrill-Stevens sold in Jacksonville, James and Roxie moved to Coral Gables, Florida, in 1975. James became Chief Executive Officer of Merrill-Stevens Dry Dock Company in Miami. They moved back to Jacksonville in 1995, and James passed away from lung disease. Roxie Merrill died in 2019 at 98 years of age.
For a tour of the Merrill House, please contact our office at 904.665.0064 or email [email protected]. Parking is directly behind the house.
Nancy Gandy | Merrill House Museum Coordinator