A family business no more

In what has sadly become a sign of the times, the business section of the Orlando Sentinel today proclaimed the end of an 80+ year run for the Meloon family of Pine Castle, Florida.

The Meloons came to this little corner of heaven from Ossippee, New Hampshire, way back in 1924.

Walt, Sr., his wife Marion, and thier three sons Walt, Jr., Ralph, and Harold, established and operated a boat business right on Orange Avenue--just a few miles south of downtown Orlando--that has been a local landmark for generations. (Disclaimer: Walt, Jr., married my grandmother's cousin Bobbie Burns.)

Originally, the Meloons called thier family business the "Florida Variety Boat Company." In 1930, it became "The Pine Castle Boat and Construction Company." And, in 1936, it finally became "Correct Craft."

The family saw the business thru the Great Depression by various means, including the establishment of the now-well-known scenic boat tours thru the Winter Park chain of lakes back in 1938.

They also helped win the war in Europe by a "miracle production" of a WWII contract.

Of course, most of ye socks probably know their Nautique line better than all this history.

Yesterday, the historic run by the nation's oldest family-run boatmaker came to an end when Correct Craft announced they had formally changed hands. The new owner is Tennessee-based MasterCraft.