Story of Hap
‘HAPPY HOOKER’ founder of Happy Harbor Bar Local lore along this part of the Gulf Coast tells the tale of many a scallywag who plundered its shores, striking terror into the hearts of seafarer and landlubber alike. Happy Hooker was a famous Pirate in the late 1700’s around these parts. His given name was Nicola Specchio (a descendant of another famous Italian sailor, Christifino Columbo aka “Christopher Columbus”). “Happ” as he was called by his crew and his loyal companion parrot “Shark Bait” most loved this particular area. Happ wasn’t your typical Pirate, as he was always “Happy” and rarely caused any physical harm to his captured ships. He NEVER would take more than half their treasures. Several times, he rescued ships stuck on reefs and took SMALL amounts of their gold in return. One day, when Happ was helping save a youngster from a captured ship, he was attacked by a shark and lost his arm. Another time, while on a “good deed”, he was mauled by an Alabama alligator, who bit off part of his leg, yet he still kept that smile behind his wooly beard! Catching sharks was a favorite pastime for the Happy Hooker, but “Shark Bait” dreaded every second; Happ would hang the hapless bird by a line over the water and would try to gaff the sharks with his hook hand as they snapped at the poor bird. Once while fishing, Happ failed to see a hungry shark until after it got a drumstick snack from Shark Bait. Happ would usually bury his stolen treasures here in the area of Sun Harbor (which people are still finding to this day) and so loved the white sands, the clear waters and the local Indians, he and Shark Bait decided to retire here. Being so kind, he would serve up a special “beef dish” (recipe of Mama’s from the old country) for the Indians. Happ would generously give the Indians “Italian Beef” in exchange for several hundred shiny beads!!! Well, you know the rest of the story - this is the place! Other than a few interruptions from hurricanes, “Happy Harbor” has existed for a couple of centuries and still to this day is operated by Happ’s descendents! |