NATCHEZ — One of the men responsible for resurrecting Natchez Under-the-Hill has died.

André Calvert Farish, 77, founder of Under-the-Hill Saloon, died in his sleep Saturday morning.

After a stint in the military in the 1950s in which he was wounded in action in the Korean War, Farish moved to the Frogmore area, where he oversaw the Achilles Plantation.

He was at one time the owner of Quality Volkswagen and directed South Central Air Transport from Natchez.

In 1974, Farish and his partner Paul O’Malley purchased and refurbished the historic property at 21 Silver St. in Natchez Under-the-Hill, and in 1975 Under-the-Hill Saloon opened.

“André was really a kind of a pioneer as far as getting Under-the-Hill developed was concerned,” former Natchez Mayor Tony Byrne said.

“Natchez had for so long turned its back to the river and let Under-the-Hill deteriorate, and André turned us back around and brought it back.”

When Farish took over the property, it was what Byrne described as “a kind of pool hall and grocery combination.”

But Farish had a vision for the Under-the-Hill area, his son, André Farish Jr. said.

“The visions were of Bourbon Street and Beale Street,” Farish Jr. said. “His goal was making it a good tourist attraction in Natchez.”

But part of what of attracted Farish to the Under-the-Hill area was its proximity to the river.

“For him, it was all about location, location, location,” Farish Jr. said. “We are all water people.”

It was Farish’s initial interest in the area that led others to develop properties Under-the-Hill, and from there the city was able to market it as a tourist attraction, Byrne said.

“They were just great ambassadors for the city of Natchez on the river,” Byrne said. “He loved to have a good time but he loved to make a good impression for Natchez.”

But just as much as he liked it for its business opportunity, Farish enjoyed his time Under-the-Hill because of the chance it gave him to meet people.

“He loved the people,” Farish Jr. said.

That is how Natchez resident Gene Blanchard remembered him.

“He was a good friend of everybody he met,” Blanchard said.

Farish will be missed, Byrne said.

“André was just one of the Natchez characters,” Byrne said.