HERE’S THE DeFUNIAK NEWS OF INTEREST TO OLD TIMERS
(Thirty-four years ago–from the Breeze of October 24, [1901].)
“The Photo Gallery will be opened this month by T. Hope Cawthon.”
A Nashville, Tenn., cleaning and dyeing concern advertised its services in the Breeze.
“Jim Wilson has put his bathroom in order, and now there is no reason why you should not be clean.”
“Cards are out announcing the marriage of M. T. King of this place to Miss Allie, daughter of Mrs. and Mrs. J. T. Richbourgh of Laurel Hill. May all joy attend them.”
L. P. Campbell, who refused to pay his dog tax as a means of testing the legality of the recent incorporation of the town, was fined $5.00 and costs, and his appeal bond of $25 was signed by Dan and M. T. King.
“Wm. W. Flournoy has moved back to DeFuniak to practice his profession. Walton is a Walton county boy, of whom we are all justly proud, and we all hope that his success will be such that he will never think of leaving.”
(Thirty years ago–from the Breeze of October 19, 1905.)
“A. R. Campbell is in charge of the convict gang, working on the Argyle road.”
Dorcas correspondence: “It was moved, seconded and carried by a rising vote, that Uncle John Hulion have his hair cut.”
Co. K. left for the state encampment at Lake City, chaperoned by Capt. W. W. Flournoy, 1st Lieut. J. Moss Flournoy, 2nd Lieut. D. Stuart Gillis, and Sergeants T. Hope Cawthon, H. Cawthon, H. M. Davis, Gordon Henry and A. R. Oliver.
DeFuniak Springs must have been both a wet and a dry town, thirty years ago: Fourteen criminal cases were tried by the circuit court–ten of them liquor cases, and in several of which convictions were obtained, the fines averaging about $500 each–one man receiving a fine of $500, and eight months in the county jail.
(Twenty-five years ago–from the Breeze of October 20, 1910.)
“Is the DeFuniak, Gulf & Northern railroad dead? Not by a long shot!”
“Born to Mr. and Mrs. Buddie Cawthon, Saturday, a fine ten-pound girl.”
A series of five games between Palmer and high school teams were scheduled: this was baseball, not football.
“Bob Adams is back from Jacksonville, where he purchased an automobile of the same kind that Harley Cawthon has. We bet the girls all get to ride now.”
(Twenty years ago–from the Breeze of October 21, 1915.)
“W. T. May is the latest to adopt automobile delivery. It is getting to be very fashionable now.”
Wm. Rogers, a native of Wales, and one of DeFuniak’s better known citizens, died at his home in the West End.
A modern Woodman lodge was organized. Among the officers were Frank Wilson, W. Gordon Smith, Miles Warren, J. H. Senterfitt, Harold McCaskill, B. P. Morris, D. R. Ray and M. T. Fountain.
“Not criticising Ben Morris’ writing, but read this: Last week a negro asked Postmaster Ben to address an envelope for him. Studying the address at some length when the letter was handed back to him he said, ‘Do youall reckon dis will get dere all right, Boss?'”
(Fifteen years ago–from the Breeze of October 21, 1920.)
The rotary drill arrived for putting down an oil test well.
Granulated sugar was advertised “Special bargain, 6 lbs. for one dollar.”
Uncle Gen. Standen, his daughter, Mrs. Abbie V. Coon and Earl Work have arrived from Elyria, Ohio, making the entire trip by auto in eight days.
(Ten years ago–from the Breeze of October 22, 1925.)
The Graves Baptist Association was holding a three day session here.
“On orders from the postmaster general at Washington, New Valpariso is now ‘Valparaiso,’ and Valpariso is ‘Niceville.'”
Leon Stern, who had “purchased the lot on the corner of 6th street and the Old Spanish Trail, is arranging to erect a modern office building there.”
Twenty-five acres of land in Okaloosa county on the Old Spanish Trail, which had sold six months before for $11 an acre, “was sold last week for $12,000.” Another “Believe It or Not” story from Okaloosa county said that the Sapp blueberry farm of twenty acres had sold for $30,000.