HERE’S THE DeFUNIAK NEWS OF INTEREST TO OLD TIMERS
(Thirty-four years ago–from the Breeze of September 26, 1901.)
Rocky Bayou correspondence: “Dog flies and scuppernongs are plentiful.”
“A consignment of one hundred buckets was unloaded at the depot yesterday for the use of the fire department.”
“Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Flournoy are visiting relatives here this week. We understand that Walton is thinking of moving back here for the practice of law.”
This, from the Deerland correspondence, strikes a responsive chord now: “J. E. Ward killed two fine hogs Monday, on account of meat going still higher.”
Freeport correspondence: “The highest tide on record in the creek, last week, on account of the heavy rains. Every warehouse was flooded, and some merchandise damaged.”
The [Breeze] was awarding a sewing machine to the “Most popular young lady in Walton county, and the four leading contestants were Elsie Nipe, Mary Lou Cawthon, Evelyne Bowers and Maggie McCollum.
Circuit Clerk Jas. A. McLean recorded a deed for Peter McDonald for the NW 1/2 of sec 26, twp 2 north, range west, the document being a patent on parchment, bearing the signature of President Andrew Jackson, and bearing the date of 1829.”
(Thirty years ago–from the Breeze of September 21, 1905.)
Deerland correspondence: “Bear tracks have been seen near Deerland.”
Twenty-five new cases of yellow fever were reported in Pensacola, and the Breeze said the situation “was most serious.” Five cases, which looked suspicious,” were reported in Milton, “and there will be no fall term of court in Santa Rosa county, on account of quarantine restriction.”
(Twenty-five years ago–from the Breeze of September 29, 1910.)
“Bud Brazile and wife attended the Brazile-Perdue wedding at Ponce de Leon, Sunday.”
“Otto Tappan is erecting a brick building for the DeFuniak Auto Company. The old town do grow.”
Three flights of “heavier-than-air flying machines,” were scheduled for the Pensacola fair. “This will be,” the Breeze said, “the first time [that] an airplane has been in this section, and it will probably be a long time before another is seen here.”
(Twenty years ago–from the Breeze of September 30, 1915.)
“The Harbeson mill is not running day and night.”
“The high school defeated Palmer College in a hotly contested game of baseball, the score being 13 to 8.”
“Guy Ames is back from Ohio, driving Mr. Standen’s car. the run was made in but little over a week.”
“Lieut. Hal Richardson, commanding Co. K, has issued an order for a drill Friday night. No excuses accepted.”
“The many friends of B. H. Sutton are congratulating him on his appointment as sheriff of Okaloosa county.”
“H. Thorber has bought one of the new Maxwell cars, with an electric self-starter, and other modern improvements.”
The Florala postmaster had left some time before for a visit to the San Francisco fair, and when he failed to return, it was found that he was some $6,000 short in his accounts.
“E. V. Madernach, who has been working two years on a plan to use the wind work of Ned Beatty and Carl Work, as a means of inflating auto ties, has given up the idea, and has bought an air compressor.”
(Fifteen years ago–from the Breeze of September 30, 1920.)
“Governor Catts was here Monday to investigate the oil situation.”
“There were so many autos in town Sunday that all the gasoline was purchased, and the dealers had none left on hand.”
DeFuniak was sobering up from her oil spree of the previous week, when it was discovered that “Johnson’s Gusher” was the result of a quantity of lubricating oil poured into a sewer at the high school building.
(Ten years ago–from the Breeze of September 24, 1925.)
“Port Dixie is destined to be the south’s greatest port, if the plans of the sponsors are carried out.”
Marshal Hewett placarded the town with signs telling the dear public that in the future it would cost $5.00 to spit on the sidewalk. $5.00 for every single spit.
Here was DeFuniak’s highest heat record for 1925, which broke a fifty-year period. Wednesday 97o, Thursday 100o, Friday 101o, Saturday 103o, Sunday 104o, Monday 103o and Tuesday 102o. (Compare this with the corresponding week of this year, when temperatures ranged from a maximum of 83o, to a minimum of 63o.