HERE’S THE DEFUNIAK NEWS OF INTEREST TO OLD TIMERS
(Thirty-four years ago–from the Breeze of September 5, 1901.)
Six of this issue’s eight pages were given over to the publication of the newly-incorporated town’s ordinances.
Argyle correspondence: “Messrs. Jimmie and Malcolm Morrison and Gillis Douglass attended the series of ball games at DeFuniak.”
A DeFuniak ball team defeated the Escambia Rifles, 19 to 2; repeated the drubbing the next day, 23 to 4, and the Breeze estimated that the third day’s score (cancelled, however, by request of the Pensacola team) could have been something like 36 to 6.
(Thirty years ago–from the Breeze of September 7, 1905.)
Pensacola, Sept. 6: Special to The Breeze: “Two cases of yellow fever were reported here yesterday.”
“Notice–The council is determined to put the town in a thoroughly sanitary condition. They have purchased cooperas and sulphur, which they will issue to the citizens, free of charge.”
“When the lightning began last week, Buddie Cawthon was sitting under the telephone at the City Market, but he quickly left there and crawled under the counter, and every time there was a flash of lightning he hugged the floor a bit closer, until the 3×8 joists began to crack, and now there will be a repair bill for a new floor. The petitions which he sent up out at Abe Mitchcom’s weren’t a circumstance to his prayers this time.”
(Twenty years ago–from the Breeze of September 2, 1915.)
“Miss Emma Sechrest spent the week end with home folk.”
“Rev. J. E. West was taken from Ponce de Leon to Mobile, Sunday, for an appendicitis operation.”
“A party of friends of little Mary Burke, gave her a birthday surprise party at the home of her grandmother, Mrs. J. J. McCaskill.”
“Bob Winslett and Joe Allen went over to Chipley, Sunday, to attend the big sing, so they said. Mebbeso, mebbeso.”
“Mrs. W. K. Jennings and the children are visiting relatives in Virginia, while Mr. Jennings is in New York City, buying goods for the Racket.”
“Rev. and Mrs. A. A. Ross have arrived from Avon, Ill., to make DeFuniak their future home. Throughout September Mr. Ross will preach at Florala.”
(Fifteen years ago–from the Breeze of September 2, 1920.)
Blueberries were selling for 36¢ per quart, and County Agent J. W. Matheson gave the names of several local parties who were planning to put out fifty acres of the indigenous fruit.
(Ten years ago–from the Breeze of September 3, 1925.)
“Twelve of Miss Billie Smith’s little friends met at her home to help her celebrate her sixteenth birthday.”
Don P. Hawkins, the new high school principal, forecasted a successful year for the DeFuniak schools, and particularly in the football line.
Mrs. W. W. Clark and son, William, were killed in their car by a logging train on the outskirts of Milton. Mrs. Clark was a sister of the late Jude T. F. West of Milton, and her sister was the wife of Luther Fisher of Milton, a brother of M. N. Fisher of this place.
The Fisher and the Berman stores swapped locations: the Fisher Hardware store moving into the McCaskill building, which the concern had purchased, and the Berman store moving into the store near the post office, vacated by the Fisher people.
Leon Stern, who had lately purchased some 60,000 acres of Walton County land from the Walton L. & T. Co., sold 11,000 acres of it to Kaufman & Brown, and 10,000 acres to Hendry Brothers & Levin, and the story in the Breeze telling of these transactions said that a 25-room hotel was being erected at [Rock] Hill, to care for the workmen on Mr. Stern’s proposed development at Bellmore, which name had been give to the Rock Hill property.