Mr & Mrs Bud Davis, about 80 yrs of age, residing in Okaloosa co, near Camp Walton were brutally murdered Wednesday night Mar 21st. The murder was similar in many respects to the aged Wyman couple about a year ago. Robbery is supposed to be the motive.
[Source: Extracted by Lois Danley and Sharon Watson]
Charles Carter acquitted. Newt Nowling testified that he didn’t even know what Christmas was on, or the day of the week, but remembers Carter selling him rum. Marion Hall (who shot Carter & killed Arnold Mitchell) said he purchased 2 quarts of rum for $3.50 from Carter on the morning of the shooting. George Keen testified that Carter was hauling lumber from a mill south of Mossyhead to Mossyhead at that time of day until dark. Mossyhead is 12 miles from where Newt said he saw Carter at dark. The jury was about five minutes in returning verdict.
Marriage Licenses returned: T Scott & Isabell Dyson; C Brown & Myrtle Pelt; A Hunt & Clara Randolph; C L Brown & Lina Weatherspoon; W F Scarbought & Grace L Adkison; B Monroe & Nancy Coleman; M Paul & Celia Clements; A Nowling & Bernie Whitson; W McCracken & Myrtle Jackson; I Turner & Ella Jackson.
[Contributed by Lois Danley and Sharon Watson]
Robert Bannerman is one of those rare individuals who can honestly be classified as a “mover and a shaker,” not just because of his lifetime of service to his country, but because of his substantial contributions to the communities of Walton County.
The South Walton octogenarian has indeed led a fascinating life – if one would consider apprehending spies, wining and dining foreign royalty, or handling top-secret affairs of state exciting.
Bannerman’s keen memory recalls some of America’s most historic events, made more interesting because of his role in them.
He discusses his life experiences matter-of-factly, as if they are really not so special. For example, when he was dressing for a formal dinner recently, his wife inquired about a pair of gold cufflinks he was putting on. He nonchalantly explained that the cufflinks were a gift to his father from former Japanese Emperor Hirohito.
Born in northern Wisconsin, Bannerman moved to Winnipeg, Canada at age two, when his father took over his grandfather’s quarry operation.
“I remember quite well when World War I started; I was very small, but I can remember the troop trains going from Vancouver, across Canada to Halifax, to go on to Europe, and many of them consisted of labor battalions recruited from Southwest Asia to do work behind French lines.” When the Canadian Government cancelled all military contracts, the Bannerman family left for Washington, D.C., where his father became Special Assistant to Secretary of State Lansing under President Wilson’s administration.
After graduating from George Washington University, Bannerman took a job with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He then took a foreign service course that would lead to his employment at the U.S. State Department.
While recalling fond memories of his college days, Bannerman relates how he met people he is still friends with today, such as Jake Beland, head of St. Joe Paper Company, whom he met as a member of the Kappa Alpha fraternity, as well as others from Apalachicola and Port St. Joe. “So I knew about this area early in the game,” Bannerman said. He first visited the Destin/South Walton area in 1936, when there was no bridge in Destin (they crossed by ferry) nor passable roads. “The area was beautiful and untouched at that time,” he said.
After returning to Washington D.C., Bannerman joined the U.S. State Department staff, where he was one of four special agents responsible for investigating passport/visa fraud all over the country. As a result, “we were one of the first to get into Soviet espionage rings in the United States through the investigations of false passports.” Bannerman explained that President Franklin D. Roosevelt recognized Soviet Russia in 1933, “and we got into the first espionage case in 1936-37.”
The State Department agents developed the techniques of how to detect a false passport. According to Bannerman, a spy would research American death records, find an infant who had died and use that birth certificate to make an application for a U.S. passport. Then the spies would set up temporary residence – in this case in New York City – and make themselves well-known to neighbors, the landlady, postman, etc., he said, because passports were then delivered by registered mail.
Bannerman gained access to city hall records, and when a questionable passport application was presented, he would research old death records and apprehend the suspect. “Sure enough, we began catching case after case,” he said.
“I stayed in New York for five years and during this time I did a lot of what you would call protocol work.” In this role, he accompanied guests of the State Department around the country. Bannerman took a number of the royalty and foreign dignitaries to visit President Roosevelt’s residence in Hyde Park, New York. “In the course of this, I handled the Crown Prince and Princess of Denmark, the Crown Prince and Princess of Sweden, the Duchess of Luxembourg, the Governor of Canada, I was a member of the team that escorted the King and Queen of England when they were here on an official visit in 1939, and the Sultan of Muscat and Oman, together with any number of presidents elected from Central and Latin American Republics.” In addition, Bannerman escorted Prince Edward of’ England, and Wallis Simpson, the American divorcee he abdicated his throne to marry.
In June of 1941, while Europe was at war, Bannerman moved from New York back to Washington, D.C., where he was assigned to accompany the exiled Polish government officials, a task he undertook for well over a month.
Another job Bannerman and the other State Department special agents were responsible for at the outbreak of World War II was the house arrest of all Axis diplomats, their staff and press corps in the U.S. “We took over the Greenbriar and Homestead Hotels in West Virginia . . . and this is where we would detain these people. I put all the Japanese in the Homestead Hotel, and at Greenbriar, I put all the Germans, Italians, Hungarians, Bulgarians and any others that served with them.” In all, Bannerman said he handled about 25,000 people who were under detention proceedings.
Most of these detainees were exchanged with American citizens being held in Axis counties. He said there was only one incident where a German cursed a guard and stepped out of the restricted area, but the issue was soon resolved and there was very little trouble controlling the detainees. Bannerman said after exchanges were complete with enemy countries, it was found that the Japanese treated their American detainees worse than any of the other enemy countries.
With the end of the war, it became evident that an adequate security control mechanism within the government was virtually non-existent. “There was no classification of information, which is confidential, secret or top-secret – that was just being introduced,” Bannerman said. In addition, there was not at that time a background check conducted on government and foreign service employees. To deal with these problems, the State Department appointed Bannerman as Director of Security. “I was the first security officer of the State Department in its history, and I set up this entire program,” he said. Today, the State Department’s security program employs thousands of individuals and includes various departments and authorities.
On September 18, 1947, the National Security Act was passed. This act included the creation of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the U.S. Air Force and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
In the beginning, the CIA, explained Bannerman, was a small, investigative entity that had never been tested in the U.S. court system. “What we were trying to do is create a secret society within a free society,” he said. So, after eleven years with the State Department, Bannerman became a deputy director of security within the CIA. He was soon promoted to the position of one of four deputy directors of the agency. In that role, he was in charge of personnel, security, finance, logistics, communications, medical programs and training, as well as the operation of the CIA’s airline, Air America.
Advancing rapidly in the CIA , Bannerman reached the senior classified position attainable in U.S. government – beyond that he would have had to be confirmed by the Senate as a political appointee. Some improvements Bannerman helped make in the agency were the implementation of a computer system and a satellite communications program.
While most of Bannerman’s experiences within the CIA are secret, he says the Cold War with the Soviet Union, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, skirmishes with Cuba and other communist countries made for some interesting tales – if only he could share them! “These were truly fascinating days,” he said.
After 42 years in the employment of the U.S. Government, Bannerman decided to retire in 1970. But instead of an end to a lifetime of impacting the environment around him, Bannerman began his vital role in the activities of Walton County.
“When I first came down here, I was a stranger in a strange land, and it was very obvious I was an outsider. I decided the only way to become a part of the community was to volunteer for just about every organization I could possibly think of to do work,” he said. Bannerman subsequently joined the Walton County Chamber of Commerce and the South Walton Lions Club. With the Chamber he worked for a cohesive bond between north and south Walton County, worked to secure a state grant for a billboard advertising campaign, and he eventually became president of the Chamber.
Bannerman remembers when a barge destroyed part of the Highway 331 bridge in 1973. “I pushed hard for the Florida Department of Transportation and the Governor to try to organize and do something about it to restore communications (with north Walton).” Thirteen months later the span was repaired. At that time, Bannerman became president of the South Walton Fire District, an entity that only had one small pumper truck obtained from the Forestry Department. With the . . . .
John Clark, the two went to Birmingham, Al., to purchase a fire engine – which was eventually paid off by citizens’ donations. Volunteers were organized and a fire department was born. Bannerman also helped secure a grant to set up an ambulance service.
In addition, he served on a Governor’s committee addressing the state’s needs, and in 1983, the Governor created a committee for coastal management to which Bannerman was appointed. On that committee, he worked to outline Walton’s transportation needs – such as the widening of Highways 98 and 331. “I think we did a lot of good in alerting the DOT to our problems.”
Bannerman was also one of the first to attempt to convince state officials, along with Dave Weaver, of the need For a Mid-Bay Bridge. He and Weaver drafted a request to the Okaloosa County Commission, suggesting that they petition the . . . .
Mid-Bay Bridge Authority. The commission honored the request; however, the idea was met with much opposition and failed. Bannerman’s idea is today a reality, and he recently participated in the new Mid-Bay Bridge’s opening events in a walk/run across the span.
In addition, he has served the community here on the South Walton Tourist Development Council, and still does today. He also served four terms as president of the Santa Rosa Beach Golf and Beach Club, served on the now defunct Walton County Airport Authority, as well as various county planning committees.
So, at 81 years old, Robert Bannerman is still a driving force in his environment, whether it’s in making decisions affecting tourism in Walton County, sharing his ideas with local officials. or just enjoying the view of the Gulf of Mexico from the patio of his lovely, secluded South Walton . . . .
(Thirty years ago–from the Breeze of November 30, 1905.)
“Married–Chas. Murray and Miss Lula E. Downs.”
“It is not improbable that the Flournoy block will be made a three-story building before long.”
“This is Thanksgiving, and if the stores close at nine o’clock, the telephone exchange will close from nine until two.”
“Chas. Beardsley has returned from Henry, Ill., bringing with him a bride, who was Mrs. Emma McDonough, of that city.”
“The Business League met today to consider the matter of the building of the proposed Pea Valley & Gulf railroad from Opelika to Freeport.”
“The Glendale Mercantile Company has been organized with W. L. Jones Cawthon president; D. E. Murphy, vice-president, and W. F. Jones, secretary.”
“Last Sunday saw the yellow fever quarantine finally lifted at Pensacola, and now the traveling public can come and go as it pleases, and without a pocketful of health [certificates].”
Deerland correspondence: “Our school has begun, and when the teacher gets full control, if he ever does, the boys (I mean the big boys) will want to get away into the Valley of Jehosaphat, where the young lion roareth, and the whangdoodle mourneth for her firstborn.”
(Twenty years ago–from the Breeze of November 24, 1910.)
“Mrs. M. A. Murphy has gone to St. Louis to visit with relatives.”
“Sixteen thousand acres of land known as the Yawkey tract, was sold this week to Fox Henderson and others.”
“The Harbeson Lumber Co. is considering the plan of extending their road to Florala, to connect there with the Central of Georgia.”
Bob Matthews, colored, who had been held in the Walton jail for safe keeping, was taken from the train on which he was being returned to Pensacola and lynched, by a part of masked men who boarded the train near that city.
(Fifteen years ago–from the Breeze of November 25, 1920.)
“Solon was a resident of heaven, until he got to knocking. Moral–boost your home town.”
“Mr. and Mrs. Herman Bludworth of Argyle, are the proud parents of a beautiful daughter, born Sunday.”
Tabulated returns from the national election gave Harding a vote of 690 in Walton county, as against 1322 for Cox, the Democratic nominee.
Mr. and Mrs. H. M. Langston and their sister, and Miss Florida Jeffries of Crestview, spent Sunday here as the guest of their mother, Mrs. C. M. Jeffries.”
(Ten years ago–from the Breeze of November 26, 1925.)
Ford touring cars were being advertised for $290.
Palmer and Tallahassee were all set for a Thanksgiving football game on the local field, while Walton high was scheduled to play Chipley over there.
The Walton county chamber of commerce had arranged to handle sweet potatoes for local growers, paying 90c per bushel for good quality product.
Ex-County Clerk Carl Crosby was given a thirty day reprieve by the governor, to allow him time to attend to private business matters, before he began serving a thirty months sentence for conversion of public funds.
A bill introduced in the senate (at the special session of the legislature then in session) by Senator D. Stuart Gillis, allowing Walton to vote on the question of issuing $750,000 of road bonds, was killed in the house by Representative J. S. McSween, Sr.
Paxton school is doing just fine. The teachers are: Mrs. E. B. Miller, principal; Mrs. H. C. Hughes, Miss Isabel Carter.
Who’s Who Contest
| Most popular girl | Hazel Williams |
| Most popular boy | Wilford Johns |
| Smartest girl | Theresa Grant |
| Smartest boy | Edward Nall |
| Cutest girl | Kateryne Nance |
| Most mischievous girl | Joye Eddins |
| Most mischievous boy | Edward Nall |
| Quietest girl | Louisa Rabbon |
| Quietest boy | Randell Skinner |
| Fussiest girl | Evelyn Gohagan |
| Fussiest boy | Huston Jackson |
| Prettiest boy | Wilford Johns |
Hazel Williams and Martha Braswell are so pretty we can’t decide about the prettiest girl. –Phebie Johns.
HERE’S THE DeFUNIAK NEWS OF INTEREST TO OLD TIMERS
(Thirty-four years ago–from the Breeze of November 21, 1901.)
“The first white frost of the season was here Saturday morning.”
We ponder the same question now: “Wonder why a thoroughly good commercial college would not pay in DeFuniak Springs?”
Postmaster John Astleford (now of Biloxi, Miss.) was referred to by the Breeze as one of West Florida’s outstanding farmers, pointing to his farm on the Eucheeanna road, as a proof of the assertion.
W. L. Cawthon “served a very enjoyable game supper to a number of friends, at which G. P. Henry represented the medical profession; C. L. Hayes and W. S. Cawthon the schools; Dan’l Cawthon the bar; W. T. May and T. S. Latz the mercantile interests, and R. W. Storrs the press.”
(Thirty years ago–from the Breeze of November 16, [1905].)
The county commissioners voted to buy a pair of bloodhounds from Perry Clark for $90.”
Walton county’s assessed valuation was increased $312,415 over the previous year, and DeFuniak’s part of this increase was $53,000.
(Twenty years ago–from the Breeze of November 18, 1915.)
J. A. McDonald was recommended for DeFuniak’s postmaster to succeed B. P. Morris, resigned.
“Mr. and Mrs. Ide Stinson returned from their honeymoon Saturday, and are at the home of the groom’s aunt, Mrs. Stewart, on Eleventh street.”
The Breeze insisted that there was “nothing so good for a cold” as a mixture of equal parts of lemon juice and glycerine.'”
“The ‘Old Spanish Trail’ scout car left Mobile yesterday to run over the proposed ‘Old Spanish Trail” as far east as Jacksonville.”
(Fifteen years ago–from the Breeze of November 18, 1920.)
The Synod of Florida had just closed a three-day session here.
Charley Bell was [killed] in an auto accident on the DeFuniak-Ponce de Leon road.
Robbers took somewhere between $300 and $500 from the W. E. [Parish] store, when that institution was burglarized.
“Build for permanency and beauty: Permanent as the pyramids and as beautiful as Venus,” announced the Southern Petronite Company, a local building block manufacturing concern, in a full-page Breeze ad.
(Ten years ago–from the Breeze of November 19, 1925.)
By a vote of approximately 4 to 1, voters of DeFuniak Springs authorized a $78,000 bond issue for [street] and other improvements.
The Methodists in annual conference at Mobile, returned Rev. J. F. McLeod to this church, and selected DeFuniak Springs as the meeting place for the 1926 conference.
Wm. H. Brown & Son of Santa Rosa, announced the sale to Neely Bowen of 8,800 acres of land lying on the bay front between Freeport and Portland, known as the old Bayview tract, for $450,000.
HERE’S THE DeFUNIAK NEWS OF INTEREST TO OLD TIMERS
(Thirty-four years ago–from the Breeze of November 14, 1901.)
“John Chisholm has moved here from Caryville, and has a position with Burruss Cawthon.”
Freeport correspondence: “A false alarm of fire was given unintentionally last week, and J. B. Cawthon with difficulty saved his furniture.”
“The street fair was an unqualified success. T. J. Cawthon won the old fiddlers’ contest; Phil Fellows won first for display of hay, L. F. Cawthon for trio of chickens; W. E. Parish for turnips, and P. L. Biddle for persimmons. Mrs. Tappan exhibited a jar of tomatoes canned more than fifteen years ago.”
(Thirty years ago–from the Breeze of November 9, 1905.)
E. L. Daniels, county superintendent of schools over at Milton, advertised in the Breeze for “Twenty-five teachers, holding first or second grade certificates for pleasant rural schools.”
“The four-day Gulf Coast Fair was an overwhelming success.” P. H. Fellows and R. W. Storrs won all premiums in the Shorthorn classes, and P. W. Smith and R. W. Storrs in the dairy classes. In the ladies’ department among the winners were Mesdames Sue Gillis, Knox Gillis, Wm. Rogers, A. G. Campbell, B. G. Campbell and Miss Alice Fellows.
An eight-year-old boy was Breeze correspondent at Mt. Olive, and among his items for this particular week were these: “Our crippled teacher failed to get the school–I am sorry. Grandfather shot and killed three coons the other day, and they fell into the river, but the dogs brought them ashore. People talk of putting in a big cotton crop, in 1906, but if it drops to 5c they will be in bad fix. I like pinders, watermelons, potatoes, corn bread and honey, better than I do money, and thank God we can raise them here.”
(Twenty-five years ago–from the Breeze of November 10, 1910.)
“Miss Effie Nipe arrived Saturday, and will spend the winter with her sister, Mrs. L. S. Cleveland.”
“Willie Jean Landrum has returned from Macon, Ga., where she passed the pharmacy examination with the highest honors.”
Florida voted wet in a state-wide wet and dry election. Walton county voted wet 474 to 424, and DeFuniak Springs went dry 210 to 41.
(Twenty years ago–from the Breeze of November 11, 1915.)
“The ‘Big Store’s’ freight truck made its initial trip to Freeport on Saturday.”
Postmaster Ben Morris (refuting the proverb that “Few die and none resign”) announced that he was quitting as DeFuniak’s postmaster, and in the mad scramble to succeed him several narrowly escaped injury. Among those who were after his job were J. R. Beard, D. W. Burke, J. A. McDonald, W. F. Jones, J. A. McDonald, Harley Cawthon and Moss Flournoy.
(Fifteen years ago–from the Breeze of November 11, 1920.)
G. A. Reisinger re-opened the former Buckeye laundry.
“The Oklahoma Oil Company spudded in wells No’s. 1 and 2 Monday morning.”
“Mr. and Mrs. Robt. Thomas, newly-weds, are expected back this week from a Canadian honeymoon trip.”
Money to the amount of $591, was raised for the state children’s home, and of this amount A. F. Bullard contributed $100; B. C. Davis and W. F. Creary $50, each, and D. F. Hinesley and W. O. Campbell $25 each.
(Ten years ago–from the Breeze of November 12, 1925.)
November 17 was the date set for a bond election in the sum of $63,000 for town improvement purposes.
The committees which were authorized to raise $15,000 for the use of the newly-organized chamber of commerce, reported that they had $18,000 in sight for that purpose.
“Messrs. Wilson and Dawson have purchased the old Campbell place out near Palmer College, from Gillis Douglass and Olin Campbell, and are planning to open up a high class subdivision.”
The then Recorder Fabisinski, now Circuit Judge Fabisinski, of this judicial circuit, fined himself $3.00 and the cost of the case over at Pensacola, for not having his brakes inspected, in accordance with the ordinances made and provided.
HERE’S THE DeFUNIAK NEWS OF INTEREST TO OLD TIMERS
(Thirty-four years ago–from the Breeze of November 7, 1901.)
“Walton county will get $719 from the state school fund this year.”
“We don’t claim to be in the orange belt, but Phil Fellows has four trees which are loaded with fruit.”
“Dr. W. H. Stinson, who was quite painfully hurt at Milligan last week, by the sudden starting of the train in which he was riding, was not so badly hurt as was at first feared.”
“The work of prospecting for oil at Pensacola goes on with increased interest, and as soon as they strike it there, we will bore (sic) for it here, and when we bore for it here, we will strike it, and discount the Pensacola effort bad.”
The DeFuniak tax levy has been set at [40 cents] on the $100 for this year.”
“The funniest thing yet in the [illegible] fight against the incorporation is their attempt to get Pat Lingo to go to jail as a subject for which to sue out a writ of habeas corpus. Pat’s reasons for declining are rare, rich and racy. Just ask him.”
(Twenty-eight years ago–from the Breeze of November 7, 1907.)
“No one but a lady knows what a lady wants –that’s why they trade at Parish’s.”
Col. W. W. Flournoy is having the street in front of his office, and the one in front of his residence, sawdusted.”
“Ben Morris and Walton Matthews left Thursday for Alaqua, to be ready to begin hunting, as soon as the stroke of midnight announces the opening of the hunting season.”
“John Kennedy and John Henry Laird went hunting down in Mossy Bend last week and brought back (so they say) ninety squirrels, two coons, three ducks and more than one hundred pounds of fish, and they were only gone two days.”
(Twenty-five years ago–from the Breeze of November 3, 1905.)
“Fall has turned into winter, and that overcoat sure does feel good.”
“The One Price Cash House” was incorporated by R. E. L. McCaskill, Nimrod McGuire, and W. T. Croft, with a capital stock of $10,000.
The mercantile establishment of Laird & Co., in the middle of the McCaskill block, was destroyed by fire, and at the same hour of the DeFuniak fire, a residence and blacksmith shop belonging to Milford Masters at Ponce de Leon were burned. These fires were of incendiary origin, both fires starting at the same time; and up at Glendale a residence was burned, while at the same time over at Chipley, the entire plant of the Chipley Lumber and Gin Company was burned.
(Twenty years ago–from the Breeze of November 4, 1915.)
“An average of eight cars of lumber are going daily out from the Harbeson mill.”
“For sale–the best ‘Brush’ automobile in Walton county. Will do twenty miles an hour. Will trade for chufas or velvet beans. W. H. James.
“Paul Work and John Kennedy were fishing this week, and among other fruits brought back a cavallo four feet long and weighing 37 pounds.”
This must have been before the days of the water plant: “An auto with an electric light turned a corner rapidly one night this week and the headlight showed for an instant on a back porch where a lady was taking a bath. The lady fell out of the tub and the car swerved into the fence. To find the place look for the damaged fence.”
(Fifteen years ago–from the Breeze of November 4, 1920.)
The Jas. A. McLean and the M. E. Savage homes on the Circle were damaged by fire.
(Ten years ago–from the Breeze of November 5, 1925.)
Rival teams from the newly-organized chamber of commerce were in a drive to raise $15,000 for the use of the organization, and the first day’s work netted $6,500.
The Universalists of the state were assembled here in a state-wide convention. Rev. A. Arnold Ross, of this place, being president of the church’s organization.
Basket and football season was opening. Palmer girls defeated Chipley 12-0, and Walton girls were to play the Chipley team the following day. The Walton Braves tied Chipley football team 0-0 in a game played here, and was to play Milton the following Friday.
HERE’S THE DeFUNIAK NEWS OF INTEREST TO OLD TIMERS
(Thirty-four years ago–from the Breeze of October 31, 1901.)
Freeport correspondence: “Those who did not go to court last week took to the woods.”
Eucheeanna correspondence: “Several of the boys were out hunting and fishing, Saturday, and to hear them tell it, you would think they shot gophers just to hear them fall, and gigged catfish to hear them gobble.”
(Thirty-one years ago–from the Breeze of October 26, 1904.)
“W. L. Cawthon has taken out the required license as a private banker.”
“Married–J. D. King of this place, and Miss Joanna Ealum of Louanna.”
“Hope Cawthon has returned from St. Louis, full of the wonders of the big fair.”
“J. J. Robinson of Bridgeport, W. Va., is among the arrivals of last week, and expects to make his home here.”
“Dr. C. E. Thompson, who left here nine years ago to make his home in Michigan, has returned, with his family, to DeFuniak Springs.”
Why? “No meeting of the county [commissioners] was held Monday, on account of the fact that there was more business than could be transacted in one day.”
(Thirty years ago–from the Breeze of October 16, 1905)
Mrs. W. W. Flournoy went over to Jacksonville, Saturday, to see the president.”
“The DeFuniak & Northern railroad got in another car of steel rails last week, and will push the road on above the present terminus.”
“With how much truthfulness we do not know, but it is said that a wedding between two of our young people scheduled for the near future, has been called off, and all because the bride-to-be used the word ‘trousseau’ frequently, and it sounded so much like ‘trousers,’ that the young man got alarmed and decamped.”
(Twenty-five years ago–from the Breeze of October 27, 1910.)
“D. E. Wooten has sold his broom factory to Mr. Please, who will move it to Chipley.”
An auto belonging to Kenneth Bruce, one of the few in town at that time, was destroyed by fire.
“Miss Jennie Parish, who has been spending several weeks in Panama City, has returned to her home here.”
Palmer College defeated Walton high by 5 to 3 in a game of baseball, called at the close of the 6th inning, on account of darkness.
Knox Hill correspondence: “There was a torchlight procession through the business section of our town on Saturday night. Wonder if Eugene Ward could tell us anything about it.”
H. Thornber sold his stock of merchandise to W. K. Jennings. “The business, we understand, will be conducted in the usual new business way by the new proprietor, and whom we wish the best of success as one of our few business men.”
(Twenty years ago–from the Breeze of October 28, 1915.)
The Mays store on the Circle was burglarized, the thieves gaining an entrance through the Campbell meat market adjoining.
“When a girl, hardly out of her teens (the reference was to Mamie Bracken) can make a profit of $93.90 on one-tenth acre of Walton county and, it provides the answer to the question, ‘Does farming pay?'”
“Notice was served on Mayor W. W. Flournoy last week to prevent the city from opening a railway crossing at 7th street, or requiring the railroad to repair the crossing at Crescent street.”
County Judge W. E. Parish published the list of business licenses for the year ending October 1, the number totalling 299–eighteen of which were assessed to Char. Murray, Jr., as an insurance agent, and eleven of which were issued to practicing physicians, who were C. E. Thompson, E. Porter Webb, G. P. Morris, C. B. McKinnon, J. F. King, E. L. Huggins, D. H. Simmons, S. E. Stephens, J. D. Rayborn, W. A. Hooten, and D. H. Adams. (Compare this with the county’s present staff of physicians.)
(Fifteen years ago–from the Breeze of October 28, 1920.)
G. B. Stanley sold his “Cash and Carry” to G. B. Bass and C. W. Powell.
On account of the slump in lumber prices, the Harbeson mills’ working hours were cut to six daily.
The DeFuniak Gun Club offered a reward of $500 for evidence leading to the conviction of any person poisoning dogs in Walton county.
Harrison Davis, 28 years old, of Camp Walton, was attacked by an alligator in East river, and escaped with a lacerated foot, when the ‘gator was beaten to death by Davis’ companions.
A heated special session of the town council was held upon the question of the legality of the title which the Presbyterian church had to the land in the lake yard upon which it purposed to build a church.
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.
