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History of the area
- Thread starter eqgumby
- Start date
Kurt
Admin
I don't know of anything online except http://www.graytonbeach.com/history.html
Smiling JOe
SoWal Expert
I think there are actually four of those books. One other of the four is titled, "Of Days Gone By - Reflections of South Walton County, Florida." However, some Freeport history is also included. The book is comprised of short stories told by locals and others who have spent time here back in the goodle days. "The Other Florida," by Gloria Jahoda, is more regional than the other two listed above. It includes most of Northwest Florida. The reading is a bit slow, but the goodle days were a bit slow, too. I forget the title of the other book.
30A Skunkape
Skunky
Maybe somebody needs to run down some old-timers and get an oral history of what things used to be like before development
ShallowsNole
Beach Fanatic
Finding a history resource that covers all of SoWal is next to impossible. While we all seem to be one big happy community now, that wasn't always the case. Rewind to about 1940...Point Washington and Santa Rosa were worlds apart (and Santa Rosa got bigtime pissed when Point Washington got Bay Elementary, while the old school in Hogtown got closed). It was easier to get to Panama City from Point Washington than it was to go to Seagrove Beach, or worse yet, Grayton Beach, as going to either involved a two-rut sand road. So, what you are going to find is recollections of old Santa Rosa ("This is my Life" by a Mr. Reddick, now long deceased), recollections of old Point Washington ("Sandpiper Journal" by my late aunt, Peggy Saltsman Bailer), and the "The Way We Were" books. Then, of course, you have the history of the old St. Joe paper company...but twenty years ago, they were still planting pine trees.
It is very fortunate that the interviews and stories in "The Way We Were" were compiled when they were, as probably half, if not more, of the folks featured in the first edition have since passed away. We used to have a very active Coastal Heritage Foundation, but it has been absorbed by the Cultural Arts Association as most of the founding members of the Coastal Heritage have now become history themselves.
It is very fortunate that the interviews and stories in "The Way We Were" were compiled when they were, as probably half, if not more, of the folks featured in the first edition have since passed away. We used to have a very active Coastal Heritage Foundation, but it has been absorbed by the Cultural Arts Association as most of the founding members of the Coastal Heritage have now become history themselves.
I have a book entitled "History of Walton County" by John L. McKinnon. The publisher (in 1911) was The Byrd Printing Co. - Atlanta, GA (price $3.00!) It was my father's book. He was born out in the country near DeFuniak Springs in 1903. It is written in a folksy, journal style and is quite interesting with alot of information about the Indian influence in the area, as well as geneaology concerning settlers in the county. I am not sure if it's still available, but kind of doubt it.
Franny
Beach Fanatic
There are still several wonderful sowallers around that have been here for decades that would love to tell their stories. I approached one dear friend and he said"bring your tape recorder". Need to do this so soon.
It would be great to have these historics in your production!:clap_1: Just to be part of this I would die happy.
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