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Gulfview Hotel of Camp Walton and Early Owner L. I. Smith

4/17/2018

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L. I. Smith owned the Gulfview Hotel in Camp Walton (now Ft. Walton Beach, Florida). He sold to the Staffs and Gerlachs who he had hired to come cook and work for him. The Gulfview Hotel is being moved today, April 17, 2018, to another location in Ft. Walton Beach. Here are some early pictures from my personal family files of Smith family at Gulfview Hotel. Pictures. L. I. Smith portrait in South Dakota before moving permanently to Walton County in 1903. He had visited Florida Chautauqua at least as early as 1899 looking for a warmer climate. Great nephew Kenneth "Tuff" Smith at his uncle's hotel in 1913 with Flounder (later written up as great pompano fisherman in sporting magazine). Camp Walton 1912 postcard from step-grandmother's collection, Anna Smith Hollingsworth Reardon. L. I. Smith had also hired Mr. Buck to pilot his boat the Anna built in 1910. Smith had home on historic Circle Drive in DeFuniak Springs and family had Smith Dairy on Freeport Road (now 331). The used Anna to transport themselves and guests to Camp Walton. Anna and her sister Billie Smith Masters with their great uncle L. I., owner of Gulfview Hotel, banker and developer. L. I. Smith's great great nephews attended my Shaping Florida presentation at 2015 100th event for Okaloosa County. Thornber Smith lives in Ft. Walton and E. L. "Sonny" Hollingsworth, my stepdad and Anna's son, lives in DeFuniak Springs. Maybe I'll take him to see hotel moved. The Anna Reardon, writer and historian, collection of papers is at UWF Pace Library Archives. I still have most of original photographs. (c) Brenda Rees | Shaping Florida

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1824 - Walton County 200th Celebration 2017 Theme - Dec. 29, 4 to 6 pm

12/27/2017

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Walton County 200 Countdown Celebration 2016 -- Satsuma Theme

12/2/2016

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Save The Date for Walton County 200 Countdown Celebration for 2016 - Thursday, December 29, 2016 from 4 pm to 6 pm at Eastern Lake.

2016 Theme: Satsumas

Pictures of the Smith Dairy stationary with Satsumaland Logo. The Smith Dairy was reported to be the longest working dairy in Florida at the time 1906 - 1945. Also, L. I. Smith and Hugh Thornber, 1900s Walton County business leaders and entrepreneurs. Later, P.W. Smith would run dairy, then his son-in-law and daughter were proprietors. Billie Smith Master's husband, M. L., was a Jew and ran dairy until sold. Truck. (c) All Rights Reserved Brenda Rees | Shaping Florida

An FYI:
All Walton County 200th information can be found at ShapingFlorida.com until we launch the official website for the event

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November 1 -- All Saints Day -- Saint Rose -- Santa Rosa (Beach)

10/31/2016

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All Saints Day, November 1 -- Walton County, Florida and Santa Rosa Beach Connected to Saint Rose
By Brenda Rees | Shaping Florida 2016

All Saints Day -- November 1, celebrates Saints who have gone to heaven; not the same as "Day of the Dead," Mexico, Oct. 31 - Nov. 2

Saint Rose Glass Shard Artwork by Brenda Rees | Shaping Florida

Saint Rose, Namesake of Santa Rosa Bay (now Choctawhatchee Bay) in Walton County, Florida, and Historical Named Town of Santa Rosa & Community Area Name of Santa Rosa Beach in South Walton

The Spanish began naming towns, rivers and bays, usually after Saints, as they explored and colonized Florida in the 16th Century. In the 17th Century, following St. Rose’s death and Saint status established, the Spanish name a major bay in the Walton County, Florida area “Santa Rosa Bay” and published the name on maps of Florida. The name was changed by the British around 1778 to Choctawhatchee Bay. Thus, the longtime Spanish name of Santa Rosa Bay became unknown to contemporary residents and visitors to South Walton and Florida.

During the American Revolution, the British have control of West and East Florida, their 14th and 15th colonies. British soldiers were marching from the capital of West Florida, Pensacola, to St. Augustine, the capital of East Florida. Elba Wilson Carswell said in his book, “Tempestuous Triangle” the Stuart-Purcell map developed during this march changes the name to Choctaw Hatchee. Carswell said it might have been a name misunderstanding. The bay had also been known as the Chacta-Hatchi after the Chatots, not Choctaw. Swanton also mentions this in his book “The Indian Tribes of North America.” The Spanish get Florida back for the last time after the American’s win their independence and maintain control until Florida is wrested from Spain. Florida became a U.S. territory in 1821.

Santa Rosa de Lima is the patroness of Peru, Latin America and the Phillippines

Saint Rose was first person born in the Western Hemisphere to be canonized.

Copy of my maps that show Spanish name of St. Rose Bay or Santa Rose Bay or Bay of St. Rose and the town of Santa Rosa (founded 1910) shown on Walton County, Florida, Pioneer map of 1931.

Notes from www.catholic.org Saints and Angels and other sources

Revised, updated
Saint Rose of Lima, Peru
Real Name: Isabel (Isabel Flores de Oliva – other sources)
Born: April 20, 1586 in Lima, Viceroyalty of Peru, Spanish Empire
Died: August 24, 1617, Viceroyalty of Peru, Spanish Empire
Patron Saint of Latin America and Phillipines
Beautified: Pope Clement IX in 1667
Canonized: Pope Clement X 1671
Feast Day: August 23 or 30
Patronage: embroiders; gardeners; florists; India;
Latin America
People ridiculed or misunderstood for their piety
For the resolution of family quarrels
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
Peru, Phillippines

Was a member of the Third Order of Saint Dominic in Lima, Peru
Known for severe asceticism and care of the needy of the city through her own private efforts
A lay member of the Dominican Order, she was first person born in the Americas to be canonized.

As a saint, Saint Rose of Lima is designated as a co-patroness of the Philippines along with Saint Pudentiana, who were both moved as second-class patronage in September 1942 by Pope Pius XII, but remains the primary patroness of Peru and the indigenous native of Latin America [this is important as these might have been the first peoples of Florida – my opinion]. Her image is featured on the highest denomination banknote of Peru.

Image of artwork by Brenda Rees of Saint Rose, glass shards 2016

Day of the Dead photograph in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico by Brenda Rees | Shaping Florida

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History & Land Titles Matter

10/24/2016

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The Land and the People Matter. They are what Shaped Florida. Brenda Rees | Shaping Florida

Tallahassee Meridian -- the Marquis de Lafayette -- Walton County, Florida Connections

All realtors should be familiar with the Tallahassee Meridian -- in longitude 84*16'37.59 west from the prime meridian at Greenwich, runs north and south from the initial point on the base line at Tallahassee, in latitude 30*26'04.12" north . It governs surveys in Florida and Alabama as part of the Public Land Survey System.

It wouldn’t hurt if new land owners knew a little history too.

Those interested in Walton County history connections would want to know that
Lafayette, who had close ties to the Walton family, had land given to him in gratitude by the United States at the southwest corner of survey monument at Cascade Park near the amphitheater. Lafayette's lands were part of Township 1 North Range 1 East.

There is a street named Walton not far from the Meridian.

Surveyors and Title Companies should know this mark. Local legend has it that some survey markers have gone missing. Perhaps, they can go back and start from here and make sure due diligence is made that surveys are correct.

Lafayette fought in the American Revolution with Declaration of Independence signer George Walton. Walton's son, George Walton, Jr. is the namesake for Walton County, Florida. Octavia Walton met with Lafayette in 1825 when he made return trip to America where he was greeted as a great hero.
Photographs and lithographs (c) Brenda Rees | Shaping Florida
Post 10-24-2016 Original Painting of 1824 Walton County Florida Border, Brenda Rees with George Walton, Jr. Photograph of 1820 William West painting, and lithograph of Lafayette in personal collection

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Coastal Dune Lake History

6/2/2016

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Repost of Earlier Before 30A -- Coastal Dune Lake History to coordinate with this weekends Coastal Dune Lake event at Grayton Beach State Park. 6-2-2016

Brenda Rees | Shaping Florida

Before 30 A, the Coastal Dune Lakes along South Walton's shoreline had a history, names and flowed free.

These unique and globally imperiled treasures have been around in their Coastal Dune Lake status about 3000 years when the land, the sand, and the sea level had stabilized (see my SW History Paper 2006 UWF and Randazzo and Jones "The Geology of Florida" 1997 p 158). Natives in this area of Florida would have had some great views and vantage points to see encroaching native peoples, European explorers or American opportunists. Picture of dunes and beach between Eastern and Deer lakes by Brenda Rees | Shaping Florida.

Old maps show traces of the Coastal Dune Lakes, long before 30A cut through them, sometimes like a common ditch with culverts and causeways. Here's partial view of 1938 Geological Survey shows Morris Lake as Bald Hill Lake in Topsail Hills and Morrison Lake and Horseshoe Lake as smaller lakes to the west. Plenty of older maps show Lake Powell as Lake Ocala. Some called it Phillips Inlet. Four Prong Lake is just over the border in Okaloosa County, area once in original border of Walton County. Full 1938 map copy from Bob Hurst, did program at Walton County Heritage Association .

Eastern Lake, a Coastal Dune Lake, has a long history before 30 A. The Wesleys traveled to their 1903 land grant on Eastern Lake across bridge on north end. Road was north/south from Pt. Washington to Eastern Lake and nearby Seagrove area (earlier named Russ Hammock after Pt. Washington leader). The north/south road also went from Pt. Washington to Grayton Beach. Picture of early Eastern Lake Bridge, which existed before 30A, by Brenda Rees | Shaping Florida. Bob Swinford shared story with me and others how he traveled across this bridge in 1938 to visit his future bride, Mickey Wesley, the ninth and youngest child of William and Katie Wesley of the Wesley House at Eden in Pt. Washington Friends of Eden Gardens State Park. Picture of Bob Swinford and Brenda Rees from my yard on Eastern Lake looking across to his home, father's beach house, and early Wesley homestead beach cottages. photo (c) Brenda Rees | Shaping Florida

Extra info on earlier settlers of Eastern Lake. For those that don't know by memory yet, William and Katie Wesley built "The Wesley House" in 1897 at Eden Gardens State Park in Pt. Washington, Florida. Pt. Washington is one of the earliest communities in Walton County. Roche wrote of trade between Pt. Washington and Vernon in 1822. (See letter of my great step aunt Alline, Mrs. Kenneth "Tuff", Smith)This 1822 date was one year after Florida was US Territory with Jackson as Governor and George Walton, Jr. As Secretary of State of West Florida, and two years before Walton County was formed on December 29, 1824. Original research Brenda Rees / Shaping Florida. William Wesley was one of nine sons of Rev. John Wesley of Pt. Washington, who had 1895 land grant in Pt. Washington signed by President Grover Cleveland {check may be okay with William Wesley’s land grant signed by Theodore Roosevelt}, which explains how one of his 9 sons was named Grover Cleveland Wesley, father of Gene Wesley of Seagrove. Original research by Brenda Rees | Shaping Florida post 11-3-2013

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Tallahassee Meridian -- Lafayette -- Walton

6/1/2016

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Tallahassee Meridian -- the Marquis de Lafayette -- Walton County, Florida Connections
Brenda Rees | Shaping Florida post 6-1-2016

All realtors should be familiar with the Tallahassee Meridian -- in longitude 84*16'37.59 west from the prime meridian at Greenwich, runs north and south from the initial point on the base line at Tallahassee, in latitude 30*26'04.12" north . It governs surveys in Florida and Alabama as part of the Public Land Survey System.

Those interested in Walton County history connections would want to know that Lafayette, who had close ties to the Walton family, had land given to him in gratitude by the United States at the southwest corner of survey monument at Cascade Park near the amphitheater. Lafayette's lands were part of Township 1 North Range 1 East.

There is a street named Walton not far from the Meridian.

Surveyors and Title Companies should know this mark. Local legend has it that some survey markers have gone missing. Perhaps, they can go back and start from here and make sure due diligence is made that surveys are correct.

Lafayette fought in the American Revolution with Declaration of Independence signer George Walton. Walton's son, George Walton, Jr. is the namesake for Walton County, Florida. Octavia Walton met with Lafayette in 1825 when he made return trip to America where he was greeted as a great hero.

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HENRY MARIE BRACKENRIDGE

1/11/2016

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BRACKENRIDGE

Henry Marie Brackenridge played a huge role in Territorial Florida's importance in national defense through his land and live oaks, now part of the Naval Live Oaks and Gulf Island National Seashore near Gulf Breeze and Pensacola in Northwest Florida. Live Oak trees were used to build naval ships like the Constitution or Old Iron Sides. Brackenridge wasn't just the oak forest's first national forester, he was also Judge of West Florida and lawyer for Florida Territorial Governor Andrew Jackson. Here's a few pictures I took of Brackenridge's land. Brackenridge had a home here so lots of archaeological artifacts are probably yet to be found. Florida Territorial Governor and fellow lawyer with Brackenridge, Richard Keith Call, failed in his financial obligations for the land. Territorial West Florida Judge Brackenridge also had home and held court in Alaqua, Walton County (off 331 and near I-10). Photographs by Brenda Rees | Shaping Florida (c) All Rights Reserved Picture of Brackenridge from Naval Live Oaks Visitor Center on south side of 98 next to north side park display. Other pictures in National Park visitor center. May be of interest to Florida Historical Society Archaeological Institute

2-13-2015 FB post by Brenda Rees | Shaping FloridaDo you want to read some great love letters? Explore the letters of early Florida Territorial leader Henry Marie Brackenridge of Pensacola and Alaqua. Brackenridge and his wife Caroline were separated by his service to Florida. Dr. Jane Honeycutt did her dissertation from University of California, Davis on Brackenridge papers and letters. Here is a picture of Henry Marie Brackenridge at his property near Gulf Breeze which became the Naval Live Oak Preserve part of Gulf Island National Seashore. Brenda Rees | Shaping Florida State Archives of Florida Viva Florida 500 Florida Historical Society Museum of Florida History 2-13-2015
BRACKENRIDGE

Henry Marie Brackenridge played a huge role in Territorial Florida's importance in national defense through his land and live oaks, now part of the Naval Live Oaks and Gulf Island National Seashore near Gulf Breeze and Pensacola in Northwest Florida. Live Oak trees were used to build naval ships like the Constitution or Old Iron Sides. Brackenridge wasn't just the oak forest's first national forester, he was also Judge of West Florida and lawyer for Florida Territorial Governor Andrew Jackson. Here's a few pictures I took of Brackenridge's land. Brackenridge had a home here so lots of archaeological artifacts are probably yet to be found. Florida Territorial Governor and fellow lawyer with Brackenridge, Richard Keith Call, failed in his financial obligations for the land. Territorial West Florida Judge Brackenridge also had home and held court in Alaqua, Walton County (off 331 and near I-10). Photographs by Brenda Rees | Shaping Florida (c) All Rights Reserved Picture of Brackenridge from Naval Live Oaks Visitor Center on south side of 98 next to north side park display. Other pictures in National Park visitor center. May be of interest to Florida Historical Society Archaeological Institute

Need to find my picture of him I took on north side. Ok… Picture of Brackenridge and his NLO land, Santa Rosa Island and Santa Rosa Sound and Pensacola Bay

FB POST 3-20-2014

2-13-2015 FB post by Brenda Rees | Shaping Florida Do you want to read some great love letters? Explore the letters of early Florida Territorial leader Henry Marie Brackenridge of Pensacola and Alaqua. Brackenridge and his wife Caroline were separated by his service to Florida. Dr. Jane Honeycutt did her dissertation from University of California, Davis on Brackenridge papers and letters. Here is a picture of Henry Marie Brackenridge at his property near Gulf Breeze which became the Naval Live Oak Preserve part of Gulf Island National Seashore. Brenda Rees | Shaping Florida State Archives of Florida Viva Florida 500 Florida Historical Society Museum of Florida History 2-13-2015

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OCTAVIA -- MARDI GRAS -- MOBILE -- COWBELLIANS

1/11/2016

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OCTAVIA -- MARDI GRAS – COWBELLIANS -- MOBILE
BY Brenda Rees | Shaping Florida    January 11, 2016

Mardi Gras connections to Madame Octavia Walton Le Vert – Florida – Mobile – New Orleans

            Octavia was connected to early Mobile Mardi Gras Cowbellian activities and is honored now by Le Krewe de Bienville. (check AL.com for more information in 2015 post).

            Most in Mobile probably don’t know Octavia’s ties to Walton County, Florida or Fort Walton Beach and Florida Territorial Secretary of State and Acting Governor George Walton, Jr. and Declaration of Independence Signer George Walton.
            In the Krewe’s press release they just referred to Octavia as Le Vert. Octavia was very proud of her Walton name and always included it when describing herself – Madame Octavia Walton Le Vert. She spelled her last name different from her doctor husband Dr. Henry Levert, of Mobile, preferring the proper French.

            In 2015, Pensacola had their Mardi Gras kickoff on January 4th. This made sense with famous former Pensacola, Florida resident Madame Octavia Walton Le Vert’s leadership in Mobile’s “Cowbellians.” Mobile’s Mardi Gras was before New Orlean’s Mardi Gras and “… its parades and celebrations at New Year and Twelfth Night were social events of the year …”, according to Octavia’s biographer Francis Gibson Satterfield, p. 69. The Cowbellians were known as – the Cowbellian de Rakian Society. Also, “Eventually the societies changed their Mardi Gras dates to prior to Lent as it seemed more appropriate for the descendants of the many old Spanish and French families.”

The Waltons moved to Mobile, Alabama around 1835 where George Walton, Jr. was soon elected Mayor of Mobile. Here is original research by Brenda Rees | Shaping Florida of his signature on an early Mobile document. © All Rights Reserved
Pictures by Brenda Rees | Shaping Florida © All Rights Reserved. Original portrait of Octavia as she looked when she lived in Pensacola with her family, now at Oakleigh House in Mobile. Picture of Brenda Rees portraying Madame Octavia Walton Le Vert in front of Walton House in Pensacola where the family lived 1821 to around 1835. T. T. Wentworth, Jr., Brenda’s great uncle, owned the Walton House and deeded it to Pensacola for $1. Octavia in front of the T. T. Wentworth, Jr. Florida State Museum which has a portrait of her family displayed. Octavia’s house in Mobile before it was torn down!!! Photo by Brenda Rees | Shaping Florida © All Rights Reserved by permission of Leora Sutton in her personal album in Pensacola.

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Before 30A - Walton County Songwriters "Pappy" Neal McCormick and Hank Williams"

1/7/2016

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BEFORE 30A SONGWRITERS - NEAL MCCORMICK AND HANK WILLIAMS ENTERTAINED WALTON COUNTY -- Both North and South Walton
repost and update 1-7-2016 by Brenda Rees | Shaping Florida

Before 30A -- Songwriters “Pappy” Neal McCormick and Hank Williams entertained Walton County. I remember my Dad, Coach Mac Anderson, pictured at his Eastern Lake beach house built from Alaqua lumber, talking about them. I believe he heard them at Wesley House at Eden Gardens Florida State Park (now) in Point Washington. In fact, Neal McCormick’s grandson bought Florida Governor Catt’s house in DeFuniak Springs, which was next to Anderson’s family home on Live Oak in DeFuniak Springs.

The guitar Neal liked to play was also used by both Hank Williams and Elvis Presley. Neal’s early band was named “The Hawaiian Troubadors” to hide his Creek heritage in those early performing days. In the late 1930s and early 1940s, Neal built his Barn Dance Building in Panama City, Florida or Springfield. He invented an electric guitar. There is a picture of Catt’s house on page 157 of book by Neal’s daughter Juanealya McCormick Sutton. There is a great link with Hank Williams talking about Neal McCormick and he specifically refers to DeFuniak Springs, Florida. Copies of the book “The Man Behind the Scenes” used to be available at the Walton County Heritage Museum. Check it out, great story and lots of pictures. Chapter VI is devoted to the Neal and Hank Williams, Sr. story. “This chapter is devoted to the story of Neal and Hank Williams, Sr., named Hiriam Williams at the time Neal first met him. … (Neal) was broadcasting in Pensacola in the W.C.O.A. studio when Hank brought his group to the San Carlos Hotel where the studio was located on the top floor and introduced himself to Neal.” … p.60 “So, with his mother’s full blessing, Hank became a member of Neal’s Hawaiian Troubadours.” Hank Williams was 16 or 17 at the time.

There was great music in Walton County before 30A, just as the beaches and history existed before 30A.

Cover Of Neal McCormick & Hank Williams book illustrated by picture and Governor Catt's house next to Anderson house by Brenda Rees | Shaping Florida.

Book was available at Walton County Heritage Association Walton County Heritage Museum on Circle Drive in DeFuniak Springs, Florida. Museum open from 1 to 4 pm weekdays, I believe.

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