"The Way It Was" Newspaper Column on Baker County, Florida History, 1982 part 3 File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Gene Barber (no email address), through Carl Mobley (cmobley@magicnet.net) USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other presentation. This file may not be removed from this server or altered in any way for placement on another server without the consent of the State and USGenWeb Project coordinators and the contributor. *********************************************************************** THE WAY IT WAS ------------------------------------------------------------ William Eugene "Gene" Barber, Artist, Instructor, Historian & Genealogist authored a series of articles for the Baker County Press entitled "The Way It Was". His articles covered all aspects of Baker County pioneers lives in a colorful, entertaining, as well as, educational manner. At an early age, Gene possessed the desire and ability to interview the 'Old Folks'. He was as talented in the use of the pen, as he is with a brush, choosing his words and expressions in a way to paint an exciting and interesting story. The following are his articles written in 1982. Contents: * '81 wrapup and '82 beginning (in part 1) * 'Uncle Budder" Johnson (in part 1) * On life's greatest questions (in part 1) * The county's early post offices (in part 1) * State of the Union message....and equal time (in part 1) * Life's great questions (in part 1) * The month of February (in part 1) * Rare maps from period 1886-1924 (in part 1) * Some ready-to-quote one liners (in part 1) * On the approaching spring-winter (in part 1) * On the approaching spring - Temperature, rain and St. Pat (in part 1) * On approaching spring - colors and scents (in part 1) * On approaching spring-cleaning, purging and bleeding (the wrap-up) (in part 1) * Some thoughts on Easter (in part 1) * Centennial interest grows (in part 1) * Birthdates of other Baker County communities (in part 1) * Community name origins (in part 1) * Wrapup of Communities' Ages (in part 1) * McClenny 1883-1983 - the past in pictures (in part 2) * The old courthouse clock (in part 2) * 'Accident on the Lake City Road' (in part 2) * Genealogy / Answers and comments (in part 2) * The readers speak (in part 2) * McClenny 1883-1983 - A Brief History, Part I (in part 2) * Macclenny 1883-1983 - A brief history, part 2 (in part 2) * Macclenny 1883-1983 - a brief history, part three (in part 2) * Macclenny 1883-1983 - A brief history - part IV (in part 2) * Macclenny 1883-1983 - Photographs (in part 2) * McClenny 1883-1983 - A brief history, Part V (in part 2) * Macclenny 1883-1983 - A Brief History, Part VI (in part 2) * Macclenny 1883-1983 - The conclusion (in part 2) * Lessons from a 10 year old (in part 2) * Lessons from our readers (in part 2) * Summer doldrums and historical tidbits (in part 2) * More historical tidbits (in part 2) * Historical Potpourri (in part 2) * Sayings for all season * The Elder Wilson Conner * Confederates and the Oath of Allegiance * The Oath of Allegiance and some Thrifts * The McClenny Centennial - Preparations underway * Ed Fraser Hospital * Sheriffs 1861-1982 * Some Sundry Topics * Historical Personages - Two Parts * I'm thankful for........ * A couple of lists * Christmas decor from the past * Old Time Christmas Eating * "...for the poor always ye have with you" "Blessed be ye poor..' * "How '82 predictions fared _____________________________________________________________________________ THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS, Thursday, September 16, 1982 THE WAY IT WAS-Gene Barber Sayings for all seasons There are certain activities disdained by your columnist, i.e. waiting in a medical person's reception room (we know that could be improved if only one of those medical persons had to do some of the same sitting we have to), waiting for a haircut (that is why we go around so shaggy), and waiting for the clothes to finish up in a public laundromat (we are eager for the day when we'll be rich again so that we can either afford to have the disesteemed job done by someone else or be accepted as so eccentric that we can just remain unwashed). However, these unpleasant situations give us occasion to think (another task we try to not overdo), and sometimes these thoughts strike us as being rather pithy. We write them down on pages ripped from the medical person's two year old Gall Bladder Removal Digest and the hair cutting person's four year old Field, Stream and Hockey Jock Review, and sometimes on a flap from our POW super detergent or on an old pair of Fruit of the Looms. You lucky people...we now share them with you: - When you are next concerned about undisciplined people, remember that none but the disciplined have ever been successfully ruled by a dictator. - If the course of history bothers you, change it; but not by rewriting it. - Don't let anybody kid you...yelling at the top of your lungs when you are frustrated is a very effective tool...for making a fool of yourself. - Clothes do not make the man...the man makes the clothes. - Iron bars do not a prison make...but well stocked law libraries, rec rooms, and work-out gyms do. - You know you're in a class joint when you're asked to not spit on a particular area of the floor. - You know you've got a great little girl friend there when she dries her wig in the microwave. - You know you're in for a great evening at the laundromat when a caravan of Gypsies pull up in front. - You know you're in for a great day when your plumber asks you to please sit down. - There is no other feeling quite like that experienced when you're in the laundromat and the manager brings in a repairman, points toward the washer your clothes are just finishing up in and says, "that's the one they did it in." - Sometimes life is like trying to watch a Tea Men's game...you begin to wonder "whose idea was all this anyhow?" - I never know whether to be ill or amused at watching ourselves attack all the negative symptoms of mankind but ignore the two most basic ills-badness and stupidity. - We wonder about some people's religion when they feel they have to relegate it to a bumper sticker. - It's a smart person who learns that history repeats itself, but it's a smarter person who works to prevent it. - Almost all opinions depend on points of view...for instance, the fellow driving the Rolls bedecked with chrome mudflaps and foxtails thinks he's a sport. - Sometimes life is like trying to cross a sand dune in a pair of flipflops, one of which has a broken strap. - The only thing more frustrating than having no transportation is having transportation that won't work. - You know you've been around a long time when someone describes her grandmother's best and favorite recipe as, "to a box of Duncan Hines, add a gram of monosodium glutamate..." - I don t mind watching a bad movie if it's good. - People who preach that you shouldn't let things worry you evidently have never worn too tight underwear through a lengthy wedding. - Folks who preach that everything has a purpose toward the good of all evidently have never lived in snow and fire ants. - You don't know what frustration is, men, til you've had an arm in a cast and had to use a bathroom with a seat that won't stay up. - Uncle Bruiser Lauramore said, "The best way I know of to live to be a hundred is not to die." - And Aunt Dolly Padgett said, "I can look on two things in my life with great satisfaction-my first marriage to Noah Hicks and my stack of firewood in the corner of the yard yonder." _____________________________________________________________________________ THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS, Thursday, September 23, 1982 THE WAY IT WAS-Gene Barber The Elder Wilson Conner For much of this week's material, this column is indebted to the following: the late and greatly respected Mr. Willis Conner of Glen Saint Mary, the famed and definitive word on deep south genealogy-the Honorable Folks Huxford, and young writer Marc Dugan of Raleigh, North Carolina. If we could remember them all, we would also name the number of authors who tantalizingly mentioned only too briefly the South Georgia Thunderer and Exhorter Elder Wilson Conner. Many of our Conners in the Baker, Charlton, and Union Counties section are descended from the venerable Wilson "Wilce" (and "Willis") Conner, who, until a more authenticated contender comes along, will hold the distinction of being the first active non-High Church cleric in the wilds of Florida. In some of the books he is titled "Reverend", but those writers don't know much about the Primitive Baptist faith which allows that none shall be called by that epithet except the Almighty. He was born, depending on which source one checks, in either Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, or Ireland in 1768. Ireland can be discounted since the extant 174 year old family Bible gives a pretty good run-down on the family tree back to 1678 and gives them all as being born on this side of the Atlantic. Part of his youth was spent in South Carolina, and he married in that state. His father received bounty land in Georgia for his services during the Revolutionary War, and young Wilson joined him there. Much to the relief of our typographer and proof-reader, we shall not list the kids and their dates, and it is at this point that some researchers disagree on the line. The family Bible lists 12 children, but some of the record is missing. Perhaps it was on that missing portion that the William Barnard (pronounced with the accent on the first syllable), who was the progenitor of the local family, was one. We are going on the word of Mr. Willis Conner, and we believe that he would know who his grandfather was as well, or better, than most other folks. William Barnard and his wife Pollie Leigh lived in Camden (now that portion called Charlton County and were charter members of the very old Emmeus Baptist Church near the present Saint George. Their children were Reubin, Willis Washington (from whom most of the Baker County Conners are descended), William Barnard Riley "Billy" (ancestor of Commissioner Doyle Conner) Caroline, Mary (who married a Kersey), Jesse (who moved to Union County), George, John R. (he remained in Nassau County) Joseph, and Ellen. Back to old Wilson, he traveled around the southeastern Georgia area, preaching and founding churches throughout the late 1700's and early 1800's, and like many other Georgia pioneers, he developed a keen interest in the Spanish possession of Florida. When the cranky General George Mathews of Georgia decided that the Georgia Militia should do its part during the War of 1812 (meaning to rush into Florida and grab everything possible from the Spanish with whom our little nation was not at war), Elder Conner was right in there as soldier chaplain. The Georgians were so successful in their harassment of little Fernandina, Cowford, and the half dozen other tiny settlements of Spanish, former English subjects, and American pioneers that they gleefully marched on to Saint Augustine where they intended to capture the Castillo de San Marcos and the capital of Spanish East Florida (they'd heard that Andy Jackson was tending to like duties in West Florida). Since the old Spanish fort had never been taken by force and had no intention of succumbing to a band of ragtag Georgia Militia men, the assault was unsuccessful. But of almost equal magnitude was that, as far as history has told us, Elder Wilson Conner-son of a Revolutionary Soldier and progenitor of the Baker County Conners-directed the first Christian service outside the Roman and English rites in Florida. If Florida could not be gained by so-called honest means (war),then Elder Conner and a few others determined to acquire the territory by another time-honored American plan-move in, revolt, form a country, and invite the U.S. to accept the reins of government. They formed the Nation of Alachua somewhere in the present area of Alachua County (some believe closer to the Melrose section), and Conner was a member of the new country's President's Cabinet. Secretary Conner's pleas for recognition of the little state went unheeded in Washington City. His compatriots (were summarily tended to by the governments of Spain and the U.S. (hanging and imprisoning), and Elder Conner suddenly felt the call to return to the ministry in that "Haven of Rest" called backwoods Georgia. In 1819 he helped a band of Americans living along the Spanish side of the Saint Mary's River form the Pigeon Creek Baptist Church (formally chartered a couple of years later)-Florida's first Baptist Church. From Pigeon Creek went assistance to other communities such as Emmeus and North Prong's Mount Zion (both also on the Saint Mary's). These, together with those being established by Elder Conner, became locally known as the "Conner Faction" or"Connerites." A very few of these churches are still meeting and are now sometimes referred to as the "Ben Thomas Faction" and occasionally in an unflattering intent as the "Ben Thomas Bunch"> Elder Conner was a valuable state and county officer many times in Georgia during the latter part of his life. The Georgia Legislature granted him a divorce from his wife in 1829. He suffered expulsion from the church one time, and was always some what of a different thinker in his faith. It was said that he traveled over 35,000 miles on horseback along his circuit of churches during the last thirteen years of his life. He died in a pulpit in the middle of a sentence while preaching in Telfair County Georgia in the summer of 1844. One wonders at the successes of the image-makers and re-writers of history when folks heros are made of n'er accomplishers and blow hards such as Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett, but doers-with God and guts are passed over. _____________________________________________________________________________ THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS, Thursday, September 30, 1982 THE WAY IT WAS-Gene Barber Confederates and the Oath of Allegiance The two adversaries in the War of Northern Aggression (1861-1865) could no more agree on their roles in that conflict than later historians could on its reasons and causes. On one side, most southern states subscribed to the theory that the Constitution provided for no more than a loose tie for mutual interests among several independent governments, and that agreement could be abandoned whenever a better direction afforded itself. In short, they did not see themselves as parts of one nation. On the other side, the majority of the remaining states, styling themselves as " the Union", developed the concept (as much in opposition to the South's theory as had happened naturally) that the Constitution bound all into one indissoluble government. They announced that anyone in the country who thought otherwise was guilty of criminal rebellion. The southern states, now terming themselves "the Confederacy", set about to remove themselves from the old arrangement and to form a new nation, but not without a goodly amount of unnecessary sword-and-jaw rattling (somewhat egging on the belligerency of the northern states). Most of the remaining states bound themselves together more tightly, relinquished many of their old Constitutional residual independent rights, and threatened retaliation if the southern governments did not apologize and "come home." Lest this sound simplistic, it should be known that economics played a great and basic role in the sectional differences, and slavery, although blown out of proportion as a propaganda tool during the war and as a revenge mechanism during Reconstruction, was the primary spark to begin the fight (this column did say that slavery was of no consequence in itself, but that it was historically not the big issue in causing the war...so spare us the letters about it). Let it also be known that there were many in the South who had a strong aversion to separating from the old arrangement, but they were over-ridden in their objections by the more emotional propagandists, rich planters, and politically maneuvering statesmen. There were Northerners who opposed interfering with the withdrawal of the Southern Sisters, but their voices weakened among the howls of revenge and imagined and real justice. Last but not least, the whole affair was never the glorious set-to of gentlemanly conduct as romanticized by later writers. It was a miserably long, serious, and grim internecine mess with both sides wallowing in gore and hunger and soon eager for a conclusion of any kind. It was almost a Pyrrhic victory for the North (more properly and securely known at the end of the war as "the Union"), and she was initially more than willing to wearily receive her errant sisters back into the family and to lick her own wounds. Lincoln and his party successfully used the war to gain a second term, and they hoped to pick up a majority in the South in the next election by instituting a mild and humane re-uniting process. He and his cabinet and General Grant determined that the defeated states should suffer no further humility than losing the war and abandoning their purpose. Among the simple requirements of them was to take an oath of allegiance to the United States. Where rhetoric, Constitution, or even war might have failed in more firmly establishing and shoring up the Union, the small act of declaring allegiance would not. In the presence of the United States army commander of the area in which he was paroled, the former Confederate read or heard, "I (blank) do solemnly swear or affirm, in the presence of Almighty God, that I will hereafter faithfully support and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Union of the States thereunder; and that I will, in like manner, abide by and faithfully support all laws and Proclamations which have been made during the existing Rebellion, with reference to the Emancipation of Slaves; and that I consider myself as (blank) being included within the benefits of the President's Proclamation of Amnesty, without a Special pardon. So help me God." He then either signed his name or mark. _____________________________________________________________________________ THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS, Thursday, October 7, 1982 THE WAY IT WAS-Gene Barber The Oath of Allegiance and some Thrifts We are indebted to Ward P. Barnes of Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, for sharing with us some allegiance oaths (see last week's column) of certain members of his family connections, viz. John W. Willis (or Willie), and Leroy J. Thrift of Ware County, Georgia; Elizabeth, Robert, and L.J. Thrift of Richmond County, Georgia; William Thrift of Pierce County, Georgia; and Green Thrift of Tattnall County, Georgia. Beulah Yarbrough Wilford's fill-ins of Thrift history and genealogy is greatly appreciated. She has corrected many misconceptions and false data that have been kicking around in the genealogy books for a long time. Your writer is totally responsible for any and all incorrect information contained herein. It was Leroy J. "Pomp" from whom the Baker County Thrifts and majority of Charlton County Thrifts came. He was born in 1841 in Ware County (on or near Cowhouse Island say some descendants) to Carr and Unity Thrift. The late Sanada Thrift related that her grandfather Pomp married Zilphia Hogan while home on furlough from the War Between the States. Zilphia (also spelled "Zelphia" and "Zilpha") was a daughter of James J. and Mary Hogan. James J. was a son of Archibald Hogan who might have been the first permanent Anglo-American settler in the present Baker County, Florida. It was also for Arch that Hogan's Ferry (also called Hogan's Bridge) just above the present Baxter was named. From 1864 through 1887 were born to Pomp and Zilphia the following: Mary Etta (she married Bob Crews), James W. (we well recall Uncle Jim with his formidable pistol and handlebar mustache), Rufus (he, as a deputy sheriff, was brutally slain in the infamous "Baxter Rebellion"), Joseph (his sons were prominent in local politics), Zilphia "Pick" (her husband was descended from this county's first sheriff), Robert "Bob" (his wish to be buried on a rise of land under a shelter to prevent him from being wet after death was carried out), Dan (often remembered by older heads as being a great hunter), Moses (his grand-daughter is the Mrs. Wilford mentioned in paragraph one), Charles (he died at sixteen, some say by drowning), Sarah (a lovely and quiet lady who was almost accidentally shot during the assassination of Sheriff Green), and Nellie (her husband was Lewis Walton Mobley). Leroy "Pomp" died in 1889 at Moniac. His wife followed him in death in 1918 in Baker County. The father of Pomp was Carr Thrift, born in 1805 in Washington County, Georgia. Carr's wife was Unity (maiden name not known by this writer) of Georgia, and her birth year was 1804. They died, respectively, in c. 1880 and 1855. Carr's parents were Robert and Lydia Partin Thrift of Washington County, Georgia. Born from c.1823 to c.1853, the children of Carr and Unity were John (believed to be the same as the John in the first paragraph), Robert, Sallie, Laney (female), Mary, Leroy J. (same as the above subject), Martha, Margaret, and Owen William. There was another Leroy moving about in the Baker, Columbia, and Union Counties area of Florida and the Charlton-Ware section of Georgia. He was a half brother of Carr and can probably be identified with the L.J. of paragraph one. His first wife was named Pinke and his second spouse was Elizabeth, a daughter of John and Eliza Fullwood. This Leroy was the father of Mary, Sarah, William, Willis, and Moses, all born between 1843 and 1850. The last child has been referred to by some as the Reverend Moses Thrift of Ware County and who married Ardealia, a daughter of George Lee. Reverend Thrift, so the story around Racepond goes, was a shrewd, somewhat avaricious fellow locally called "Landgrabbing Mose". Another Thrift of a colorful sort was Penelope, a daughter of a Robert T. Thrift of Washington County (unknown to this writer if this Robert is the same as that of paragraph eight). Penelope was reputed to be a consumate business person. It was more than a coincidence to this column that the Penny of Thrift "...some'rs up een Georgie..." as told about by some of the older Thrifts matched in many points the Penelope involved in a suit in Washington County with Jane Frizel regarding the disputed ownership of a negro girl named Maria in 1826. The older heads also told and retold a story about their Thrift beginnings in this county. Like almost all family traditional tales, it has been poo-poohed by a younger generation of scientific and self-styled de-bunking researchers. This column thinks the tale is too interesting and too parallel with known facts to ignore or discount without further digging. The story: A Robert Flanagan (note the identical given name to our Robert Thrift of Washington County), wishing to escape a charge of murder in Ireland in the late 1700's, took illegal passage (read: "stowaway") for America. He is supposed to have landed either in Virginia or Savannah Georgia with the new name Thrift. We won't argue the tale one way or the other, but we think it beats the heck out of those inane stories of three brothrs came over because the King was mad at them, one went north, one west, and one came south. _____________________________________________________________________________ THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS, Thursday, October 14, 1982 THE WAY IT WAS-Gene Barber The McClenny Centennial - Preparations underway In 1983 the city of McClenny will be 100 years old. Last month the city commission voted to celebrate the event. This week the director began to set up a centennial celebration headquarters, and the public will soon be encouraged to participate in the first planning meeting. So far, a good - an ideal - start. Why commemorate a centennial? We think the best answer is found in Florida in the 1890's-Reliving the Past With Centennials, Barber-Spirtas-Wells, McClenny, The Baker County Press, 1982: "Besides the ostensive reason of noting its hundredth birthday, a small community or rural county can use a centennial celebration for several other purposes of greater consequence, i.e. showcasing local talents to a wider audience, introducing its assets to potential businesses and residents, creating (or re-creating) civic pride through consciousness of local heritage, calling its citizens' attention to a downtown or a neighborhood that is in danger of becoming blighted or is already so, and giving a positive surge to the local economy. "Because of well-planned and well-executed centenary celebrations, many towns and counties can boast of salvaged historic sites which became lucrative tourist attractions, re-vitalized downtowns, restored neighborhoods, and a rediscovered sense of civic duty and cooperation. "Successful centennial festivals tend to make money, and almost none show deficits except those where deficits were anticipated and even planned (those completely free of costs or fees to its participants). The economical boosts associated with such celebrations greatly outweigh the possible protests of a few merchants and residents who might express dissatisfaction about crowds and temporary inconvenience..." We further quote, this time from Economic Impact of the Centennial Celebration in Glen Saint Mary, Florida, Ellerbrock-Logan-Gordon-Spirtas, Staff Paper 191, University of Florida, 1981: "On the basis of participants' enjoyment, the Centennial Celebration was a major success. On the basis of economic impact, the Celebration also appears to have been highly successful. An influx of approximately $94,378 in direct expenditures in such a small town as Glen Saint Mary during a Thursday and Friday evening, full Saturday, and Sunday afternoon is a boon to the local economy. An estimated impact of $23,087 increases the overall economic impact to approximately $117,465." We don't think our readers got that the first time...approximately $117,465..." That's what was spent by festival goers in and around the little community of Glen Saint Mary during a four day weekend (and there was only one full day of activities). In particular, why should McClenny celebrate? Good question. We've seen celebrations for places, times, events, and people of far inferior importance. McClenny, through its sons and daughters, has enriched the world and modified the course of history. This column thinks it is time for our little city to crow a bit. One of McClenny's sons has sat in a United States President's cabinet, McClenny's nurseries (Griffin, Griffin Interstate, Turkey Creek, Southern States, Blair) have graced the gardens of the world with spectacular hybrids and dramatic mutants, McClenny was the site of the salvaging of the state's cattle industry during the disastrous fever tick epidemic of the early 1900's, McClenny was representative of the best 'shine ever made (known throughout the lower South and most of the eastern seaboard),and McClenny's food was equated with the ultimate in Southern rural cuisine. We could go on and on, but let us close by saying: "Let us celebrate McClenny." _____________________________________________________________________________ THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS, Thursday, October 21, 1982 THE WAY IT WAS-Gene Barber Ed Fraser Hospital - The beginning to a 25th birthday Thirty years ago, Baker County Senator Edwin Fraser began a one man crusade for a local hospital. The reactions among his constituents were varied: incredulity, amusement, antagonism. He spoke for it on the political platform and from the street corners. A few misconstrued his message and believed they were being promised eternal health for no reciprocal financial responsibility. Others protested that when the federal money would eventually be taken away the few taxpayers in the county would be saddled with maintaining a white elephant (for surely, they said, there would never be sufficient illness in Baker County to warrant such an expensive operation). Fraser was often castigated when it appeared that the facility was going to be a reality. He continued, however, and had said on one earlier occasion, "I'm going to get a hospital for the people of Baker County even if it means I'll never get elected again." The Senator was in a powerful position-Secretary of the Florida Senate-and he knew powerful people. By 1956, a hospital authority composed of Jesse Frank Morris, Dana F. Jones, and W. Frank Wells was sitting in session and the construction site in McClenny behind the courthouse was announced. Fraser had succeeded. The Baker County Press of 1 June, 1956, carried the news that $73,697 from the federal Hill-Burton Act fund had been received by the Authority toward the financing of the $400,000 structure. An additional sum of $186,303 was expected from the same source. The Authority had also received $75,000 from Gulf Life Insurance Company of Jacksonville for delivery of county bonds to be used toward the project. A total of $50,000 in bonds had been sold previously to the Citizens Bank of McClenny. The county's share of $140,000 was seen as no problem by Authority chairman Morris. A suitable site had been donated by the county commission, and Plant Construction Company of Waycross promised the facility would be ready for occupancy on or about 1 January, 1957. Excitement was in the air, but not all of it was good. There were still a few grumblers, and Plant Construction Company, beset with problems, was clearly going to be delinquent regarding the turn-over date. The hospital building was approximately 70 percent complete in the middle of January, 1957, when the Authority cancelled its contract with the Plant Company. In an editorial of 1 February, 1957, Tate Powell, Jr. commented, "The local hospital will be completed, but, with the cancellation of the building contract, completion will probably be delayed for several months-and at $50 performance penalty (per day) coming in from the old contractor's bonding company, I do not believe that the local authority is in any rush for the facility to be completed at once." Not much time was lost, however, as subcontractors remained on the site with their respective jobs. The Continental Casualty Company surety of Plant Construction Company took charge of the primary building operation on February 12th, and McMullen Construction Company of Jacksonville completed the work. By April, hospital administrator R.D. Edmondson announced from his temporary office in McClenny's city hall that construction was 75 percent done. The McMullin Company optimistically expected all work to be through by July 15th. Edmondson also stated that the local unfinished facility has been admitted to memberships in both the American and Florida Hospital Associations. Applications for employment were taken beginning in June. In a 21 July, 1957, article titled "Take Another Look at the 'New' Baker County", the Jacksonville Journal said: "Macclenny and Baker County will have the answer to the problem of medical facilities this fall, when around October 1 the new Ed Fraser Memorial Hospital will open its doors, providing the county with the newest and most modern facilities in Florida. "Named in honor of former Sen. Ed Fraser, who has served 20 years in the Legislature, the 25-bed, $400,000 hospital will eliminate the need for long trips to other counties for medical care. Built with aid from matching Federal funds, the county will finance its share by pledging receipts from state racing taxes. "Too, the hospital will fill the need for more doctors. "No hospital, no doctors," Sen. Fraser summed up the problem. "Incidentally, owner of the Southern States Nursery near Macclenny, Fraser will donate ornaments (sic) to beautify the hospital grounds. He is well known throughout the state for similar donations." Finally, on October 27, 1957, a formal dedication was held on the new Ed Fraser Memorial Hospital's front lawn. Boy Scout Troop 159, and its Scoutmaster Wilf Kirsopp raised the American Flag at 2:30 pm. The Baker County High School Band played, and the Reverend Jim D. Williams gave the invocation. Senator, and later Secretary of State, Tom Adams of Orange Park acted as Master of Ceremonies. He introduced the Authority members, Administrator Edmondson, attorney and state representative John J. Crews, architect J. Brooks Haas, and guests. Art Forehand, director of the Hospital Division of the Florida Development Commission offered the dedication address. Reverend B.E. Chesser led the dedication prayer. An open house was held from 3 until 5 o'clock during which the sparkling facility was displayed with pride. The hospital auxiliary in cherry pink aprons explained that bedside radios would be permitted patients, smoking was okay in areas other than rooms using oxygen, visits should be kept short and cheerful, and no valuables should be left in the rooms. Much of the printed program concerned costs of patient care. For several years a patient admission and discharged column was a weekly feature in the Press in which the coloring was carefully noted. In 1966 the authority announced that in order to participate in medicare and to comply with the 1964 Civil Rights Act, Fraser Hospital would be totally integrated in staff and patients. Toward the end of the sixties the hospital was involved although as an innocent bystander type, in the emergency ambulance situation. Both local funeral homes had been handling the service, and both were getting very near to not wanting it. Federal and state requirements were becoming tougher, and it was apparent that someone was going to have to go into the emergency rescue and ambulance business. In early 1973 the Federally funded seven county Emergency Medical Program on the local level was stationed at Fraser Hospital. It was also at that time and under the administrator Billy Mills that some of the Federal funds were used to bring extra doctors on weekends. Toward the decade of the eighties, tight money and soaring expenses prompted the authority to seek outside help in administering the local hospital, at present, it is under the Methodist Hospital Foundation (Jacksonville) but still governed by the local hospital authority. Despite its vicissitudes, Ed Fraser Memorial Hospital has survived 25 silver years, much to the gratitude of those who owe the lives of themselves and their family and friends to it and its staff. Most would prefer to see it continue, and most would prefer to see its people at the very top settle down into an attitude of cooperation. _____________________________________________________________________________ THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS, Thursday, October 28, 1982 Page Two THE WAY IT WAS-Gene Barber Sheriffs through the years 1861-1982 It was quite faddish a few years back to compile and publish lists, and folks who had previously complained of boredom of lists began to almost feverishly buy them and devour them. Naturally, your ol' columnist is always either too early or too late with everything, so here he comes with a list of his own. When the county was first formed in 1861 Georgia-born James M. Burnsed was elected its first sheriff. He served in that capacity, as well as an officer of a Confederate Army unit, during the War Between the States. When the hardnosed fellows in Washington City decided that the former Confederate States needed a lesson in humility and patriotism they instituted so-called Reconstruction, and Sheriff Burnsed was ousted in the change in 1867 in favor of a military law order. William Green was elected in 1875, but, with the blessings of the Reconstructionists due to a run-in with the locals, he saw fit to resign the same year. A.A. Allen filled in for the year of 1876, and Urbin Cooper Herndon was elected in 1877. Ben S. Roberts, who later moved to near the Palatka area, was elected in '79' and resigned ten months later. John C. Williams followed in 1880 and was out in a year. Mr. Herndon returned as an appointee in 1881. J.W. Van Buskirk, a Yankee gentleman, was elected in 1884 and began his tenure during the county's first great boom. Like many other Northerners, after the fever epidemic, Van Buskirk left in 1888 and went home to-we-think-Ohio. Charly F. Pons, a scion of an ancient and substantial Minorcan family (originally "Ponce") and sometimes referred to as a "mean son-of a-_____, served the remainder of 1888. A North Carolina native, James W. Gurganus, was sheriff from 1889 through 1893, Charly Pons then returned but was bested in 1897 in his bid for re-election by Job E.W. Driggers. Pons resigned in a huff and then killed Driggers in early 1898 near the northeast corner of Railroad Avenue and South Fifth Street in a gun fight. Who else would be appointed (1898) but the already three-time-filler-inner Urbin Cooper Herndon. According to all the older heads concerned with the so-called Baxter Rebellion in 1903, Coop Herndon was sheriff at the time, but records do not bear this out (we shall do more investigation, because we kind'a think we'd rather go along with the old timers who were there watching). From 1901 to 1905 J.O. Powers was sheriff and was re-elected for a second term. He resigned in 1911. Lott Dyal from Nassau County filled in and then was elected to serve until 1917. J.H. Brown of Olustee held the position from 1917 until 1918. When he died in office, J.R. Corbett, a Northerner, took over for a few months. G.M. Rhoden was appointed in 1918 to finish Corbett's term. He resigned (times were pretty rough in those days) in favor of the afore-mentioned Mr. Dyal (same year). A.J. Sweat was elected in 1919 but died soon after. L.F. Sweat (some say they were brothers) was in office in 1920. Duval V. Selph, son of the famous Duval Selph of Columbia County who could whip anything and everything, was sheriff for a few months in 1921 (actually, nobody really wanted the job; its future was decidedly uncertain and it didn't pay such a fabulous salary in those days). J. Arthur Rowe took over at a particularly bad period. People were disappearing and shooting each other in broad daylight. He kept the badge for a while and prudently handed it to Joe Jones, Jr. This is the sheriff this writer first remembers, and he remembers him fondly. He permitted your ol'columnist to ride his ponies, and in many other sundry ways spoiled him. He was sheriff from 1922 to 1937, an unprecedented lengthy time for this office in this county. Jones was followed in 1937 by Shannon R. Green. Green was re-elected but was assassinated in front of the old county court house in 1941. Green was a tough and colorful law-officer who commanded the respect and admiration of those who knew him (with the exception, of course, of the unknown killer). J.E. Combs first, and then Asa Coleman, Jr. completed Green's term. Mr. Coleman continued in office until 1956 and is the only one on our list so far who is still living. E. Ed Yarbrough is remembered as the lawman who was instrumental in clearing out the 'shine' industry here. He resigned to head the Florida Sheriff's Bureau. The affable Carl H. Rochester, building contractor and minister, was appointed in the midst of a mad scramble for the delectable Job (it was definitely becoming more attractive). Former City Councilman Paul Thrift won the office when it came up for election, and he later reliniquished it to Joe Newmans. Gary Fraser, son of Secretary of the Florida Senate Edwin Fraser, was put in office in the middle of Newman's tenure, and Newmans returned to be re-elected. As our list indicates, It was a minority of Baker County sheriffs who completed even one term in office. What the list did not say was that few lived beyond the age of 40 and many were dead (by natural and other causes) before they were 30. Seems like everybody wants the office now, but for a long time, being a Baker County sheriff was a most undesirable job. _____________________________________________________________________________ THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS, Thursday, November 4, 1982 Page Two THE WAY IT WAS - Gene Barber Some Sundry Topics Apology: Most people we know are at this very moment accepting as facts items of misinformation they have lived with all their lives. Even scientific, professional, or cynical minds will occasionally-infrequently-fail to question. And because most people do it does not make it right for any of us as individuals to do it. This column was guilty of the same last week when the term "assassinated" was used in paragraph fourteen. Research since then proved beyond a shadow of a doubt this column was totally incorrect in the content of that incident's paragraph. Beyond the improper use of that term, the very mention of the incident from so recent history was not in good taste. It opened some old and sad wounds, hurt some very fine people, and inadvertently insulted the memory of a gentleman who was considered a friend by this columnist. Your columnist begs the offended people (and they have been much kinder than they should) to know that he wrote with ignorance and not with malice. McClenny vs. Macclenny: A few years ago, this column vowed to not mention again the old but small controversy regarding the spelling of the town's name, but several requests on the subject has led us into a few more remarks. Two or three years back Robert Robinson, former post master of Glen Saint Mary, genealogist, and history buff provided us with some valuable research from the National Archives on the subject of local post offices. At that time we learned that Carr B. McClenny, the first post master of the town which bore a bastard (this is not a nasty word here) version of his name, actually contrived the spelling "Macclenny" himself. There is little doubt that he attempted to have the same spelling as his surname hung on the post office, but the official status was finally granted to "Macclenny" in 1885. Don't let the date confuse you; the community had been going for two years, and most post offices were not granted to a town until a year or longer-usually much longer-after the town was established. So why the spelling change? Very simply stated, the United Postal Service of a hundred years ago was as keen on expediency as now. Therefore, to cut writing time, type-setting time, etc;, no post office except in the cases of very old established communities was permitted the use of cutesy terms. ("Corners", "Junction", etc.) and hyphens, and Gaelic "Mc-capital letter, Mac-capital letter, and O' " were frowned on also. We do not have it in black and white, but it was probably for this reason or for the possible fact that there was already another post office with the name and spelling of "McClenny" that caused Capt. McClenny to rearrange the spelling. After all, it was his town and his money that built it, and a proper ego would demand his name applied to it even if it meant in a strange form. This column might not return to the "Mac-", but it will no longer argue the point. Come to think of it, it was never really that important...we reckon. Open House: The Baker County Historical Society has a pleasant function in store for you, the public, on Sunday, December 5th. New museum displays, a visit to the historical library, refreshments, and a view of a restored turn-of-the-century parlor all decked out for the holidays will be featured in the old Jail on McIver Avenue in McClenny (oops, Macclenny). It's free, and the pubilc, the entire public, is invited. Centennial Fever: We might be over-acting with the word fever, but something is definitely in the air. This column has received several requests for a reading list of McClenny history (this column and other sources), offers to help with the Centennial Celebration have been more than trickling in, and some of the ladies have been working on their frocks for next year (right around the corner). This column will eventually compile an abbreviated list of sources where one may better study the background of the town they live in, and we will publish it nearer to the big year. And, yes, all of you may assist with the Centennial. The first planning session will be this Thursday, November 4 at 7:30 pm in the McClenny City Hall. _____________________________________________________________________________ THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS, Thursday, November 11, 1982 Page Two THE WAY IT WAS - Gene Barber Historical Personages First of two parts "An institution is the lengthened shadow of one man...and all history resolves itself very easily into the biography of a few stout and earnest persons." Ralph Waldo Emerson. As one interested in history, this columnist has often been asked, "who are your favorite historical characters? The subject of the request would seem innocuous enough, but in formulating an answer it was decided that perhaps some propaedeutical defense of sorts would be prudent. The names listed will doubtless be contested by a small percentage of our grand total of perhaps eighteen readers, but your writer wishes to advise that the inquires solicited his opinion rather than a universal dogmatic statement. Others might take offense or be amused at the rather incongruous company, and...what the heck, it is our column, and we'll say what we wish. Jesus of Nazareth. Beginning our list and not solely based on our early religious training, is Jesus of Nazareth. It is our contention that had He not been an historical person, it would have been necessary to create Him, for no man has ever been the culmination and paragon of common sense in man's relationship with himself and his fellows as was that obscure Jew. He was a paradox of humility and nobility. We often wonder how any sensitive human can read the recorded words of the an and not have his life modified or not consider locking the doors of most of the institutions operating under His borrowed name. Do not be shocked that we give little space to Him. It is because too much time has been spent talking about Him rather than listening to His words that most of His avowed followers neither live together harmoniously nor can understand that those who do not choose to fall in line have a right to live also. Napoleon Bonaparte. If ever the most overdue vile press was given to any man, it was to the humbly originated Corsican Napoleon Bonaparte. The perfect traits-marriage of brilliant mind, guts, and initiative were his. Whether he was ruthless or expedient depends primarily on the liberality quotient of the one who judges him. All we know is that the little fellow with the monumental personality found Europe, and especially France the pivotal nation of the continent in chasos and near insanity, and he titivated up the whole place. He left an order by direct and indirect means that has more or less lasted for 170 years. He had his faults (what little people don't?) but among them were not ignoring the man of the masses or failure to push patriotic pride. Given time, he would have rearranged the world, and it would have had to be an improvement over what we presently have. Leonardo Da Vinci. Irascible, handsome, dandy, mystical, egomaniacal, rebellious, suspect in his sexual direction, daring, diversified in interests, innovative, cynical, and effulgent genius - there was nothing the man could not do except be dull. The western world was trying to crawl out of a blue funk, and it needed Leonardo the Renaissance man. He lived amnong giants, but even popes and princes paled beside him. He overcame, even ignored, his mean and illegitimate beginnings. He lived his life as he wished and was not at all hesitant to advertise his multitudinous and unprecedented talents. He revolutionized art and thought out much of what we consider our modern miracles. In our somewhat dull overspecialized society of the latter twentieth century, it would behoove us to ferret out another Leonardo to hold forth as exemplary. Socrates. Had he done nothing else for the world of his day and ours, he dared question every thing and everybody. There were no sacred cows, (and still should be none). Like Jesus of Nazareth, he was accused of tossing a monkey wrench into the comfortable style and direction of his contemporary society and was required to give his life for it. Who can remember his executioners? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS, Thursday, November 18, 1982 Page Two THE WAY IT WAS - Gene Barber Historical Personages (Second of two parts) George Washington: Tossed the sop of respect simply because he was the first president of the United States, George Washington has otherwise been relegated to sit behind chief executives of far less accomplishment, personality, and acumen. The lives of the master politician Abraham Lincoln, the charming but politically ineffective John Kennedy, the vacillitating and erudite Woodrow Wilson, and even obscure sitters in the White House are far better documented (and some much more publicized) than the one, and perhaps last, great dedicated moralist in this nation's highest office. The man's messages were powerful in their simplicity and basic intelligence. Some day, honest historians might admit that the grand American rebellion and the nation's formation would not have taken place so quickly, or so effectively if at all, without Washington. And about the only thing the debunkers can create about the man in a negative sense is that the he might have slept around. If he did, which we don't know, he at least didn't also engage in Bay of Pigs escapades and Viet Nam involvements between beds. Osceola The Miccasuki. If ever the United States of America decides to adopt an official symbol of national conscience it must be the sad but proud Creek warrior who was robbed, lied to, humiliated, and made to die in a strange land in demeaning circumstances. Osceola epitomized those same treatments dealt to his fellows (they were also subjected to slavery, torture, and murder-for-fun) At last, he warred only when goaded beyond endurance, but he remained a gentleman throughout his period in the hostilities. That was a epithet his enemies (our side) could not validly claim. His war was not the first unjust one (what war is just?), but it was the first to prick the national conscience so deeply. As is always the case of great personalities among little people, Osceola's worth and stature were not known until after his ignominious end. Dr. George Washington Carver. There are those who would accuse us of including Dr. Carver as a token black because he is sometimes, and unfairly, treated as an "Uncle Tom" type. Perhaps that plays an unconscious part, but we remember being introduced to the work and spirit of the man and admiring him long before we left the age of innocence regarding racism. He was the perfect example of one who was happy with his world but dissatisfied with his role in it. Therefore, he possessed the initiative, to create the advance, ever mindful that nothing he attempted was not beneficial to his fellow human beings. When chided for his lack of black militant attitude, he simply stated that he was a human being first, a Christian second, and a black man third. He often refused recognition and was dead set against patenting his discoveries, because he said that the raw ingredients and his ability were properties of the "Mister Creator" and that the results belonged to the human race as a whole. Little wonder that the man's memory has faded in our modern grasping mercenary society. General Robert E Lee: His name will be deeply inscribed on history's most permanent tablets as the ultimate in integrity. He was possessed of two most admirable traits (which are now rapidly dying among ourselves) gentlemanliness and loyalty to his home. Another of those who lived among giants, his personality was the only one which could have performed the duty of building an effective army, of such superhuman endurance and strength from so unlikely material and situation. Through generations, there were old men never known for sentimentality who, the tears in their eyes, told of being privileged to just touch the General's horse Traveler when the grand experiment was finally over at Appomattox. Harry S. Truman. Bequeathed probably the biggest and most embarrassing international mess in history by his predecessor Good King Delano, Harry Truman - unknown, short, brassy, former haberdasher, and World War I veteran - grabbed the reins of the world's most powerful nation and not only made the best of the situation, he honored Roosevelt's commitments (right or wrong) and wound up facing down the avowed enemies of the free world (remember when we din't like Commies? Your writer still doesn't). Sympathetic to his decisions or not, honest people must admit that when he relieved McArthur of duty for insubordination and when he threatened to take control of the railroads when the rail union was going to strike during a national critical period, he preserved, respectively, the American concept of keeping military subject to the civilian and the strength and integrity of the office of President of the United States. And this writer has always respected a man who'd say "damn" and stick to it. _____________________________________________________________________________ THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS, Thursday, November 25, 1982 Page Two THE WAY IT WAS - Gene Barber I'm thankful for........ Your columnist had planned to take out about five minutes this Thursday to be thankful, but on retrospect he decided that there were many more than the four items for gratitude he had originally thought of. Some folks will be busy giving thanks for freedom, good health, friends, family, kids (ugh) etc., so he will skip over those and tend to the ones hardly anybody gives a thought to. And in honor of this most solemn holiday, he will also skip over the affected editorial "we." I am most thankful that I never got my hair curled or frizzed and that I left all that to the macho fellows about me. I am also grateful that I have never wished to drive or own a pick-up truck except when I wanted to haul something or was in a ditch. Dear Lord, I am thankful that I haven't been to a Georgia-Florida football game in about thirty years, and I am further grateful that my social, business, and economic standing is not such that I shall ever be expected to. I am thankful that I don't live in a city (yet), have to watch "Three's Company", have never seen a complete soap opera, read a People magazine, purchased an Enquirer, or owned a jogging or warm up costume. I give thanks that I didn't have to eat quiche made by anybody without imagination, that I live in a country where I can choose to eat food without wine in it or with it every time I sit at the table, and that I never fell into the habit of calling supper by any other name than "supper." I am further grateful and happy that I don't have to eat blueberries, huckleberries, sheep meat (no matter what age it was when it was killed), or chitlings, and that I have been able to avoid the "preppy" look. I am thankful beyond belief that I don't have to attend cocktail parties, dinner parties and kindergarten graduations. I am thankful that I have had the intelligence and penuriousness to keep me out of clubs and in but few organizations of any kind. I also have piles of gratitude that I don't have to have or attend frequent yard sales, that I've never shot a game of pinball or played one video game; and that I've never studied karate or enrolled in any of those mind expanding programs where the instructors would insult my intelligence. I am thankful that I had parents smart enough or maybe shy enough that they did not give me sex education lectures, because it was much more fun learning on my own. Grateful am I that I never fell for the "layered look", that I never read a Gothic romance novel, that I've never had a "decorator" Christmas tree, that I've been able to always resist tossing litter onto highways and country roads, and that I've never dated an ugly woman. I am thankful that I've never had a toothache, that my arthritis doesn't cripple me or hurts no more than it does, that I've tried to read my beautiful books rather than display them on a coffee table, and that I've always had the strength to rip off any outside labels (which are in very bad taste no matter how "in" they are) from my clothes before wearing them (I paid enough for the articles; let the dern manufacturer do his own advertising). I am most grateful for friends (albeit very few) who make no demands of my time or who attempt to drain my little bit of personality from me. I am thankful that I had no illustrious forebears so that I've had to earn attention from others on my own. I am also eager to give thanks that I learned, although late in life, that I do not have to tolerate or even be nice to cavillers, devil's advocates, and nit-pickers. I offer thanksgiving that I don't possess a $500.00 a-month house payment, that there are jacks which enable me to unplug my telephone when I don't want to use it (since I am making the monthly payments on it, I think I rather than my acquaintances, can determine when it will be in use) and that I have finally learned that I don't have to drop whatever I'm doing (including sleeping) just to run and answer a knock on my door. I am grateful that I quit denying myself anything I really wanted, that the term "the value of life" has become much more than a cliche to me, and that I have just recently (within the past couple of weeks) learned to tolerate criticism (I shall begin to accept it as soon as I am convinced that my critics have the intelligence to back up their fault-finding). I give thanks that I've discovered that the Supreme Being does not belong to the First Baptist Church, that the Roman Catholics or Jews do not have monoply on Him (or It), and that He (or It) does not necessarily favor those who call on Him (or It) the loudest. I am thankful that there are no (to my knowledge) perfect beings on earth, because they would be so lonely. I am thankful that I am a citizen of a nation in which I shall get no punishment for what I say other than a good chewing out at the post office or in the grocery store by an irate offended reader. So you think I must lead a very dull life. I can sleep well at night. For these and all other blessings I give thanks. _____________________________________________________________________________ THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS, Thursday, December 2, 1982 Page Two THE WAY IT WAS - Gene Barber A couple of lists From out of our not-so-distant past comes the following two lists-the participants in the McClenny School Commencement Exercises of 1927 and the county schools' FFA sponsors. The "grammar" school mentioned is quite a dated term and constituted grades from primer pronounced "prem'-er" through eighth. By the time the following program was held the McClenny High School had been in existence for about 15 or 20 years, and had been instituted by Professor Barney J. Padgett. Commencemant Program, Grammar Grades, Friday Evening, April 15, 8:00 O'clock Welcome Song "Mr. and Mrs. Audience" - Fourth Grade Girls. Pantomime - "The Doll Shop" - First Grade and Primer. Recitation - "My Dollie" - Reatha Dugger. Novelty Song - "Oh, Let Me Listen" - Reo Herrin, James Dowling. Indian Drill - Second and Third Grade Boys. Black Face Drill and Song - "Possum and Sweet Taters" - Fifth Grade Boys. Action Song - "Mud Pies" - First Grade and Primer. Fairy Drill - Second and Third Grade Girls. The Sorry-for-it Society" - Fifth Grade Girls. "Bird Song" - Second and Third Grade Boys. Pantomime - "Home, Sweet Home" - Fifth Grade Girls. Japanese Novelty Song - "Miss Cherry Blossom's Party" Third and Fourth Grade Girls. Reading - "Vacation Time" Jack Bradley; Action Song - "Little Mothers" - Second and Third Grade Girls. Play - "Five Hours to Go" - Sixth Grade. Farewell Song - "We Do Not Like to Say Good-bye" - Fifth and Sixth Grades. Grammar School Graduation Exercises, Thursday Evening, April 21, 8:00 O'clock Invocation - Rev. F.W. Cramer. Chorus - "Roses" - Class. Salutatory - Floy Estes. Class Poem - Mary Belle Freeman. Class Will - Roy Hart. Class Prophecy - Nellie, Hart and Alyne Thomas. Chorus - "Dawn" - Class. Parting Charge to Seventh Grade - Mildred Fraser. Parting Tribute - Bernice Bradley. Valedictory - Irene Rhoden. Address - Miss Lillian L. Watkins. Presentation of Diplomas - Supt. J.L. Hodges. Benediction - Rev. William Rhoden. Graduation Exercises, Baker County High School, Friday Evening, April 22, 8:00 O'clock Music. Invocation - Mr. T.C. Carrol. Salutatory - Aline Fraser. Music. Class History - Alice Milton. Class Will - Violet Barefoot. Class Prophecy - Estus Rhoden. Music. Valedictory - Bertie Rhoden. Class Address - Hon. W.P. Douglass. Presentation of Diplomas - Supt. J.L. Hodges. Benediction - Rev. F.W. Cramer. A salient feature of Baker County Schools and of the county's' social and economic life throughout our recent history is the Future Farmers of America. This laudable organization has been the first rung for many a Baker County youth on his way to the top in his chosen field. The 1ist below honors several of the gentlemen who taught vocation agriculture or were county agents here and who assisted and sponsored the county's four chapters. Our newer residents might appreciate knowing that the county once had three high schools - McClenny, Sanderson, and Taylor. Sanderson. FFA Sponsors (Chartered. March 21, 1935, Johnny Bethea, President) 1942-45, B.R. Mills; 1945-48, R.A. Campbell; 1948-51, John F. Fowler; 1951-52, Henry Hewitt; 1952-53, Alan Harvey; 1953-54, Fred Shaw; 1954-55, Henry Turney. Taylor (Chartered December 13, 1949, Bobby L. Taylor, President) 1949-54, Fred Shaw; 1954-55, Henry Turney. McClenny (Chartered November 5, 1930, Edwin Fraser President) 1930-33, S.L. Brothers; 1933-41, E.L. Creel; 1941-42, Phillip Feagie; 1942, Perry Sistrunk; 1942, J.W. Brown; 1942-45, B.R. Mills; 1945-48, R.A. Campbell; 1948-50, Lloyd Stalvey; 1950-51, John Fowler 1951-52, Henry Hewitt; 1952-55, Alan Harvey. Baker County High School (Chartered November 1, 1955, Marcus Brown, President) 1955, Alan Harvey; 1965, Jack Williams. So as to not slight our current sponsors and teachers, we add to our list the names of Billy Williams who is now the vo-ag teacher at Baker County High School and Mike Millikin at Baker County Middle School. _____________________________________________________________________________ THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS, Thursday, December 9, 1982 Page Two THE WAY IT WAS - Gene Barber Christmas decor from the past Christmas decor can be pretty well divided today into three major catagories - Traditional Mishmash (anything and every thing which appeals to the individual's eye and which is generally purchased in popular department stores and discount houses and which is added to each year with little thought of coordination), Decorator (artistic dramatic, and seldom, if ever, reflecting the personality of the household except for its falseness, and it consists of such items as giant fuchsia bows, blue trees with foil representations of endangered species, and five foot floor candles), and Back-To-The-Good-Old-Days (supposed to be very nostalgic with its gingham bows, wreaths made of old cane plummies, and lots of allergy-aggravating dried weeds stuck in every available hole in the house). Whichever is done, it is now up the day after Thanksgiving. Your writer is so tacky that he not only waits until a decent time to put up the mess, he goes with the great unwashed and actually uses colored (!) lights, variously colored glass balls, and any other Christmassy looking items he can lay his hands on. His only rules: no plastic, nothing reflecting a current fad, and nothing given (?) or purchased at one of those styrofoam-burger chain joints. This column sincerely believes that, otherwise, Christmas is not the time to attempt to practice good taste; it might make for a rather sterile occasion. A number of folks have been inquiring about early Baker County holiday decor, and we wish to inform them that we were not there. However, we've been digging through our voluminous historical notes to sort out any mention of Christmas. From that we learned that holiday decorating was of importance to locals, rich and poor alike. Until the 1920's the tree was the crowning finale and was not brought out until Christmas Eve and sometimes not until the children were sleeping. The trimming was the exclusive and joyful task of a tired old Santa Claus. We are certain some kids wondered about the old gentleman's inability to string up all that popcorn and sometimes cranberries (which their parents had made them do to lighten Saint Nick's work load) and yet make all those stops in one night. There might be popcorn balls all delightfully sticky with cane syrup candy to be plucked off and eaten the next day (not all within the first five minutes after rising either). Occasionally there would be homemade peppermint cane, and, almost always, there were oranges and other fruits hanging heavily from the branches. The more affluent, and therefore those with more time, made intricate paper ornaments, and lots of people used bows, the degree of fanciness depending on the money and time of the household. Paper and foil cones held hard candy for the more fortunate. Contrivances were sometimes used to hold candles on the tree, and the illuminated affair was a delight to waking children. There are many tales of houses being burned down by the practice or using tree candles, but there were probably no more incidents then than caused now by electrical shorts. Ropes and garlands of native red cedar spangled with scarlet holly or smilax berries were draped along staircases or even from rafters in the more modest homes. Some of the richer folk affixed fruits and nuts to both garlands and giant wreaths. Pine branches and cones were used as decorations and in the fire, adding a cheery crackle and fragrance. Holly was often woven into the mounted deer antlers above the doorway. The combination of red and green were not traditional Christmas colors in the lower South (and, indeed, hardly anywhere else) until the early thirties. However, red alone was popular in seasonal greeting cards, bows, wrapping tissue, paper flowers, and holiday clothing accessories. Gumdrop trees made of the multi-colored confections impaled on branches of trifollata, hew, or wild plum made happy looking centerpieces. A few households were able to purchase the delicate blown glass tree ornaments imported from Bavaria and eastern Europe, and these became heirlooms in time to be treated with the same respect as an ancient member of the family. It wasn't Woolco quality, but the oldtimers made do. Their holidays were warm and memorable, and Christmas was eagerly awaited, not dreaded. And come February and March of the next year, they were not biting their nails and worrying how they would pay the fiddler after all the plastic-money-dancing that went on before Christmas. _____________________________________________________________________________ THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS, Thursday, December 16, 1982 Page Two THE WAY IT WAS - Gene Barber Old Time Christmas Eating However else rural Southerners might have indulged themselves at Christmastide, they considered eating their primary means of celebrating. The writer's family was no exception, and their's was the reputation of good cooks. We now share a few of our old generations recipes and hope you will enjoy them. 14 Pound Fruit Cake. Ingredients: 2 lbs. nut meats (pecans, walnuts, Almonds, and Brazil nuts), 2 lbs. candied cherries, 2 lbs. candied pineapple, 1/4 lb. candied citron, 1/4 lb. candied lemon peel, 2 lbs. white raisins, 1 tspn. nutmeg, 1 tspn. cinnamon, 3 tspns. baking powder, 1 tspn. soda, 1/2 tspn. salt, 1/2 cup grape juice, 1/2 cup cane syrup, 1 lb. white sugar, 1 lb. plain flour, 1 lb. butter, 1 dozen eggs, 2 lbs. dates, chopped meat of one fresh coconut. To make a black fruitcake, substitute dark raisins, dark brown sugar, and toasted flour, and add 2 lbs. dried figs. Into a large dishpan, cream sugar and butter. Blend in grape juice, syrup and beaten eggs. Add, and mix well, the remaining ingredients except the fruit. Pour the fruit into a large separate container and lightly but completely coat with plain (and untoasted) flour. Stir floured fruit into batter and pour into a large baking container which has been greased and lined with brown paper. Bake at 275 degrees until a straw inserted in the center comes out clean (about 5 to 5 1/2 hours). The writer's mother faithfully prepared the above heavy concoction every holiday season, but, not caring for it herself, she devised the following lighter recipe. Pearle's Favorite Fruit Cake. Ingredients: 3/4 lb. candied cherries, 1 lb. candied pineapple, 4 cups pecans, 5 large eggs, 2 cups flour, one $.10 bottle of vanilla (we leave it to you to decide what the modern equivalent of a $.10 bottle of vanilla would be), one $.10 bottle of lemon extract, 1 cup sugar, 2 sticks butter, 3/4 tspn. baking powder. Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs one at a time. Add extracts and baking powder. Lightly coat fruit with flour, and stir remaining flour into batter. Add floured fruit to batter. Pour into greased and papered pan large enough to allow for rising and bake at 275 degrees for 2 hours. For a truly Victorian gastronomic treat, we recommend Mother Barber's Red Devil's Food Cake. Ingredients: 2 cups flour, 1 1/4 tspn. soda, 1/4 tspn. salt, 1/2 cup butter, 1 cup white sugar, 2 eggs, 5 tblspns. cocoa (melted and cooled), 3/4 cup sour milk or buttermilk, 1 tspn. vanilla, 1/3 cup boiling water. 1 - Sift, then measure flour. Then sift 3 times with soda and salt. 2 - Cream butter until light and lemon colored. Gradually add sugar, beating after each addition until light and fluffy. 3 - Slowly add eggs which have been beaten until they are almost stiff as whipped cream. 4 - Add cocoa, blending well. 5 - Combine milk and vanilla alternately. Add dry ingredients and milk, beating after each addition until smooth. 6 - Add boiling water. Beat well. Bake in layers. Frost with fudge or white frosting. Let cake stand at least 2 hours before cutting to allow the red color to develop. And do you make chicken and dumplings which amount to nothing less than a soggy disaster? If so, try the following somewhat loose recipe. Combine plain flour and whole eggs to make a yellow crumbly mess. Gradually and stingily add enough hot broth from cooking the greasy old hen to create a gooey mess. Flour well a half-fist size ball at a time of the rather unappetizing looking pastry and roll out thinly. Cut into short wide strips, air dry for an hour or so, and drop into the boiling broth. Cook hard for about 20 to 30 minutes, and then allow to simmer for a few hours. The dumplings (actually thick noodles rather than true dumplings) will not only taste better by absorbing the full chicken flavor, they will refuse to come apart even when being stirred and reheated the next day (if there are any left for serving the next day). To enhance the flavor of the hen, add a couple stalks of celery, a whole onion, and one teaspoon of brown sugar to your favorite broth seasonings. In the Carolinas the above dumplings are called "pastries", and in certain other parts of the South we hear they are known as "pasties", but we can assure you that no matter what the epithet, they are, Budder Johnson would say, "monstrous good." _____________________________________________________________________________ THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS, Thursday, December 23, 1982 Page Two THE WAY IT WAS - Gene Barber "...for the poor always ye have with you" "Blessed be ye poor..' JESUS OF NAZARETH Besides the obvious prerequisite of not having money, "poordom" is often the creature of ignorance, inertia, misplaced priorities, and, perhaps (although no reasonable soul believes it), preordination. Being poor is a state of the mind, often a way of life, a choice platform topic of liberal politicians, and a certain-for-success formula for Christmas stories. We have so frequently and so long heard "the poor" until the very term has lost its meaning for most of us. Since the mid-sixties, we have created a new section of American society - the professionally poor, and we have committed this act - created this sad Frankenstein Monster - out of the goodness of our myopic hearts. There are those of us so disgusted by food stamp recipients who gamble at Atlantic City that we are almost becoming anti-poor folk. The story that we heard from a late local politician regarding his difficulties in hearing a welfare mother's complaints over the telephone because of the loud television behind her used to strike us as funny, but it has since soured when we learned that she was able to go to another phone extension in her house to better communicate (she informed the politician that she could talk better in that room because the TV there was currently not in working order). We also recall, with a slight amount of disgust, the elderly gentleman speaking at a community meeting on behalf, and as one, of the "poor people" and was one of the most prominent but unadvertised, landlords and land sellers in his section of the city. Too many of what we call poor Americans are in that category because of confused prioritities; they will have what they want in preference to what they need, and they are willingly confused as to what is needed. For instance, very few of our classic American poor in this section of America, regardless of color, age, and all the other adjectives so familiar with the term poor, consider a television set as anything less than of top necessity. It is getting more difficult to find old-fashioned, genuine poor people these days. They are out there somewhere, and they are close by somewhere, but they are more and more becoming lost and shoved into hiding and oblivion by the others - the professionally poor - who abuse the condition. Not only that, but the various levels of government are continually removing the job of finding and caring for the poor from the individual and his religious organization. This Christmas, we will again rush to replenish the larders of the professionally poor, sometimes at our own economic inconvenience, because to do so has become customary and we fear ill fortune or pubilc censure if we do not respond to the expensive and well-planned campaign of those who mis-use the poor. For once, we should pass by those who beam with pride about receiving free school lunches; those who refuse any kind of employment that would make them "under-employed" (this writer never understood that term as applied to a man who needed a job), over-qualified, or demeaned; those who seem to find enough money to smoke. (both tobacco and pot), drink booze and soda pop, own color TV's, feed pets commercial food, drive anything above a utilitarian vehicle, or wear designer jeans (yes, this column goes on record as believing that if you're poor, and dependent on others' charity, act like it). Ralph Waldo Emerson said it best in his essay "Self-Reliance". "...do not tell me, as a good man did today, of my obligation to put all poor men in good situations. Are they my poor? I tell thee thou foolish philanthropist that I grudge the dollar, the dime, the cent I give to such men as do not belong to me and to whom I do not beloing. There is a class of persons to whom by all spiritual affinity I am bought and sold; for them I will go to prison if need be but your miscellaneous popular charities; the education at college of fools; the building of meeting-houses to the vain end to which many now stand; alms to sots, and the thousand-fold Relief Societies; though I confess with shame I sometimes succumb and give the dollar; it is a wicked dollar, which by and by I shall have the manhood to withhold ...Go love thy infant; love thy wood-chopper; be good-natured and modest; have that grace; and never varnish your hard, uncharitable ambition with this incredible tenderness for...folk a thousand miles off. Thy love afar is spite at home." And this column agrees; there are the poor in nursing homes and hospitals and institutions, and they are silently screaming for your alms in the guise of visits. There are children who will be receiving everything their hearts can desire except love and attention, and they are poor. There are elderly folks who were once as full of spirit as you now are but they will be poor because their sons and daughters are spending too much time heading up the big holiday charity drive. There are animals (also God's creatures, it might come as a surprise to you) who are hurting, sick, and hungry, and they are poor. There are those whose only sin is that they are different from you, and they poor without your understanding and tolerance. And if you will take time from your mad and wild shopping, baking, and party-going, you might discover the poor in the most unlikely places and persons; The lonely are always poor no matter what their financial statements. Could any little family group have been more poor than that recorded by Luke when he informed us that the young mother, for want of a bed, laid her newborn son in a manger of hay amidst animals and strangers? But the spirit born there altered the direction of history. _____________________________________________________________________________ THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS, Thursday, December 30, 1982 Page Two THE WAY IT WAS - Gene Barber How '82 predictions fared Your writer, out of some sort of sentimentality (or is it semimentality?) thinks that his final effusion of the year must be special. Therefore, he considered doing the wrap-up of the major events of 1982, but that year was not particularly interesting, so we abandoned that idea. We thought about telling our readers how long we've been at this, but that is too easily and quickly done to fill up an entire column - seven and a half years now (can you. believe it?). There are always the comments from our readers, but most of those received have been either a tad too colorful for a family-oriented newspaper or were so negative in their content, and style that we had rather forget them. Suffice it to say that the worst were delivered in a dubiously ladylike and gentlemanly manner...out in a public place where a gentleman such as your columnist wishes not to allow such attacks to become public property. We could have tried the patience of our readers with a pedantic piece on approaching the new year, but we were told in no uncertain terms by a couple of folks that we've been getting a bit too much that way lately (and you know your writer always bends to the desires of his readers) Last year we made predictions for '82. Our record was about 50/50, the same as anybody else's (everybody's predictions have a 50/50 chance of being correct...they're either right or they're not...50/50). Unlike your major and highly touted predicting persons, your columnist will now publicly review his prognostications for the year 1982. We first predicted that before the year was out someone would announce that something that most of us use or love will cause cancer in mice. We were wrong. Instead, somebody said that feeding mice something that came out of sweet potatoes (one of nature's most perfect foods) will not only do battle against certain cancer cells but will prolong life. Now that's a switch if ever we've heard one. Your columnist will probably increase his intake of sweet taters in '83. We also said that someone in the medical profession would tell us that jogging may be injurious to one's health, thus bringing a collective sigh of relief from all the faddists who never enjoyed it anyhow. Well, the writer's cousin and dear friend Dr. Ed Williams from downstate said it (not in a medical journal, the Enquirer, nor on the Johnny Carson Show, but in your writer's parlor): "Any fool should know that all that jiggling and shock is not good for your joints or belly muscles. You never see a doctor doing that." He went on to say, something about medical people also knowing enough to not take medicine, but we'd better not go into that. We predicted a new physical fitness fad to take hold in the spring of '82. Well, it started eariler than that and is now making money hands over feet for Jane Fonda and others from people who could just as easily hop and look ridiculous in the privcy of their own homes as in a class. Actually, your writer thinks it is the best of the fads to come along in a long while, but those who indulge in this dancing form of exercise, stoutly (get it? stoutly?) deny that it is a fad with them. We said that movies and TV would continue to degenerate, that there would be crusades against it, and that the American public would continue to watch. We were wrong again. There isn't enouph imagination among the movie-makers and TV people to make it worse. All the quality of those media can do is to slide and ooze sidewards; they've gone as far toward the bottom as they can go. We still see a few ragged bumper stickers about cleaning up TV, but this column has never heeded any campaign, endorsement, or declaration relegated to a car bumper as being very sincere. As far as continuing to watch TV goes, we were incorrect in that the public does not watch, the public is mesmerized by the tasteless, tube. And the public still lifts an occasional token cry against poor quality education and the loose morals of the nation; The public is weird. Boy, were we wrong on redneckism dying out. One cannot turn on the radio to any station without being serenaded (?) by George Jones or one of the multitudinous bejeweled and rodeo-raiment bedecked groups who are attempting to sing black rock to a background of bluegrass. Don't pity your poor columnist for his ignorarice. He still likes country music, but he still calls it hillbilly and he insists on quality (does anybody remember Hank Thompson, Bob Wills, Kitty Wells, and Marvin Rainwater?). We thought that Halley's Comet would be making more of a stir by now, but except for a few small news items regarding how we might be disappointed when it finally does get around to visiting us, there hasn't been much. We predicted a group would threaten a major strike. Some group did. It says very little of the major American media that they even gave the professional football players strike more than one single-line of notice. We were right on the weather. We said that the '82 weather would set a record as being either too hot, too cold, too wet, or too dry. Well, we were only partially correct; it set a record for them all. We predicted a decreasing popularity in gold. How many barber shops, ladies ready-to-wear, auto body repair shops, funeral parlors, etc. do you now see displaying "we buy gold" signs? Our case rests. Being half right makes us very smug, and we shall now ease back into our plodding routine of columns. By the way, dear readers, you did remember our predictions for the year?